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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

Is my boundary unreasonable? Trigger for SA

8 replies

Mintdeer · 03/07/2024 21:35

Hi there, I’m looking for advice me and my husband together for 10 married for 5 and lived together for 7 have recently went through a blimp, I experienced abuse at a very young age and i was forced to watch porn and act out as what was playing, it has always been a huge trigger for me and when I first got with my husband I was very open about my boundary not the whole story but a summary as to why it was there, now my boundary applies to my home I just can’t have it in my safe place for my sanity, he agreed and said he doesn’t feel the need etc etc i had the conversation that he is not forced into in and if it’s something that he enjoys then I am not a good fit for him, through the years I’ve opened up more to him about my past and he’s been a rock through certain spells within my PTSD,

recently however, I walked into our room to find him using porn it was on our tv so I couldn’t miss what it was, he thought I was at the shops he didn’t realise I hadn’t left, obviously I feel hurt and a lot of my triggers are back ie night terrors, flash backs etc and I’m finding it so hard to over come I am back in therapy to help me manage my symptoms but when googling similar boundaries I’ve seen a few comments that it’s a controlling boundary to have when I first set my boundary I set it with my therapist as I know porn is and will always be a trigger for me and I’ve always been a good communicator and I don’t expect everyone to agree with it or expect anyone to go with it if it makes them unhappy, what I’m struggling is he knew and agreed and we have been together so many years and he’s been to appointments with me and I thought he had a better understanding but if I thought for a second he was unhappy with my boundary we wouldn’t be where we are today I guess I’m wondering if is it controlling of me? Am I in the wrong or is this my trauma speaking as my therapist put it we haven’t broken up but I am finding it extremely am I being unrealistic?

OP posts:
Blendeddogs · 03/07/2024 21:45

In your case I think he has crossed a boundary.

He agreed not go watch porn and he watched it in the house in your bedroom which is a safe space.

I was TW

raped by my first husband he put his hands around my neck and squeezed until I lost consciousness. My new boyfriend knows this - he would never raise his voice, he is delicate with touch, consent is sought all the way through sex eg that good for you, how does that feel, can I…. He kisses my neck gently etc but he never ever makes any movements or uses his weight and height - the sex is loving and kind and I know he would never ever hurt me - if we had agreed that because of sexual abuse we had a no porn rule he would live and die by that

Itstherichthatgetthepleasureasusual · 03/07/2024 21:49

Well really it seems to me that you have been betrayed by your DH. He knew your boundary regarding porn and he agreed that it would not be part of your relationship. You were not being controlling because he willingly agreed this and he could have said from the beginning this was not something he was happy about.

Now he has moved the goal posts by watching porn, despite knowing your history and how badly this would affect you.

Have you talked to him about his change of mind. Have you discussed with him why he has started watching porn?

This must feel like a tremendous breach of trust. Will you be able to trust him again if he agrees to stop using porn? If he doesn't agree you can't make him agree.

It's awful for you OP but I struggle to see how your relationship can recover from this .

cupcaske123 · 03/07/2024 21:50

We're all entitled to have boundaries OP and I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. Where do you want to go from here?

I would guess that he's watched porn all along and won't stop watching it. (I might be wrong of course) You obviously can't continue having flashbacks and night terrors, so do you want to leave?

Mintdeer · 03/07/2024 21:56

i couldn’t continue our conversation regarding it, but he admitted it had been going on through late stages of my pregnancy as he found it difficult to have sex, I am 4 month PP and he said he was planning to stop as our sex life was back on track after baby I had to stop there as I was to emotional to continue I was planning to have a conversation again tonight about where we go from here as I honestly can’t trust him right now and I honestly don’t know if I can in the near future and without trust is not a relationship and it’s not fair on me or him to live a lie

OP posts:
cupcaske123 · 03/07/2024 21:58

Mintdeer · 03/07/2024 21:56

i couldn’t continue our conversation regarding it, but he admitted it had been going on through late stages of my pregnancy as he found it difficult to have sex, I am 4 month PP and he said he was planning to stop as our sex life was back on track after baby I had to stop there as I was to emotional to continue I was planning to have a conversation again tonight about where we go from here as I honestly can’t trust him right now and I honestly don’t know if I can in the near future and without trust is not a relationship and it’s not fair on me or him to live a lie

Perhaps you need a break? Go somewhere you feel safe until you're feeling better. Is that possible?

Itstherichthatgetthepleasureasusual · 03/07/2024 22:04

The fact you are only 4 months PP makes this even more upsetting. This should be a happy time for you enjoying your new wee baby.
His excuse is no excuse. He knew the effect this would have on you but he thought about himself and not your well being.

Mintdeer · 03/07/2024 22:05

Itstherichthatgetthepleasureasusual · 03/07/2024 21:49

Well really it seems to me that you have been betrayed by your DH. He knew your boundary regarding porn and he agreed that it would not be part of your relationship. You were not being controlling because he willingly agreed this and he could have said from the beginning this was not something he was happy about.

Now he has moved the goal posts by watching porn, despite knowing your history and how badly this would affect you.

Have you talked to him about his change of mind. Have you discussed with him why he has started watching porn?

This must feel like a tremendous breach of trust. Will you be able to trust him again if he agrees to stop using porn? If he doesn't agree you can't make him agree.

It's awful for you OP but I struggle to see how your relationship can recover from this .

Edited

when we had the conversation he admitted through the late stages of my pregnancy as it was difficult to have sex, he was planning to stop as I am now 4 month PP and our sex life is getting back on track, I did however get to emotional to continue so I stopped the conversation and said I’d have another go which is meant to be tonight but I can’t trust him right now and I don’t feel I’m in the right headspace to be able to have a rashional conversation

OP posts:
Mintdeer · 03/07/2024 22:15

I was planning on setting space and living with my sister for awhile untill I am able to feel secure in my home again she’s currently on holiday and is back tomorrow, she is aware though and is more than happy to take us in part of me is finding it hard to leave but the other part wants to run out the doors it’s a mind boggle right now

OP posts:
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