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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

Struggling to know what to do

2 replies

RoadToPlants · 20/04/2024 20:54

DH and I are going through a rough patch and I just don’t know what to do to improve things. We’ve been together 17 years, married for 7, with two primary aged DC.

We’ve both had significant bereavements the past few years, and his were more complex than most. He’s had time off for depression (returned to work about two months ago) and he has been active in managing it. I’m in peri and have found that difficult. So we’ve both had a lot going on.

We do love each other and still have affection. However we argue all the bloody time about ridiculous things. He gets frustrated at what I perceive to be very small things, and just can’t let it go. Gone off food in the fridge for example, stuff done “wrong” etc. I try not to sweat the small stuff as I cba frankly, and so he gets frustrated easily and I feel he blow things out of proportion.

We just seem to get stuck in a loop of negative feedback and I don’t know how to change it. He’s not speaking to me this evening and the kids are asking why. I think being PA like this is childish and rude. Yet if I raise a concern it is always back to me as being at fault. He even said earlier that I cause him to shout, which is ridiculous.

I would like to suggest marriage counselling, but I’m scared he will say no. And then I just don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
RedRock41 · 20/04/2024 21:05

There are lots of positives. To still love each other for one. Why not verbalise his distress? Say I know we’ve been bickering about daft things but that you want to learn how to be there for him better and vice versa. Silent treatment not always PA. Can sometimes be a retreat when folk just don’t feel heard. That definitely no criticism of their spouse. Just mean even when you aren’t supposed to feel a certain way it doesn’t stop you feeling it. Complex grief can be a grenade. If he won’t go to counselling there are also some amazing books on marital communication (Relate do some). Neither of you sound like you having it at all easy so finding away to turn to not on each other the way forward. Him stressing the little things could be like buckaroo. I’m with you. Wouldn’t bother me but all should be able to not edit our behaviour and maybe his quirk and displacement strategy atm. Sending you good vibes. Think with extra laughs and TLC two way you both get through this stronger.

RoadToPlants · 21/04/2024 13:11

Thank you @RedRock41 i think your buckaroo analogy makes sense here. He has spent the entire weekend doing DIY that has been stressing him out for ages. He slept in the spare room last night and has started to talk a bit but not normally.

I’ve given him some space and taken the kids out, however his parting shot as we left was that I always do the food shopping wrong and I never back him up with the kids. He started to slag me to the kids so I rushed them out the house and left him to it. He is really not usually like this, but even so, no excuse for such shitty behaviour. So sick of walking on eggshells and trying to improve things only for him to stay stuck in this negative loop.

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