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Relationships

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:
TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:46

Note that in addition to all the other problems if you fall pregnant now, if you have a child with him in the UK, it will start to get very difficult indeed to go home if you want to, due to the Hague convention. He'll have the right to stop you.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 15:48

@AlmostaMamma oh goodness me, if you call being so upset I had a panic attack about separation and divorce due to abuse (and all the awful humiliation and shame that come with that) melodramatic and criticise the way they speak as waffle - what do you call anything worse, like grief? Is that too much for you too? It’s like you can’t imagine other people have different personalities and styles.

OP posts:
Mari9999 · 26/02/2023 15:49

OP, you said in one of your posts on this thread that you lost your job because of the pandemic and the government made you dependent upon him. Neither he nor the government made you dependent upon him. Your failure to find another job made you jobless but not dependent. Did you not have savings upon which you rely?

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:50

You say when he's good, he's very very good - that's typical of abusers.

For one thing - they're not stable and are extreme... So that's why they're both.

Secondly, they know when theyve pushed far and have to pull you back in. They know there's a risk they've gone too far/said too much .....do they have to be extra nice & good. That is a well recognised piece of behaviour and is called the "nice, nasty" cycle.

I was in a relationship with a vet ally abusive man for a while. He never changed or stopped. They don't.

They'll probably be even worse when you're trappe with a child.

Also your child will end up hearing it, for sure.

No matter how much you try to protect them.

He's an abuser. Don't have a child with him.

"There is no fairy tale" ..... There can be one with another partner. A non abusive guy.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:51

Wildfloral - people can be extremely tactless and critical on here. Just ignore them.

They go away and stop posting if you ignore them.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 15:52

Yeah I thought so, @TicketBoo23 it would be awful to be single parenting in the UK without family support. Someone said I could go back pregnant though. I need to look into it, but maybe getting my cart before the horse as I could not be pregnant. I am panicking about the whole thing too early. Just distressed and really wish I had someone to talk to in person who knows me.

OP posts:
TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:55

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 15:52

Yeah I thought so, @TicketBoo23 it would be awful to be single parenting in the UK without family support. Someone said I could go back pregnant though. I need to look into it, but maybe getting my cart before the horse as I could not be pregnant. I am panicking about the whole thing too early. Just distressed and really wish I had someone to talk to in person who knows me.

Yes you probably could go back pregnant.

But he'd still be the father and he'd still have the opportunity to claim parental rights to see your child etc.

He's an abuser.

Please get the morning after pill or coil and make sure you haven't conceived with him.

You could have a nice happy life and family with someone else instead on being a single mother with an abuser's child.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:56

Abusers don't abuse one person close to them and noone else.

My sister was married to one and if course he abused their son when he got contact time. The son refused further contact but he was still treated poorly before he did and no child should have to deal with that.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:02

need to look into it, but maybe getting my cart before the horse as I could not be pregnant.

If be making sure I wasn't pregnant by that abuser.

It's early enough to get the MAP or coil?

AlmostaMamma · 26/02/2023 16:04

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 15:48

@AlmostaMamma oh goodness me, if you call being so upset I had a panic attack about separation and divorce due to abuse (and all the awful humiliation and shame that come with that) melodramatic and criticise the way they speak as waffle - what do you call anything worse, like grief? Is that too much for you too? It’s like you can’t imagine other people have different personalities and styles.

I’ve asked questions and given clear, coherent advice. You’ve ignored all that and responded with yet more dramatic waffle. You’ve ignored people giving practical advice. You’ve ignored people asking what you’re going to do now (actually do, as opposed to waffle).

I’m not the problem, here. Good luck.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:04

The flowers etc don't matter - abused often go for big gestures when they've been awful and realise you could leave.

My sister got the flowers and teddy bears and bracelets.

A decent, stable men wouldn't have to do big gestures like that. After he's sworn at you and called you names and put you down in every way possible. A decent man wouldn't be doing that.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 16:05

Wow that’s really cruel @Mari9999 and very much the line of my husbands abuse at the time - that I was a failure for not getting that job, or this one, or having to do a presentation for this job mere moments after he tells me I am shit and worthless. Do you think it’s easy to get a job in normal circumstances? Let alone a time when you couldn’t even fall back on hospitality? To get a professional level job via Teams interviews when so many other quality candidates are competing, with more experience?

