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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

He's now sleeping on the sofa

16 replies

smm88 · 01/03/2023 09:22

I don't even really know how much to write.

It has became apparent over the years that my husband is very likely autistic. Our own and close family members children have been diagnosed over recent years and this has brought out conversations about his childhood and how he behaves when we are going through times of stress or things aren't going as he expects them to.

Nowadays when things are causing him stress he will swear at me & be pretty vocal which I have repeatedly explained is not an acceptable way to speak to me.

I have tried to talk to him about this and he either tells me no one understands him, refuses to speak to me all together or it is my fault as over the last few years I have been diagnosed with a health condition that causes me a lot of pain that can restrict what I can do.

To give context though I do all our childrens drop off's and pick up's , deal with the never ending admin and apps of parenting kids with additional needs and I try my best to do the house work I can.

He's now been on the sofa for 3 nights as he came home to me on a telephone call so I moved to another room closing the door behind me ( I did tell him it was an important call ). As I was ending the call one he and one of my children came into the room. He was organising dinner I said I had an important email to send about the call I will be down shortly. He said he wanted to speak to me so I said he'd need to wait a few mins until I was finished to avoid me forgetting what I was to write. Anyways a few mins on he then started saying how long now so I suggested he go back downstairs and I'll come down when finished. He then swore at me and said I was unacceptable he won't be making me dinner ever again because I treat him like a skivvy. After finishing I went down and he was ranting about it I explained that I hadn't asked for him to make me dinner and I have explained swearing is not acceptable I was doing an important job that could not wait.

I openly acknowledge my health condition can make life harder at times and that yes parenting children with additional needs can be tough at times but that's not everyday.

He never apologises ever as he never sees himself in the wrong. He has now been on the sofa since and out with conversations about the children he hasn't spoke to me since.

I've tried to sit down and speak to him which generally results in him either refusing or accusing me of being a rubbish wife. I've suggested counselling which he refuses and I've suggested maybe he should speak to the Dr about his outbursts which he also refuses. I do not sit there and blame him for everything I ask him to speak to me about what he is feeling etc and openly acknowledge that our lives can be difficult at times.

Has anyone else dealt with this type of behaviour and managed to work to resolve it.

OP posts:
Dillydollydingdong · 01/03/2023 09:25

I'm afraid I'd just lose my temper and shout at him (and I'm very even tempered). It takes a lot to make me lose my shit. Sorry, not helpful!

smm88 · 01/03/2023 09:34

Dillydollydingdong · 01/03/2023 09:25

I'm afraid I'd just lose my temper and shout at him (and I'm very even tempered). It takes a lot to make me lose my shit. Sorry, not helpful!

I am also calm tempered. I have lost my temper a few times and he tells me he won't be spoken to like that which as you can imagine makes me infuriated as I've lost my temper because of how he has behaved towards me 🙄

He is very opinionated about other peoples behaviour but refuses to accept his own is unacceptable

OP posts:
Tempone · 01/03/2023 09:38

I see no future in that tbh. Never being able to apologise or admit fault is toxic, as the children get older and push boundaries I think that may cause issues. He is also , by the sounds of it unwilling to do any work on your relationship or himself. He will not change.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/03/2023 11:08

"Nowadays when things are causing him stress he will swear at me & be pretty vocal which I have repeatedly explained is not an acceptable way to speak to me".

You do know that the only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none?. You can explain all you want yet he still chooses to put the verbal boot in and or otherwise stop speaking to you (the silent treatment here being an example of emotional abuse).

His childhood experience has had more of an impact on how and why he behaves as he does now. What if anything do you know about his childhood?. Its a reason, not an excuse for how and why he is acting as he is now. He's probably pissed off that his position of being Number 1 to you has been usurped by his children; he is truly a selfish man if this is the case.

What is he like around other people like say the neighbours and or work colleagues; does he swear at them also?. Probably not so it is for you that his verbal abuse is aimed at. Like many abusers he is refusing to accept any responsibility for his behaviour and is more than happy to blame you. They are also completely unwilling to work on their own selves and or the relationship.

None of what you wrote here re him suggests ASD and ASD does not lead to abuse and or abusive behaviour. He is not interested in seeking a diagnosis or counselling and thinks there is nothing wrong with him or in how he is treating you.

You have a choice re him; your children do not. I would seriously consider whether this is a marriage you want to remain in going forward because you and your DC will be in for yet more of the same. Such men do not change and this is who he really is.

AlwaysTheGoodGirl · 01/03/2023 12:01

This sounds so familiar @smm88 and I have also often thought dh could be autistic. I know people come on to say you can't diagnose autism from just shabby behaviour, but the lack of emotional awareness in my dh really convinces me. The part where you describe him demanding you attend to him when you are busy on a call, absolutely the same as mine. He has no patience and expects everyone to drop what they're doing and help him with his thing. And if you ask him to wait, it ends up with an extended huff. Whatever it is, both me and you are dealing with a similar situation, and it's very hard to know what to do about it.
Are you otherwise happy in the relationship and do you feel if he worked on this you would be ok? Or has he pushed you to your limit where you are now thinking about how to end the relationship and move forward with your life without this stress? That's where I am. I wish I could lose my temper and say what I think, but I just carry on quietly raging inside. If I occasionally slam a drawer (god forbid!) in frustration at him, he looks at me as if to say wtf is wrong with you?
What do you want the outcome to be for you?

piedbeauty · 01/03/2023 12:57

Tempone · 01/03/2023 09:38

I see no future in that tbh. Never being able to apologise or admit fault is toxic, as the children get older and push boundaries I think that may cause issues. He is also , by the sounds of it unwilling to do any work on your relationship or himself. He will not change.

