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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 need to get this off my chest...

127 replies

Tangerine461 · 31/01/2024 21:31

This morning on my first day of my new job, my long term partner called me a 'fucking entitled prick'. It happened after I asked him to bring up some laundry I did the night before, as I needed something and I was busy getting ready.

As soon as I asked him it was like he erupted and blamed me for not doing it already - saying I was bossing him about by asking him to do something. I've replayed the scenario over in my mind and the drive to my work with him was 90% full of him saying I was in the wrong and he's not asked me for anything in the mornings I've been home.

I felt so overwhelmed by how stupid the entire argument was and after he called me those horrible words, I went quiet and just continued to get ready - putting my energy into the day ahead and trying to block out the words.

After coming home, I've washed over it because even if I try and bring up how I found it to be disrespectful - especially on the morning where I start a new job - I know it will get thrown back in my face about how it was my fault.

Moments like this are not uncommon, but I need to find some coping strategies to figure out how to respond in a clear and direct way. It hurts because I've never once called him such words and I feel I can't tell anyone as in some way I don't want to hurt him - even at the cost of hurting myself.

What would you do?

OP posts:
keffie12 · 31/01/2024 22:25

The only dealing strategy you need is to get rid of him. He is an emotionally abusive person and the relationship is not healthy

hamsterswhiskers · 31/01/2024 22:45

Mrsknowitall · 31/01/2024 21:46

If your on instagram add this man, he is an American lawyer and gives out advice on how to handle people in different situations. Although I agree with other posters about leaving him as he sounds like a right arsehole and you should of gone in on your first day happy and not clouded with his shitty behaviour, but it’s easy to say leave him for us and no doubt you won’t leave him over this but at least find some coping mechanisms from this guy. Wishing you the best in your new job x

Agreed. He's great!!

Bobbotgegrinch · 31/01/2024 23:01

Anyone who spoke to me like that wouldn't get a second chance to, especially if they were someone who supposedly loved me.

hellsBells246 · 31/01/2024 23:07

AutumnFroglets · 31/01/2024 21:35

He did it deliberately OP. You were too happy about your new job and needed bringing down a peg or two. It's classic abusive behaviour, look it up and see what else he does that's abusive. You will be stunned.

This!

Justcallmebebes · 31/01/2024 23:08

I wouldn't tolerate anyone, let alone my partner, speaking to me like that or treating me like that and the first time he did would be the last.

No way would I be mulling over it 12 hours later and asking for strategies to deal with it

Fucketyfecketyfoo · 31/01/2024 23:26

Strategy?
Fuck off cunt.

CrackSpackle · 31/01/2024 23:34

"Coping strategies"?? COPING STRATEGIES!!???

Here's how you cope: you don't put up with him treating you like shit. You leave or kick him out.

SquirrelsAssemble · 31/01/2024 23:36

A loving partner tries to reduce the stress on you first day - maybe makes you a coffee, kisses you goodbye & wishes you luck.

A common response to what your partner did, would be 'who the hell do you think you're talking to?' or 'Dont speak to me like that' or 'Are you serious?'

But your reaction is to internalise the words and ask for help coping with further attacks.

What's going on OP? Why are you choosing to appease a dickhead, rather than leave him to his bullshit?

JimBeamCoke · 31/01/2024 23:38

I have just read your other threads.
He didn’t want you to successfully find a new job back in August and now you have, he wanted to ruin it this morning before you started. At Christmas he didn’t want you to have a good time with your friends or do activities you enjoy. I am sure there are lots of other examples.
This man wants you to be weak, unhappy and controllable. He will ruin every holiday, birthday, special occasion, and milestone for as long as you are together. A happier life awaits when you leave him.

trythisforsize · 31/01/2024 23:42

I hope your first day in your new job went well.

He tried to sabotage it, pure and simple.

Emotional abuse to keep you down low, quiet, subservient, to never request any help from him. You're supposed to help him right? Not the other way round.

You deserve a whole lot more.

Whiskeypowers · 31/01/2024 23:44

The only entitled prick in this scenario is him.

Whiskeypowers · 31/01/2024 23:47

JimBeamCoke · 31/01/2024 23:38

I have just read your other threads.
He didn’t want you to successfully find a new job back in August and now you have, he wanted to ruin it this morning before you started. At Christmas he didn’t want you to have a good time with your friends or do activities you enjoy. I am sure there are lots of other examples.
This man wants you to be weak, unhappy and controllable. He will ruin every holiday, birthday, special occasion, and milestone for as long as you are together. A happier life awaits when you leave him.

What a surprise.
@Tangerine461 you don’t need to take this shit. Leave him and his abusive inferiority complex behind. Get out before he does any more damage.

livelovelough24 · 31/01/2024 23:48

He is a narcissist. Get rid!

LuluBlakey1 · 31/01/2024 23:52

DH has never called me anything abusively in the 14 years we've been together. Never. He never rants at me, never goes on and on angrily about anything being my fault.
I would never do that to him either. We have rows, argue, niggles but not verbally abusive ones.
He should not treat you like that- it shows a lack of respect for you and that his own ego is what drives him. LTB I say.

determinedtomakethiswork · 31/01/2024 23:55

FortunataTagnips · 31/01/2024 21:33

What would I do? I’d be wondering why he was trying to sabotage me on an important day.

Exactly this.

DaisyDaffodil · 31/01/2024 23:55

This morning on my first day of my new job, my long term partner called me a 'fucking entitled prick'. It happened after I asked him to bring up some laundry I did the night before, as I needed something and I was busy getting ready.

Read this again and again and again… This is abusive behaviour as many before me have said. Walk away, never look back and never let another partner speak to you this way. There’s only one “fucking entitled prick” here and it isn’t you OP.

I hope your first day in your new job went well.

