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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I just can't cope with my husband's crazy making, contempt, and cruelty anymore

262 replies

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 02:59

My husband and I had a fight because I woke him up last night asking him to change positions, so he'd stop snoring.

My husband snores like a monstrous beast crossed with a gravelly, raspberry-blowing, vibrating truck. But because he need his sleep for work, I don't disturb him on weekdays. I wear earplugs or leave him on the sofa if he falls asleep there for a night of good sleep.

Last night, being Friday night, I decided to tell him to stop snoring ("please for the love of god, stop!") as I'd been awake for nearly two hours trying not to murder him and then realised I can wake him and get him to change pillows/move/rearrange/unswallow his tongue as it wasn't a work night.

He reacted really badly, telling me to stop waking him up, that it wasn't fair, that he wasn't snoring, wasn't even asleep, and things like - why should I care as I was on my phone (I usually wait for him to settle down so I can fall asleep in that brief period of silence, but I have to make sure he's gonna be silent for at least twenty minutes first, It's a hard game to play), he told me I should just go to sleep, then after spouting off he said do I want him to go to the sofa ?.... yes I did, but I don't like to tell him to leave the bed... it would be nice for him to just believe me when I say his snoring is LOUD and for him to want to do something about it.

Here's the kicker.
I am EXHAUSTED. I have huge dark circles and I woke up at 12pm and was falling asleep at the table at 8pm. I am so tired because we are trying for a baby, and my hormones have made me this tired. It is 9DPO, it might be implantation. He knew this, and still didn't care that I couldn't sleep.

He was really angry. He jumped up and made a huge deal of getting a blanket (which is already on the sofa) tuning the lights on, stomping round, and then real rey started to go at me saying things like I'm stupid retarded, I'm ignorant, endless insults. I'm just lying there waiting for him to stop and leave the room.... he always says nasty things to hurt me in a fight.

I said back to him 'why did you marry me then, if you think I'm stupid?'... he started saying other mean stuff, but I can't remember. I was covering my eyes from the light and trying not to get mad... because I am trying to get pregnant and want to be healthy and happy right now, but I ended up yelling loudly as he was going off on nasty tangents: 'this is not about my intelligence this is about your snoring, you have a medical problem and it needs to get fixed, you need to go to the doctor otherwise we won't be able to share a room and you should care about me and whether I can sleep!!!'

I just can't believe he thinks he was wronged because I woke him up.

So he left, I fell asleep an hour later cos I was so hurt by the things he said, and got woken up really early to him obnoxiously on purpose making loads of noise to disturb me. I quickly took my BBT temperature and he left the house without saying goodbye. He left to do extra work about 9am.

All day long I hear nothing from him. In the morning I thought he just needed to cool off, by the afternoon I was thinking he was giving me the silent treatment, but by 9pm I was crying over my food over this.

Then he came home at 11pm. I came out from the kitchen to see him. He had a bunch of flowers almost bigger than me, it was sooooo huge in pale pinks and white the colours I love. I am not a crying kind of woman but I started to cry. I had been prepping myself all day on how to confront him and set boundaries regarding insults and name calling, and there he was with a big bunch of flowers about to apologise. I said the flowers were beautiful and then he said "can you guess they are fake flowers? I thought they would look nice in the house". They were fake but looked so real and I was just blown away by them and the gesture. Then I asked where he'd been all day etcetera, and he gave me a hug and said he'd place the flowers down for me because they were heavy.

Then we walked into the kitchen. It was at this point I paused and realised he hadn't actually apologised at all. My heart started racing wildy, maybe the hormones were affecting my heart? But anyway, I asked him what the flowers were for and he just repeated that he thought they were nice and would look good I'm the house.

My heart started pounding so badly I thought he could hear it racing. It felt like I was having a heart attack. I wanted to leave the room. I couldn't believe he'd be so callous. I asked him again, 'I thought that you were going to say something with these flowers, that you got them for me, that's why I stopped in my tracks and started crying'.
He said, 'no I don't have anything to apologise for' and 'I don't want to talk about anything tonight'..etcetera ...My heart nearly jumped out of my chest with the panic.

I'd spent all day being given the silent treatment, waiting at home not sure where he was, after he said some of the most horrid things to me (again) when I might well be pregnant (soon), only to have this trick played on me with a giant bouquet of flowers, all because I woke him up snoring and told him he needs to get it sorted, and having to shout this at him as he was escalting this and losing the plot over it (he can never stay on topic in a dispute).

My heart was racing wildly for the second time in under twenty minutes, whilst I tried to comprehend what was going on. It was like shock, a panic attack, a heart attack all in one. I clutched at it and gasped. I nearly fell. What the hell? Isn't that the cruellest thing he could do? He could have fixed it with a few words, but instead, the flowers were either a mean joke, or a coincidence that he hadn't thought through.

