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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

Is this abuse?

35 replies

ItsMum14 · 10/09/2024 11:57

Hello
I posted another thread about the guy I was seeing for the last four years.
A lot of the replies told me that I was being abused, and I just couldn't see it.
Is this really abuse?

P.s take a shot every time I type the word "rage" lol

He was a good guy, almost sickly nice in fact, some would call it smarmy. He always did nice things for me, treated me out, cooked lovely meals for me because he enjoyed doing it, constantly complimented me, he basically put me on a pedestal, and went out of his way to make sure I was happy.

Underneath though, was a vile temper that would often rear it's ugly head. He would get into a rage over the smallest things that most other people would shrug off.
Once he was in a rage, there was no calming him. He would swear, throw vile insults, threaten to cause a scene, say his blood was boiling, then storm out and ignore me for days or weeks!
I always had to call him first to see if he was ok, and he NEVER took accountability. Every rage he had was blamed on me, because I was "annoying". He would apologise, come back and do it all over again over small things. When he was in a rage if I ever dared to respond, his rage would worsen and he would threaten to leave me/erase me from his life. He would never listen to me when I told him that what he was in a rage about wasn't a big deal, he would just storm out and stonewall me.
He has never been violent, but often uses the phrase "you don't know what I'm capable of". Once I asked him why he is so vile during his rages, and he said he doesn't mean to hurt me, he just says things in anger.
It takes him weeks to calm down from a rage!!
He demands respect at all times, and if anything you do or say isn't to his liking, he blows up. In fact, you have to watch what you say around him in general, because he is super sensitive and twists things you say to make them worse, thus triggering one of his rages.
Recently his rages have been more frequent and the insults have been worse.
During his last rage, I decided to finally speak up and tell him how nasty he was being. This resulted in him going mental, getting in my face and shoving me when I lightly put my hand on his chest to back him up. He then stormed out and left me 11 days ago, saying he's moving on and it's somehow my fault? I can honestly say that I've never done anything bad to this guy since knowing him.
Anyway, is this really abuse? Is it not just a guy with a vile temper?

OP posts:
yeesh · 10/09/2024 12:01

Of course it’s abuse, what else could it be! He threatens you, pushes you, gets in your face, insults you, ignores you for weeks, you ‘have to watch what you say’, and then he blames you for it all. Vile man. Why have you put up with this for so long?

EBearhug · 10/09/2024 12:02

Uncontrollable temper, easily set off, threatens violence (even if he hasn't been physically violent until he shoved you?) you have to watch what you say in case it's twisted or triggers him to lose his temper, he never apologises, but blames you...

What about him isn't abusive?

poppyzbrite4 · 10/09/2024 12:04

Yes he's abusive, please stay away from him.

Girlmom35 · 10/09/2024 12:07

This is just disgusting behaviour.
And yes, this is abuse.

Abuse shows itself in many different shapes and sizes. But however it comes out, it's always a conscious or subconscious tactic to gain an unhealthy upper hand in a relationship. To be in control of the other, their behaviour, their feelings.
His "rage" is a choice. He says he can't control them and he justifies them, but that's bullocks. Anyone with the emotional maturity of a 5-year old can control their temper. He chooses not to, because in the end it gets him what he wants. You change your behaviour to avoid the outbursts. You bend to his wishes. You are being molded into the perfect partner for him.
And he doesn't care one bit how that affects you, how that makes you feel.
That is abuse.

arethereanyleftatall · 10/09/2024 12:09

Of course it's abuse, but regardless - is this life pleasant for you? I cannot for a second imagine it would be. What is the reason you haven't left him?

NewtonsCradle · 10/09/2024 12:09

Given it's over now the abuse label doesn't change things. What do you want in a relationship? That relationship was inconsistent and his needs were more important than yours. Block him and be single for a bit while you build yourself up.

TheShellBeach · 10/09/2024 12:11

Block his nasty abusiveness.

Nobody should put up with this level of temper and threatening behaviour.

TheShellBeach · 10/09/2024 12:13

This resulted in him going mental, getting in my face and shoving me........

So he is actually physically violent, too.

Get away from him, before he really damages you.

Can you put in a Clare's Law request to the police?

AuntieDolly · 10/09/2024 12:20

Is he like this at work? Or can he manage to contain himself there?

