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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

Unable to raise anything without being told I'm mentally unwell

78 replies

Cawlanddaffodils · 23/02/2024 21:59

So obviously there is a backstory and more issues but there would be far too much to go into.

Basically I'm unable to have any discussion, raise any issue or ask for any help without being told I'm mentally ill, there's something wrong with me and I need help. I can see through his behaviour. Ever since he cheated on me he can't cope with people seeing him as less than perfect and seems to hate me. He's determined to get me on medication. Let Me say I am categorically not mentally unwell (not that there is any shame in mental illness but within my relationship it's used as a means of control).

He used to threaten to not come home and say if I didn't apologise for being crazy/a horrible person then he'd leave me and I'd never cope and I'd have no money. In the end I stopped engaging and responding to the paragraphs of abuse and just said "if you don't want to come home, that's your decision" he'd then go on, I'd repeat the sentence and eventually he'd say "you didn't apologise, so I'm not coming home. I'll be back tomorrow " he'd walk in the next day groping me as if nothing had happened.

I'm struggling that we share a child and I can't bring up any issues or concerns. He's taken to putting our young child on Xbox for hours a day. I wanted to address this but knew he'd be angry. I spent days thinking about how to discuss the issue. I text him (he refuses to talk to my face) and nicely said I was concerned about our son being on Xbox too much but that I wanted his opinion, what did he think was reasonable. I think maybe we should set a limit etc. He messaged a while paragraph basically saying "no I won't give him a limit because you have anger issues (I don't) and if he goes over the limit, you'll be mad etc etc. A bit more slagging me off. A few hours later I ask DP to have child for an hour. Child asks to go on Xbox and partner starts ranting, no you can't go on Xbox because of your mum. Your mum won't let you. She wants you to go out walking at night in the rain. I try to intervene and say I did not say this but he never lets me speak, talks loudly over me and ranting about how it's my fault child can't use Xbox (all in front of child).

This brings me to today; I honestly think he wants to elicit anger in me in a hope I'll look crazy. However I refuse and walk away if he starts trying to argue. I also no longer read or respond to horrible texts as I couldn't cope. He's determined to get me on antidepressants.
He said he was staying at his parents house last night as he had dentist at 12pm. I'm not sure I believed this but off he went for the night. I text him at 2.15 and asked what he'd been upto. He said he'd just got back from the dentist. I basically asked if he'd been at the dentist for over 2 hours and he basically just refused to answer me and sent me a paragraph of deflection stating I'm crazy and insecure. He has no idea how he puts up with someone as crazy as me, I'm mentally not well.
I just replied saying that I was making conversation, it just seemed a long time at the dentist, that's all. Basically, instead of just saying I also got lunch/went to shop/appointment overran, he just kept saying I was mentally unwell.
I honestly think he purposely orchestrates situations hoping I look nuts.
Also to note- he's a health professional and likes to assert that he's in control, to be worshipped etc. Even told me last week that he'a that man of the house and I put the kids first by cooking their dinner at 6pm instead of 8pm when he finishes Xbox.
Anyway, I didn't get a straight answer and his last message was him saying he hates anxiety and insecurity and none of his other exes were as mean as me (he often calls me horrible but refuses to tell me why or what I've done). He said I need sertraline and psychotherapy, unless the psychiatrist states I have personality disorder and then we are doomed.
I'm absolutely fuming but I can't say anything. This is the way things always go.
I do NOT have personality disorder. It's something he started saying when I discovered he cheated on me to deflect from answering questions. If I don't question him on anything, try to only speak when spoken to them I don't get told I'm mentally ill.

He's obviously trying to condition me to "shut up and put up" but I'm not sure how to cope in this situation anymore.

OP posts:
Cawlanddaffodils · 23/02/2024 23:15

I think I'm also concerned about his influence on our child if we split and I'm not around.
@Opentooffers to do hear you and fully agree with what you have said.

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 23/02/2024 23:17

Keep a diary of all of this and speak to a domestic abuse charity or local advisor. Your gp or son's school safeguarding lead can point you in the direction of help if you need to. Then make a plan to leave safely. The more eveidence you have the more you can protect your son x

Catoo · 23/02/2024 23:21

OP it’s exhausting reading this. Can’t imagine living with it.

What is happy about this family unit that you want to preserve?

