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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 this abuse?

16 replies

Bumblebee1688 · 31/07/2024 21:03

I'd just like a bit of an outside perspective of my situation please. I have been with my partner for a long time and have had a really hard relationship. We recently got back together after a while apart. We don't live together but do have children together. I did think things would be better this time as we are in our late 30s and thought we were more mature and able to navigate our relationship in a healthier way but I am starting to feel my self esteem chip away. My partner speaks to me in a very disrespectful way everything I do feels wrong. I recently went to pride and because I had glitter and bright colours he told me I was promoting something disgusting amd basically shouldn't be gping. This ended up making me feel awful before I even got there. Then he picked me up and was really ignorant to my friends which again made me feel awful. It is my birthday in 2 weeks and I was meant to be going away with him but he has changed his mind which really upset me but it isn't the first time. We never do anything together at all, despite me asking all the time. Even when I go abroad I take the kids on my own he wont go. So for my birthday I've decided to do a bottomless brunch as it is also my best friends bday a week later. I told him tonight and he told me I ruined last weekend as I went to pride and said he isn't happy I want to go out again. I work full time and look after our kids, our youngest is 10 and eldest 18 so they are older now I have a bit more freedom and I dont stay out to ridiculous times or anything. I told him it is controlling and he said he stands on all he is saying. I said but we never go out or do anything am I meant to just have no social life at all? I feel anxious if I get invited out now because I know how he will react to me. He has also started commenting again on what I wear I had cycling shorts and a t shirt on the other day and he asked me if im actually wearing that out. I felt very self conscious after his comments. I've been to counselling and he tells me I have issues but I genuinely feel.like I try my absolute best by him to make this work with little in return. I dont feel I can be my happy free spirit self as he judges me or puts me down again. I dont know what to do, I want him to change but he refuses to acknowledge anything he does. He will tell me to stfu or fk myself and calls me a bitch regularly. I have asked him to come to counselling but he refuses and says I am the one with the issues. I keep trying but it is affecting my mental health and self esteem I am not sure if he is doing this on purpose to control me or if he is oblivious to his actions

OP posts:
GettingStuffed · 31/07/2024 21:06

Yes it's abuse. Keep split up and don't go back to him.

yeesh · 31/07/2024 21:06

you know he is controlling and abusive. What does he add to your life? It sounds like all he does is drag you down, dump him and go and enjoy your life

Bumblebee1688 · 31/07/2024 21:08

yeesh · 31/07/2024 21:06

you know he is controlling and abusive. What does he add to your life? It sounds like all he does is drag you down, dump him and go and enjoy your life

He can be nice sometimes but you are right he doesn't bring much to my life at all I think I need to find some strength and leave for good x

OP posts:
Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/07/2024 21:09

Aww, sweetheart, you know the answer already!!
💐 🫂

PurpleBugz · 31/07/2024 21:12

Yes it's abuse. I get it you need others to tell you before you trust your own judgment because he's affected you so much with the gaslighting.

If someone who claims to love me told me to shut the duck up and wasn't going through extreme stress and came to me with a grovelling apology I would end it just for that. Second time I do t care what he's going through I won't take it. But I've learnt. I've been where you are taking shit from a man so often I didn't even register how bad it was until I posted and got a tidal wave of he's abusive leave the bastard. Yo can do this you are strong look at all you have managed alone. You are worth more xx

Bumblebee1688 · 31/07/2024 21:12

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/07/2024 21:09

Aww, sweetheart, you know the answer already!!
💐 🫂

Thank you for the hug I really could use one today ❤️

OP posts:
Bumblebee1688 · 31/07/2024 21:15

PurpleBugz · 31/07/2024 21:12

Yes it's abuse. I get it you need others to tell you before you trust your own judgment because he's affected you so much with the gaslighting.

If someone who claims to love me told me to shut the duck up and wasn't going through extreme stress and came to me with a grovelling apology I would end it just for that. Second time I do t care what he's going through I won't take it. But I've learnt. I've been where you are taking shit from a man so often I didn't even register how bad it was until I posted and got a tidal wave of he's abusive leave the bastard. Yo can do this you are strong look at all you have managed alone. You are worth more xx

That's exactly it! I just feel like if I change something things will change but I know in my heart it's the gaslighting making me think like this. Thank you for listening and replying it means so much xxx

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/07/2024 21:26

You are and have been in an abusive relationship with this man. He has ramped up the power and control against you here over this entire relationship.

This is who he really is and he is not going to change. Wanting him to change is a waste of time. He being nice sometimes is actually the nice part of the nice/nasty cycle of abuse which is a continuous one.

How can you be helped into leaving your abuser permanently?. This is not life for you or your children for that matter. It’s done them no favours at all to see you with him and you’re part of the blueprint they have for their future relationships.

Contact Women’s aid, they can and will
help you here.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/07/2024 21:28

He has gaslit you so much you think it’s your fault. ALL of this is on him and him alone. These types of men hate women too, ALL of them.

GreatTheCat · 31/07/2024 21:36

Yes he's abusive, yes he's abusing you.
Get him away and don't go back to him.

RichTea90 · 31/07/2024 21:41

I don’t feel like you gain anything from being with him, you can do and deserve so much better. A healthy relationship should build you up, and add to your life. It also sounds like he may be homophobic if he didn’t agree to you attending Pride. He’s also disrespectful to your friends. To me, it just doesn’t sound like a healthy or fulfilling relationship, and you deserve that.

If I were you, I’d consider the pros & cons of staying with him. Write it out. You might surprise yourself when you see written down in front of you that there are very, very few pros (if any?) then ask yourself honestly, what do you really want from a romantic relationship… what’s important to you in a partner?

MyNewNewlife · 31/07/2024 21:42

Dont underestimate your own knowledge, intuition, intelligence and strength.

You know its abuse, you siffer it and you are ready to free yourself. Take a deep breath, find your support, and save yourself. You will not regret it one bit.

Escapingafter50years · 31/07/2024 21:50

Too many horrible men like this around. I already posted the same thing on another thread this evening but think it could be useful to you too OP -
Google "Why does he do that by Lundy Bancroft free pdf" It will give you a chilling insight into the minds of controlling men.

Bananalanacake · 31/07/2024 21:52

Well done on not living together. Surely you can go out whenever you want, why ask permission, if you don't live together how does he know you are going out? Don't tell him, can your 18 year old look after the 10 year old. He's definitely abusive and you need to get rid, you split up before so do it again.

PurpleReindeer2 · 31/07/2024 21:54

Being with him does not enhance your life. It makes it much worse. He is controlling and abusive. Dump him and enjoy a happier life for you and your children.

WalkingaroundJardine · 31/07/2024 21:57

You are incompatible and your values are now fundamentally different. For him to be happy, you would have to change who you were and what you believe in and this means you would be miserable and isolated.

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