I told him I don't want him swearing at me, calling me names because it hurts me, it makes me feel small and little and asked why he does it. He wouldn't give me any answer... then he just walked off to sleep on the sofa and left me hanging there. I couldn't help it. I had to talk to him, I followed him in there we had a brief argument rehashing this bloody stupid argument form last night - where I realised he didn't even remember what happened last night or was trying to gaslight me, as he kept saying things that didn't happen, and out of order. I feel like I am going mad.

I told him I don't want his bouquet without an apology and threw the giant thing in the front garden. I told him if he doesn't fix these three things..1, 2 and 3. I want to separate, that I can't cope with the insanity of having my self-esteem whittled away by verbal abuse. I know I shouldn't have - Ultimatums go against my beliefs. I do not swear, I do not name call and I do not say anything in an argument below the belt. I feel awful for doing this. And I'm panicking as I have to commit to it now.

I just feel like he has ruined everything. He ruined our weekend. He ruined my TWW. He possibly ruined how I feel about my early pregnancy. I feel like this is just the icing on the cake for his cruelty. He does not respect me, he thinks I'm stupid but he was trying for a baby with me one week ago??! He has so much contempt for me and I think it must stem from shame for how he treats me.

I feel like my world is falways apart. I can't take the abuse anymore. I am SO FED UP. It's constant. He always says he'll stop, then three weeks later he's calling me names again, emotionallwly abusing me somehow, leaving me constantly on the defensive and eggshells. He always denies he has ever hurt me. I have no where to go. And I just can't take it anymore.

Sorry this probably makes no sense. It would be easier in person to express the whole story.

OP posts:
SecretVictoria · 26/02/2023 03:08

Do not have a baby with this man. Separate and find someone who isn’t an abusive arsehole.

TessoftheDubonnet · 26/02/2023 03:09

Sorry, this is way too much to read - but why on earth are you trying to conceive with this horrible man?.

Save yourself while you still can!

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 03:12

It might be too late.

Everything was going so well. Life. Jobs.

The flowers! I couldn't believe when I saw him. It was like a movie. Can't believe he was stupid enough to think I would think they were anything other than for an apology.

OP posts:
BastardtheCat · 26/02/2023 03:15

He will get worse.

This is a guarantee.

Do NOT have a baby with this man.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 03:15

Because he has flaws like all humans (and me) and I guess I'm kinda used to it now used to name calling. When he's good, he's very very good and when he's bad he regresses to shit.

OP posts:
Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 03:17

Oh it's been much worse than this a few years ago... it's been better the last two. He was really trying. That's why we had moved on and started loving each other again. And why I'm so shocked and desperately fed up now. Like there are no more straws to give.

OP posts:
IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 26/02/2023 03:17

I think you are bonkers and irresponsible trying for a baby with this man.

It screws children up watching emotional abuse.

Pinkbonbon · 26/02/2023 03:21

'Flaws' are things like not being a morning person or cutting their nails at the dinner table. NOT spousal abuse.

Get shot Of the abusive wanker.
You're not supposed to 'cope' with abuse. You're supposed to love yourself enough to leave.
There are no medals for the martyr olympics.

Ps: just for future reference, if the next partner snores - sleep in separate rooms. You don't have to ruin your health or relationship over sleepless nights.

BaroldFromEastenders · 26/02/2023 03:26

Before my DH got diagnosed with sleep apnoea and got a cpap machine I struggled a lot with his snoring. He would stay awake until I fell asleep or sleep on the sofa - never minded being woken up to change positions. He’s also never shouted at me, or called me names. That’s normal.

don’t have a baby with this awful man - you deserve better and any potential baby definitely deserves better

JimnJoyce · 26/02/2023 03:27

you really shouldnt have a baby with him. He will be so much worse when you're pregnant. He will be even worse when the baby is here. You think you're exhausted now...
Dont do it. To
yourself or to a baby

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 03:34

Well thanks but I guess from your perspective it looks clear cut.

I just don't understand him. He had been doing so well. Really trying and learning and being understanding. I feel like this was a huge f#%%ing bomb that he just self sabotaged with, taking me down in the process. Why is he so cruel?

I could give all the excuses - his torturous nightmarish horror movie of a childhood, a lack of self control, emotional immaturity... but the end of the day I think he simply hates me more for sticking round and seeing how low he can go regards treating me. I think I would feel contempt towards me too.

Who stays when you're called trash one day then admired as a do called posh lady the next? Who stays when you're told one day he'd love to let you be a SAHW/M but then the next says your job is shit and you don't make enough money? Who stays when they deny battering you round the ears so much I can no longer sleep on one? Who stays?

