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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

Ended abusive relationship, please help.

9 replies

Elephant109 · 13/02/2024 16:34

I ended an abusive relationship last year autumn, after finding out my ex was a serial cheat. The last few months of our relationship were hell for me - he tried gaslighting me when I noticed signs of cheating, and he was very emotionally abusive, sexually coercive and controlling.

It was difficult to end things as he initially didn’t accept it was over, but I managed to go NC. I have had brief periods of feeling relieved at being free from him - but at the moment I just feel so heavy. At the end of our relationship I found out so much awful stuff - that there were multiple OW’s, two of who contacted me. He had been emotionally abusive/controlling towards them too.

I am really struggling to accept and find peace with the fact that I have spent years of my life with someone who was lying throughout, putting my sexual health at risk, trying to get me to agree to have a child with him/wanted to get married, while compulsively lying and manipulating multiple women all at the same time.

I feel so emotionally burnt out, like I will probably spend the rest of my life alone because I’ll be so anxious I might end up with someone like him again. And it just all feels so lonely, heavy and sad. Knowing he is still out there, still being horrible and using multiple women at the same time, is just so horrible, part of me wishes he had just dumped me and I never found any of this out, it would have been easier to accept. I have found this experience really traumatic and keep having nightmares about him, and worrying that he might get back in touch with me somehow.

Does anyone please have any words of wisdom or practical advice on how to move past this? I feel incredibly stuck at the moment and I just want to be able to move on with my life.

OP posts:
Elephant109 · 13/02/2024 16:39

I’m honestly not sure how much longer I can bare feeling this way.

OP posts:
fedupandstuck · 13/02/2024 16:47

Have you had any counselling or therapy around this, talked to anyone in person? There are probably resources on the Women's Aid website about recovering from abusive and controlling relationships which might help too.

Try not to borrow worries from the future or from other people. Perhaps make a decision to remain single for a specific period of time and don't think about any possible future relationship. See if you can access therapy, courses, etc to help you recover and heal.

Elephant109 · 13/02/2024 16:51

fedupandstuck · 13/02/2024 16:47

Have you had any counselling or therapy around this, talked to anyone in person? There are probably resources on the Women's Aid website about recovering from abusive and controlling relationships which might help too.

Try not to borrow worries from the future or from other people. Perhaps make a decision to remain single for a specific period of time and don't think about any possible future relationship. See if you can access therapy, courses, etc to help you recover and heal.

I have spoken a lot to close friends who have been very supportive. I haven’t had any therapy - I have had therapy previously through the NHS and know they tend to default to CBT, which I know will not be helpful for me for what I’m going through. It’s near impossible to get any trauma related therapy through the NHS, and I cannot afford privately (I did look into it).

I will check out women’s aid resources, thank you for the suggestion. I just feel like I’m not making progress, it’s been a few months now and I still find it debilitating emotionally.

OP posts:
MeTooWishItWasntTrue · 13/02/2024 16:59

Hi OP, first of all I want to say well done - it's incredibly brave to bring an abusive relationship to an end. You've done the hardest bit!

I ended my 16 year marriage around a year ago. I discovered by then husband was sharing intimate photos of me online. I had suspicions for a few months prior that something wasn't right but he gaslit me, made me feel insane for questioning him. It was awful. We have 2 children together, I honestly couldn't believe I gave so much of my life to him.

I was in pieces, but I'm so much better now. Things that helped me:

  • talk to friends, don't be ashamed about the way your relationship turned out.
  • counselling - they can help you recognise the signs that were there all along
  • self help books. I've found some really good ones. I was co-dependent in a relationship with a narcissist who was emotionally abusive. Your situation may be different but there will be books to help.
  • Spend time with friends, family. Get to know what YOU like. What do you enjoy doing?
  • don't worry about the future. In time, I think you will want to date again and you will realise that not all men are shits. Again, doing the self-work to help you spot a bad one is a great move!

Talk to us on here too, we can help. This forum helped my massively when I felt like my life was falling apart.

fedupandstuck · 13/02/2024 17:00

A few months is not long in the grand scheme of things. It was years to get to where you are, a few months is a small fraction of that time. You're still decompressing and coping with the change in your situation. Especially as part of his behaviour was manipulative and controlling. It's really not surprising that it's still emotionally debilitating for you.

But, you have made the first steps and you will get there. Be kind to yourself as much as you can.

MillshakePickle · 13/02/2024 17:25

I've name changed for this.

I suspect that I was one of many women that of an ex that ghosted me in Dec 22. He ghosted me, when I confronted him about cheating/seeing other women and lying. He then promised me the world, with let's get Christmas out of the way etc.

He was clearly going away at Christmas with another woman. I fell for the gaslighting, lies and lovebombing over and over again. I was guilted into sex or acts on numberous occasions. Made to believe i was being unreasonable, he loved me. And how could he possibly have time for anyone else. Occasionally, I'd get a niggle and he would promise there was no one else. I was his top and only priority. He would talk me back around time and time again.