OP posts:
TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:06

and all the awful humiliation and shame that come with that

The shame is not yours.

He's the one who's fucked up a relationship & marriage with his abuse.

Pride should be yours for walking away from someone who's abusing you.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 16:08

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:04

The flowers etc don't matter - abused often go for big gestures when they've been awful and realise you could leave.

My sister got the flowers and teddy bears and bracelets.

A decent, stable men wouldn't have to do big gestures like that. After he's sworn at you and called you names and put you down in every way possible. A decent man wouldn't be doing that.

Yeah @TicketBoo23 it really threw me. Not a thing he’s done before, I thought he had realised how awful it was to say those kind of things to me, and it really moved me, I started to cry. I guess that’s the dream isn’t it, for them to suddenly realise how awful they were and change, because like your sister, she still loved him.

OP posts:
Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 16:11

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 15:50

You say when he's good, he's very very good - that's typical of abusers.

For one thing - they're not stable and are extreme... So that's why they're both.

Secondly, they know when theyve pushed far and have to pull you back in. They know there's a risk they've gone too far/said too much .....do they have to be extra nice & good. That is a well recognised piece of behaviour and is called the "nice, nasty" cycle.

I was in a relationship with a vet ally abusive man for a while. He never changed or stopped. They don't.

They'll probably be even worse when you're trappe with a child.

Also your child will end up hearing it, for sure.

No matter how much you try to protect them.

He's an abuser. Don't have a child with him.

"There is no fairy tale" ..... There can be one with another partner. A non abusive guy.

Can I ask how long it took you to get better afterwards? At this stage, I can’t imagine a future with anyone. It seems alien, that’s why I’m getting so scared thinking I’ll be alone, no friends at all here.

OP posts:
2023a · 26/02/2023 16:12

What are you going to do now? I’m going to keep asking this.

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 16:16

@BoundShark I will try to stay here, unless I’m pregnant in which case it might be better to move back home overseas.

OP posts:
TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:18

Wildfloral · 26/02/2023 16:11

Can I ask how long it took you to get better afterwards? At this stage, I can’t imagine a future with anyone. It seems alien, that’s why I’m getting so scared thinking I’ll be alone, no friends at all here.

I was in a weird situation in that I got into a relationship with him only 9 months after ending a 7 yr relationship.

My ex from the 7 year relationship had contacted me twice during the relationship with the verbal abuser and indicated he was interested in getting back together. I politely declined both times but one day, when I'd listened to a particular bit of verbal abuse, I emailed my ex and we started discussing get back together and I dumped the verbal abuser after a few weeks.

I had a long distance relationship with my (now not) ex and have been together since.(though unfortunately we may not stay together for various reasons). I processed and realised a lot about the verbal abuser for years. I was doing that while in a relationship and probably should have done it while single but sometimes things don't work out that way.

2023a · 26/02/2023 16:18

Where is ‘here’? The U.K. or your current home? Are you ending the relationship? Moving out? Taking some sort of action?

What are you actually going to do?!

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:20

no friends at all here

Did you not mention one friend/acquaintance in London you could possibly stay with?

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:22

unless I’m pregnant

I've pointed out the issues with having his child even if you leg it home while pregnant.

He'll be able to go for parental rights. If he can be bothered and had the money.

He might get unsupervised access.

You'll be a single Mum trying to find another partner (if you want to) instead of an unfettered single woman trying to find a partner.

You'll be a single Mum trying to manage everything instead of being in a couple and family - with hopefully a nice man.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:24

You could have a child with a decent man, instead of being a single Mum with his child.

The map becomes less effective every day .... You need to get it or a coil if you want to minimise your risk of being pregnant by him.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:26

At this stage, I can’t imagine a future with anyone. It seems alien

You will.

It just takes a bit of recovery and time.

There are many possible matches for all of us.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:26

2023a · 26/02/2023 16:18

Where is ‘here’? The U.K. or your current home? Are you ending the relationship? Moving out? Taking some sort of action?

What are you actually going to do?!

It seems obvious shes currently in the UK.

TicketBoo23 · 26/02/2023 16:28

I’m getting so scared thinking I’ll be alone, no friends at all here.

Well your options are to try to build up a friends/social network here or move back home.