Me. Me, I married him, I made my bed. I stayed. I had no where to go, I'm all alone in the UK, I lost my job in the pandemic and the government made me financially dependent on him because he earned more money. I kept seeing stickers all over during lockdown about Domestic Violence help, but I've tried to get help, I got offered a hostel with junkies and homeless people and I couldn't go in, the thought made me so vulnerable. You just can't get help in this situation when you're on your own. You can't even get medical help when you need it. I am literally homeless or at home with him hoping this one year stint of good behaviour sticks.

OP posts:
Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 03:38

BaroldFromEastenders · 26/02/2023 03:26

Before my DH got diagnosed with sleep apnoea and got a cpap machine I struggled a lot with his snoring. He would stay awake until I fell asleep or sleep on the sofa - never minded being woken up to change positions. He’s also never shouted at me, or called me names. That’s normal.

don’t have a baby with this awful man - you deserve better and any potential baby definitely deserves better

That's so considerate. That's what I would do if it we me snoring. The snoring was not really the cause of the fight, just the reason he lost his temper. But what really kills me inside is the verbal abuse, the belittling and downgrading and minimising.

This potential baby is all my dreams. All I've ever wanted was to have a house and family. I don't think I could live without getting to have this.

OP posts:
discobrain · 26/02/2023 03:39

If you have a child with this man it will only get worse.

You cannot stay with him, he's a total monster.

Emilia35 · 26/02/2023 03:50

Your dream is to have a baby but you don't care about this future child's wellbeing. Watching your father emotionally abuse your mother messes you up. And he might do the same to your child.

You need to grow up, realise you're worth more than this and leave this man.

Do you have a job at the moment? If not, can you go back to your family? What country are they in?

Mylittlepea · 26/02/2023 03:55

Please don’t stay. Having a baby with this man will tie you to him forever. He’ll be raging even more at the lack of sleep that parents face when newborns are in the house.

Valentinesquestion · 26/02/2023 04:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Chocolatetoastforbreakfast · 26/02/2023 04:23

You say he had an awful childhood but you’re planning to do the same to the child you’re trying to conceive with this man. Who, believe me, will have an awful childhood growing up in in the utterly toxic, abusuve environment of your marriage.

You seem to have convinced yourself your choice is either to stay with your abusuve husband or be homeless even of course it isn’t and I’m sure you know that.

It makes me so sad to read this as I don’t think you’ll listen to the advice of anyone on this thread and you’ll end up bringing a baby into this toxic mess. I hope I’m wrong.

TealSapphire · 26/02/2023 04:26

So your heart was racing and you were an anxious mess all day? Think about how a child would feel growing up with this abusive oaf.

Get the morning after pill and get out of there.

Geppili · 26/02/2023 04:33

Get the MAP and leave him! Do not breed with this monster!

ScreamingTree · 26/02/2023 04:38

It's a fact that abuse usually ramps up during pregnancy and when you have a baby. If he's like this now what will he be like when your hormones are playing havoc? When you're suffering morning (all day) sickness, or feeling constatly exhausted and achy from pregnancy? When you've got a newborn waking up every hour or 2? When they're screaming endlessly and you can't figure out what's wrong? When they're throwing toddler tantrums and trashing the house?

Don't get me wrong, I love being a parent and I loved it when they were tiny babies, but I can't emphasise strongly enough it's the hardest job in the world. And that's with a DH who's calm, considerate and has always done his share of parenting.

Please don't have a baby with this man.

AnyFucker · 26/02/2023 04:44

That’s a whole lot of drama, and you sound like you actually thrive on it

Don’t bring a child into this mess

DaisyCornflowerBlue · 26/02/2023 04:48

TL:DR, but I got the gist.

LTB.

LadyJ2023 · 26/02/2023 04:55

Sorry why were you even considering a baby even before this incident...if he wakes like a devil how the heck do you think he is gona react when baby cries in the night? And tbh if your not getting sleep why can't you sleep in another bed so you both get a decent sleep? My hubby has a condition that plays up some nights where his legs go so hyper in his sleep he kicks so bad so when it occurs I just slip out into the spare room and he knows in morning if I'm not there I'm next door cause he was unknowingly kicking the crap out of me lol

Quitelikeit · 26/02/2023 05:03

How sad

What would you say to your daughter if she was in this situation? Oh go ahead it’ll be fine! Go and have a baby…….

You have no idea how this man will double down on his abuse once you have a child

if you think you are trapped now that feeling will intensify if you have a baby with him

why can’t you go back home? Why can’t you find a job?

Moser85 · 26/02/2023 05:21

All that heart pounding stuff is your fight or flight kicking in.
If that's happening on a regular basis you will become chronically ill, your cortisol will go out of control.

You should NOT be trying for a baby in an abusive relationship. It is not fair to the child no matter how much you want a baby.
You tried to get help for domestic violence, only got offered a hostel and then decided to carry on trying to conceive with this man???
What will you do if you need to leave when you've had a baby?