Letting your child grow up thinking this is how men treat women is wrong.

DC will still have a father if you separate.
Yes DC may have his influence 50% of the time if you do. But the other 50 will be your influence. At the moment DC has 100% two bad role models.

Get rid 💐

AutumnFroglets · 23/02/2024 23:32

For those asking; I've stayed because I love him and want the family unit.
What exactly do you love about him or his treatment of you? Write it down. Tell us what is so lovely about him. And what family unit? You are not a family. What do you think family means?

Although I do mostly feel hate and resentment these days.
Your child will notice this. They always do. Stop pretending you can "protect" them. You want your child to think it's normal to live in an angry, hateful atmosphere?

I want my child to grow up with his father around;
Why do you want your child around an angry, aggressive and abusive person? Bullet point why you think it's a good thing. I'm honestly interested to know why.

Also, finances are an issue at the moment.
Explain what you mean, some wise MN might be able to point you in the right direction (but also women's aid could help you figure it out). Have you thought that maybe you might qualify for a refuge place? Would you accept that help if it was offered, or are you using finances as an excuse?

You don't really have to answer here, they were mainly questions I wanted you to honestly ask yourself, to try and unmuddle your head a little. Again, Women's Aid could help you make sense of it and support you. Email them, please.

TheGreatGherkin · 23/02/2024 23:49

Ah, you love him, that's all well and good then isn't it? You need to love your child and yourself more. Get rid of the abusive prick, his own family have told you to. Does that not tell you anything?

mathanxiety · 23/02/2024 23:54

For the love of effing puppies -

LEAVE THIS MADMAN.

mathanxiety · 23/02/2024 23:58

Cawlanddaffodils · 23/02/2024 23:01

The problem is that I'm not ready to leave. I think I'm trauma bonded and need to work through that.

No, no, no.

You need to leave first and work through the reasons you stayed afterward.

Every day you continue to put up with this nonsense, you get more and more mired in it.

Call Women's Aid.
0808 2000 247.

Leave a message asking them to call back, your number, and a good time when you can talk.
Engage with all the help and support you are offered.

mathanxiety · 24/02/2024 00:04

Cawlanddaffodils · 23/02/2024 23:00

For those asking; I've stayed because I love him and want the family unit. Although I do mostly feel hate and resentment these days. I want my child to grow up with his father around; although I now worry about him growing up having heard certain things. It's evident his dad says things to him to make me look bad.
Also, finances are an issue at the moment.

All of this is delusional and based on myths - 1 - the myth that a child needs a father, and any father, no matter how insane and abusive, will do. Abusive men do indescribable damage to children,
2 - the myth that the family unit is the bee all and end all, and even if the family unit includes a tyrannical abuser, it is sacrosanct and must not be disrupted.

You need to get help and start focusing on leaving. Stop fooling yourself about 'love'.

kkloo · 24/02/2024 00:12

Cawlanddaffodils · 23/02/2024 23:01

The problem is that I'm not ready to leave. I think I'm trauma bonded and need to work through that.

You're more ready to leave now than you will be in future.

You might be trauma bonded but you're currently handling the 'you're crazy' tactics very well. However he's not giving up and he's going to keep going and keep going until he has the desired effect on you. And he will.

You can't work through the trauma bonds when you're still with him, that just leaves you more at risk.

Mmhmmn · 24/02/2024 00:26

He sounds absolutely awful. He must jabe grown up in a seriously fucked up household with the stuff he’s coming out with and doing. You most definitely need to leave him. There is no reasoning with that sort of ruined, destructive person. He will destroy you if you stay and will damage your child too.

Mmhmmn · 24/02/2024 00:29

What he means when he says you wouldn’t cope without him (whether he knows it or not) is that HE wouldn’t cope on his own. Normal people don’t say such things to their partners/wives. Absolutely toxic.

Opentooffers · 24/02/2024 00:31

What's your home situation? Is he a DH or DP? How long have you been together and how old are your DC's? The younger they are, the easier it is to adapt to a split.

Epidote · 24/02/2024 00:37

LTB.

TwylaSands · 24/02/2024 00:38

mathanxiety · 24/02/2024 00:04

All of this is delusional and based on myths - 1 - the myth that a child needs a father, and any father, no matter how insane and abusive, will do. Abusive men do indescribable damage to children,
2 - the myth that the family unit is the bee all and end all, and even if the family unit includes a tyrannical abuser, it is sacrosanct and must not be disrupted.