Opentooffers · 31/01/2024 23:59

He's sent a clear message that you can never ask anything of him. Works both ways, never do anything he ever asks of you. It would be a miserable existence living by his terms though, so best to kick him out or leave- whichever is easiest.

Brollop · 01/02/2024 00:06

Looking at your previous threads it's pretty clear you need to leave. Why do you feel you can't? Can you invent a reason why you have to stay with your Mum to help her for a few weeks, and have minimal contact with him over that period, while you organise a place to live?

Can you ask a friend to come over and help you pack your stuff all in one afternoon then just go?

Aquamarine1029 · 01/02/2024 00:11

Op, you need to stop playing dumb and asking for answers you already know. You know he's abusive and you know you need to get rid of him.

Why are you living like this with this useless arsehole? Fucking stop already.

PaminaMozart · 01/02/2024 00:11

JimBeamCoke · 31/01/2024 23:38

I have just read your other threads.
He didn’t want you to successfully find a new job back in August and now you have, he wanted to ruin it this morning before you started. At Christmas he didn’t want you to have a good time with your friends or do activities you enjoy. I am sure there are lots of other examples.
This man wants you to be weak, unhappy and controllable. He will ruin every holiday, birthday, special occasion, and milestone for as long as you are together. A happier life awaits when you leave him.

Moments like this are not uncommon, but I need to find some coping strategies to figure out how to respond in a clear and direct way

@Tangerine461 - you can do one of 2 things:

Stay and put up with this shit, and worse, for years to come. Until it finally becomes intolerable and you leave him. By which time you may well have a couple of kids who will have grown up with an abusive father and who'll think that this is what normal family life is like.

Or you can leave now. And save yourself a shitload of grief.

You pick.

ColdButSunny · 01/02/2024 00:15

Genuinely, I would leave. My DH has never called me words like that and neither did my previous boyfriends. It's completely unacceptable.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 01/02/2024 00:20

Coping strategies ? No no no

Leaving and divorcing strategies yes !

Iwantcollarbones · 01/02/2024 00:23

Cope for what? Leave him.

It was a simple not unreasonable request and he kicked off. Fuck him off.

DonnyBurrito · 01/02/2024 00:48

It sounds like he's deeply insecure and believes whenever you're out in the world without him that you will forget about him, meet someone better and eventually cheat on him/leave him for someone else. There's nothing you can do about this. He needs therapy.

All behaviour is communication. If his behaviour (aka shitty communication) hasn't completely destroyed your love and patience for him, you could take on the huge effort of trying to understand his (shitty) communication, so you can put appropriate boundaries in place with him to keep yourself safe whilst taking measures to reassure him that his fears are unfounded.

However, he needs to do some serious self reflection and HE needs to learn coping strategies for his emotions.

You're probably going to have to break up, because this is a LOT of work to do if there's no kids involved and you aren't married.

Have you ever suggested therapy to him?

Tangerine461 · 15/04/2024 10:00

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I've read each one over and over again.

Since I last posted I've been working hard to build up my sense of self worth. I've been reflecting A LOT and have been trying to get out of my own head and see the situation for what it is. I've been speaking to my family and friends about things and really tried opening up about what I'm dealing with.

I've read other threads on here which show how others have built up the courage to leave and go onto live wonderful, peaceful lives and how much effort it takes - especially when it all seems so much. I've found them so inspiring.

I do think I'm trauma-bonded and there's almost an element of shame and guilt to the possibility of walking away - I'd feel bad for not being there.

When these thoughts and feelings come into my mind and heart, I need to remind myself for all the things I've listened to, all the verbal/emotional abuse and hurtful things I've been subjected to. All the feelings of being completely inadequate and not enough. But I know deep, deep down I'm not.

In a weird way, everything can feel like a blur or like we're just floating along in this and I avoid the confrontation and just think "I'll leave when it feels/is really, really bad" - when for a lot of people they would have already left. It feels like it goes back to the thought of giving more chances because the people-pleaser in me wants to have some hope.

Yet silly examples like this morning happen and I wonder 'what's the point?'...

There was a big storm this morning and the house was really dark so as I was walking through the house, I put the lamp on in my office and got back into bed to have a few moments to chill before starting work. My thoughts for putting the lamp on were just 'it looks dark in that room and it will make it feel cosy'. He comes out of the shower and asks me if I've been in that room this morning. I replied yes. He then went back into the hallway, started muttering under his breath at what a stupid thing it was to do and then came back into the bedroom to share why it was stupid for me to put the lamp on if I'm not in the room. I instantly knew I did something 'wrong' but questioned, is this something I need to waste my energy/thoughts and reflect on why I did it - no. So I just replied 'okay'. Clearly that annoyed him as he was goading me into did I not understand why it was a stupid thing to do. And I just said 'okay'. Looking back - what else was I meant to say or do? He left the room without saying goodbye so I got out of bed and began to get ready to log-in, went downstairs to feed the dog where I noticed most lights/lamps in each room were on. I didn't say anything and then he just walked out and drove away. I called him to say 'Goodbye then!' to which he asked if I liked the amount of light in the house now and not to waste his time before hanging up on me. I think my approach was to not give it much attention because it feels almost comical to get annoyed over such a small and insignificant thing...

But here I am replaying the episode over in my mind while I need to concentrate on my actual job. I know he'll be in a mood when he comes home later and that feels so anxiety-inducting knowing it could lead to a few days of the silent treatment before a conversation which basically lists everything that's wrong with me and my approach to things in life.

It doesn't feel so simple to just walk away and I'm trying to create these boundaries and build-up my sense of self again, while reaching out to my support network. Reading your comments makes me feel a little less alone and makes me understand how certain behaviours/actions are just not ok, so thank you.

OP posts:
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