The last time I called him out on it and demanded he come to meet me he blocked me. Then got back in contact to give me some random fucking lines about how I was his greatest love. He also promised me marriage, wanted children and a future. He made me feel special. He was in the unlucky in love type. Blah blah blah...you get the picture.

I was devasted. I was beside myself for weeks. I couldn't eat, think or sleep. The way he ended it without giving me any sort of closure or answers I will never forgive or forget. I've learnt valuable lessons.

It's been over a year now. I've fully moved on. Mostly. I have a new baby and a loving partner. I am loved like I have never been loved before.(and yes, it was that quick but with someone I've known for many years) I am secure and happy but ever watchful. He's never given me reason to worry and/or complain. I don't think I'll ever not be hyper aware of the signs now or the script.

I think about the ex daily. I have and am having counselling. It's because of the way it ended. Not having closure or a final say as it were. Being able to tell him how I felt etc. The emotional damage has been a lot to unpick and get through. But, I'm working on it and every day it gets better and easier. I go through days where I actually miss him and others where I'm angry. Angry at myself mostly- more unpicking to do.

Sorry this is so long. I just wanted to share with you that I know you're hurting and scared. It does get easier give it time, talk it out and turn it into a growth experience. Give yourself time to heal and allow yourself to feel all the emotions that you need to. X

BrightNewLife · 13/02/2024 17:32

@Elephant109 I sent you a PM.

Vanillabourbon · 13/02/2024 17:40

Get in touch with Mind. They were very helpful to me and actually the only therapist that helped me work through things (I saw a few different ones). Also its probably worth looking up the freedom project, i found that quite good. It takes a long time to heal though, don't rush yourself.

roses321 · 13/02/2024 18:09

You say Autumn? As in Autumn 2023? Hunny please bear in mind that is not long at all. It really isn't.

So firstly you had to end things and then after that you found out a ton of other awful stuff and this kind of stuff can really put you in a state of shock and trauma. Trauma doesn't just go away like that sweetheart, as much as you might want it to, it takes a bit of time.

There are a few things that can be really helpful and that have really helped me so I'll list them here.

Youtube channels i've been listening to are: Stephanie Lynn coaching (really really good for where you are right now), Mental healness (it's about narcissism but that's pretty much a blanket term for toxicity these days so it's applicable) and Dr Ramani (same as the former).

In times I've just wanted to process the hurt, those channels have been friends to me and helped me to just see that others are going through pain too, that I'm not alone and that it'll get better. It's also been good for advice and perspective.

Books I've read are "How to leave your psychopath" - I forget the author but it was very helpful and comforting, "Why did you stay?" was another one I read and "Whole again" was another good one I read about trauma and processing it.

I got a counsellor and saw them weekly and used Betterhelp and that gave me someone to talk to and is very helpful so consider that.

I joined a gym but it's not just a gym they do classes and it's a bit of community so I've made friends there. I also started pilates and got to know people there too.

I journalled a lot about my feelings.

I wrote down all the things that he did to me that made me feel like shit - an ick list basically.

I wrote down why I left.

I wrote down what I wanted the reality to be of doing things like buying a house with him, getting engaged to him, going on holiday with him and what the reality actually was. Always helpful to take the rose tinted glasses off.

I looked at why I got into this situation, what made me put up with it, why did it happen? What happened that made me think i deserved it and worked on basically NOT doing that again.

I stayed single (and am still single and happy with that for now).

Through most of this for the first 6 months the truth is that I felt like SHIT constantly. I tried to focus and struggled with basic self care like sleep/eating etc. I got Hello Fresh boxes on discount and picked the quick meals because i just could not be ARSED to cook for myself, I didn't care about eating.

The whole thing is a long and arduous process, the difference being now that it's towards something worthwhile, a new start for yourself. To find out who you are, to become stronger and to become wiser as well. So that one day you can give people the advice that you're asking for now.

One of the most important things is not railing against your feelings and feeling hopeless about feeling hopeless. Look, you feel like shit and you're suffering, so first things first accept that is how you feel and stop giving yourself so much shit for it - it's understandable, still raw and you're still recovering and healing isn't a picnic. It's not fun, but it's where you are right now and those feelings can be your friend if you let them.

You can look to start to set little goals for yourself. My first one was get out of bed and brush my teeth. My second one was go for a walk. My third one was go to sleep at x time (still shit at that) and then I moved on to trying to go to a class, then I moved onto going for a run etc etc.

This has all been a hugely upsetting event for you, and it wasn't your fault either so why on Earth are you upset with yourself that you're not living your best life? The only way is through with these things, not over, under or around - through.

I hope this is helpful and sorry it's an essay, I just honestly feel for you and know how you feel, and I always feel like I want to help when I see women on here posting stuff like this.

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