You need to get help and start focusing on leaving. Stop fooling yourself about 'love'.

This op. You dont love him. He certainly doesnt love you. And he is damaging your child.

Cawlanddaffodils · 24/02/2024 00:39

Mmhmmn · 24/02/2024 00:26

He sounds absolutely awful. He must jabe grown up in a seriously fucked up household with the stuff he’s coming out with and doing. You most definitely need to leave him. There is no reasoning with that sort of ruined, destructive person. He will destroy you if you stay and will damage your child too.

Edited

He actually had a very privileged upbringing (basically handed everything and made him entitled). Mum and dad are lovely and had a great relationship. A very traditional relationship though and he does compare me to his mum. For instance, I should be able to cope with him going away drinking every other weekend because his mum managed with 3 kids whilst his dad worked away.

OP posts:
Cawlanddaffodils · 24/02/2024 00:40

Opentooffers · 24/02/2024 00:31

What's your home situation? Is he a DH or DP? How long have you been together and how old are your DC's? The younger they are, the easier it is to adapt to a split.

Edited

He's my partner. Been together 7 years, lived together 5. We are renting but he's the higher earner and I can't afford to live here alone. Child is 5.

OP posts:
LifeExperience · 24/02/2024 02:09

Get away from him for dc's sake. These behaviors are caught, not taught and children growing up in such dysfunction repeat the patterns of their childhood in their adult lives. By not leaving you are saying that it's ok if your son grows up to control, gaslight and abuse his wife, and if you have daughters they are very likely to end up with partners who abuse them and ruin their lives.

Do right by your children and get out.

MCOut · 24/02/2024 02:26

There are some couples who can work through infidelity. You are not one of them. Even if we ignore the fact that you shouldn’t tolerate his abuse, he clearly has no respect for you, so it will not work.

No man is ever more important than your child, so do not selfishly go along with a terrible dynamic that will inevitably harm your dc. Love is a choice do not choose this.

MsRosley · 24/02/2024 02:42

OP, I think the only way you can work through trauma bonding is after you have left. And I'm willing to bet a lot of money that if you do leave, this man won't be arsed to spend much time with his son. You owe it to your child not to let him grow up in this environment.

garlictwist · 24/02/2024 02:46

I rarely reply to these threads but this guy sounds AWFUL. You need to get out. It sounds like you're managing to see through his tactics and maintain a level of calm but for how much longer? He is grinding you down.

Irridescantshimmmer · 24/02/2024 03:31

He's gaslighting you.

He's. the one with the psychological issues and not you.

He is not as strong as you are, it is excellent that you know your own mind. He knows he is weak so he is throwing his weight around to prove he's the alpha male when he's a selfish, manipulative brat.

kkloo · 24/02/2024 04:10

LifeExperience · 24/02/2024 02:09

Get away from him for dc's sake. These behaviors are caught, not taught and children growing up in such dysfunction repeat the patterns of their childhood in their adult lives. By not leaving you are saying that it's ok if your son grows up to control, gaslight and abuse his wife, and if you have daughters they are very likely to end up with partners who abuse them and ruin their lives.

Do right by your children and get out.

Very very true.

My youngest is 13 and it's extremely worrying how many boys in that year group are already exhibiting controlling behaviour etc in relationships. Part of it has to be that they are witnessing this at home.

OP, do you want your son to grow up mentally torturing women calling them crazy if he doesn't want them to question him?

CatOnAMushroom · 24/02/2024 04:40

Please contact womens aid op for real life practical support in getting out of this awful situation with your very clearly abusive DP

Also, this is not a family unit to aspire to for your child's sake. It will doe untold damage and you need to protect your child from this. And a single parent family is still a family

woooaaaahhhhh · 24/02/2024 04:50

Start small go to women's aid. Explain you are in an abusive relationship and ask how they can help.

You can work through everything after in counselling. He will see son yes but presumably if he works away in the week and goes out drinking on a weekend it won't be much.

Andthereyougo · 24/02/2024 05:07

Why do you want your child to grow up with a father who drinks excessively, abuses , criticises and belittles his mother and shouts at him? That sounds like a horrible life for a child.
Leave and give your child a peaceful, stable life.