I tend to agree.

I'd LTB.

Naunet · 01/03/2023 16:15

You seem to want to use autism as an excuse for him calling you names and acting like a spoilt brat? Presumably he can hold down a job though?

Johnisafckface · 01/03/2023 16:30

As I was reading your post I kept thinking this sounds exactly like my ex. And he's not autistic. To me this is just being a prick - autistic or not.

OnaBegonia · 01/03/2023 17:01

And again... arsehole men being classed as autistic, there doesn't need to be a reason for shitty behaviour, he can just be a horrible person.

OnaBegonia · 01/03/2023 17:02

Posted too soon, please can this stop as it's so demeaning to autistic persons, as if all of them are rude and nasty to their family.
Your DH is an arsehole, plain and simple.

smm88 · 01/03/2023 17:10

To give context yes he doesn't have a formal diagnosis however camhs asked us for extensive family background and outright told us they felt it was very likely he is autistic.

I am not using it as an excuse I was simply trying to give the information I thought may be relevant. I don't think autism is or can be used as an excuse for anything.

OP posts:
Naunet · 01/03/2023 17:29

smm88 · 01/03/2023 17:10

To give context yes he doesn't have a formal diagnosis however camhs asked us for extensive family background and outright told us they felt it was very likely he is autistic.

I am not using it as an excuse I was simply trying to give the information I thought may be relevant. I don't think autism is or can be used as an excuse for anything.

But even if he is, that doesn’t mean this behaviour is related to that. Does he hold down a job? If so, it’s proof, he can control himself and his words.

smm88 · 01/03/2023 22:12

AlwaysTheGoodGirl · 01/03/2023 12:01

This sounds so familiar @smm88 and I have also often thought dh could be autistic. I know people come on to say you can't diagnose autism from just shabby behaviour, but the lack of emotional awareness in my dh really convinces me. The part where you describe him demanding you attend to him when you are busy on a call, absolutely the same as mine. He has no patience and expects everyone to drop what they're doing and help him with his thing. And if you ask him to wait, it ends up with an extended huff. Whatever it is, both me and you are dealing with a similar situation, and it's very hard to know what to do about it.
Are you otherwise happy in the relationship and do you feel if he worked on this you would be ok? Or has he pushed you to your limit where you are now thinking about how to end the relationship and move forward with your life without this stress? That's where I am. I wish I could lose my temper and say what I think, but I just carry on quietly raging inside. If I occasionally slam a drawer (god forbid!) in frustration at him, he looks at me as if to say wtf is wrong with you?
What do you want the outcome to be for you?

Sadly I don't think he's the only man who behaves like this. I know he's not as I have friends who tell me similar. Not an excuse though as it's wrong.

I can't see a future for us. I'm trying to financial sort myself out so when it does end I will be ok

OP posts:
smm88 · 01/03/2023 22:13

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/03/2023 11:08

"Nowadays when things are causing him stress he will swear at me & be pretty vocal which I have repeatedly explained is not an acceptable way to speak to me".

You do know that the only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none?. You can explain all you want yet he still chooses to put the verbal boot in and or otherwise stop speaking to you (the silent treatment here being an example of emotional abuse).

His childhood experience has had more of an impact on how and why he behaves as he does now. What if anything do you know about his childhood?. Its a reason, not an excuse for how and why he is acting as he is now. He's probably pissed off that his position of being Number 1 to you has been usurped by his children; he is truly a selfish man if this is the case.

What is he like around other people like say the neighbours and or work colleagues; does he swear at them also?. Probably not so it is for you that his verbal abuse is aimed at. Like many abusers he is refusing to accept any responsibility for his behaviour and is more than happy to blame you. They are also completely unwilling to work on their own selves and or the relationship.

None of what you wrote here re him suggests ASD and ASD does not lead to abuse and or abusive behaviour. He is not interested in seeking a diagnosis or counselling and thinks there is nothing wrong with him or in how he is treating you.

You have a choice re him; your children do not. I would seriously consider whether this is a marriage you want to remain in going forward because you and your DC will be in for yet more of the same. Such men do not change and this is who he really is.

He swears at work as that is the culture at his work.

Day to day he is pretty charming to others which is exactly my point to him. Sometimes he does let it slip but the majority of the time he's friendly etc.

OP posts:
smm88 · 01/03/2023 22:16

Naunet · 01/03/2023 16:15

You seem to want to use autism as an excuse for him calling you names and acting like a spoilt brat? Presumably he can hold down a job though?

I am absolutely not using it as an excuse to justify his behaviour I know it's wrong and unacceptable.

Yes he has a job but the culture there is a lot of swearing. That's the bosses also swearing at the staff and them to each other.

I'm trying to sort myself financially so when it does end I will be ok.

I don't want my marriage to end but I don't see any other way as he refuses to accept this isn't acceptable

OP posts:
Rufusroo · 02/03/2023 17:53

Please google ‘covert narcissist’. I too thought DH was autistic until I stumbled on this and had my lightbulb moment!
I know some people will ask why we are trying to put labels on our DHs be it autism or narcissism or just plain shitty behaviour, but when you are at the chalk face and dealing with it, believe me, it really, really helps to know that there is a recognised syndrome.
My DH is just like yours - sulks if I go out (even to the doctors or dentist). Sulks if I give too much attention to the DC. Hates it if I make plans for a trip out or family meal unless it was his decision. I once organised a special day out for him for a significant birthday. It involved a lot of organisation and some considerable cost but he absolutely hated it and almost refused to go

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