Opentooffers · 10/09/2024 12:26

You are on the receiving end of his temper, it's aimed at you, so yes, it's clearly abuse.
If he was angry at something or someone else and having a general rant, that would be a bad temper, but he's putting it all on you.

ItsMum14 · 10/09/2024 12:29

AuntieDolly · 10/09/2024 12:20

Is he like this at work? Or can he manage to contain himself there?

At work everybody thinks he is the most amazing wonderful being that they've ever met. In fact, when I've told others who actually know him too, they don't believe me, because there is no way that somebody as lovely and nice as him could be like that...
Even in the street is he overly nice to people and they say I'm lucky to have such a wonderful guy. It's only his mum and myself who have seen the tempers.

OP posts:
Cheesandcrackers · 10/09/2024 12:29

This guy has all the red flags. Literally the entire deck. Dump and run.

RandomMess · 10/09/2024 12:31

Yep abuse

Read Lundy's "why does he do that"

Mr Nice Mr Nasty cycle for starters.

ItsMum14 · 10/09/2024 12:33

arethereanyleftatall · 10/09/2024 12:09

Of course it's abuse, but regardless - is this life pleasant for you? I cannot for a second imagine it would be. What is the reason you haven't left him?

I guess I stupidly accepted that it was a part of him. I never enjoyed it, and I had to be wary of what I said around him. Perhaps my self esteem is that low. He's the only guy who's ever loved me for me, been there when I needed someone to help me, listened to my problems and never judged me, treated me with so much love and care, genuinely he did.... until a rage came over him :(

OP posts:
Deipara · 10/09/2024 12:34

Even if it isn't abusive why would you want somebody in your life who has such anger issues? 🤔 not sure why the label 'abusive' matters much here?! wouldn't want to invest time in a relationship with someone who can behave like that.

MondayYogurt · 10/09/2024 12:36

Textbook abuse yes. Read Lundy Bancroft Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men

Cattery · 10/09/2024 12:37

Is this a joke? He’s an abusive, violent arsehole

jannier · 10/09/2024 12:58

You've already been told on thread one why think you will get a different answer now? Will you start a third thread?
Classic abuse get out before you get hurt..... emotional abuse is just as damaging.

arethereanyleftatall · 10/09/2024 13:37

'guess I stupidly accepted that it was a part of him. I never enjoyed it, and I had to be wary of what I said around him. Perhaps my self esteem is that low. He's the only guy who's ever loved me for me, been there when I needed someone to help me, listened to my problems and never judged me, treated me with so much love and care, genuinely he did.... until a rage came over him :('

Ok. So discounting how he was in the beginning, since that's in the past.
In the last say 2 months how often has he done those things you love about him, and how often the rage? And worse, even when he is doing the things you love about him, are you not on eggs shells permanently waiting for the next rage?

ItsMum14 · 10/09/2024 13:43

jannier · 10/09/2024 12:58

You've already been told on thread one why think you will get a different answer now? Will you start a third thread?
Classic abuse get out before you get hurt..... emotional abuse is just as damaging.

I only started another thread, as I never saw it as abuse and I'm shocked that it's classed as that. I'm not stupid, maybe a bit naive, but I only viewed it as a nasty temper that he had no control over. He said he loves me, he does all these nice things for me, so I'm just confused and wanted clarification from more people that this is actually a form of abuse. I won't be making a third thread 😂

OP posts:
EBearhug · 10/09/2024 13:49

From what you say, he tends to blame you, and never apologises. So even if he were unable to control his temper, he definitely has control over accepting blame and apologising.

I don't believe he has no control over his temper, either. Many people lash out at partners and others, but manage to control it with their boss or whoever.

yeesh · 10/09/2024 13:51

He can control it though, you said he only does it to you and his mother. If it was genuine then he would do it to everyone in his life AND even if he couldn’t control it then he should be trying to get help. He is an abusive bastard. You deserve better

Idontjetwashthefucker · 10/09/2024 14:10

You were told it was abuse on your other thread, nothing's changed

CraverSpud · 10/09/2024 14:15

It's abuse but why not ask another random group of strangers again.

ItsMum14 · 10/09/2024 14:23

arethereanyleftatall · 10/09/2024 12:09

Of course it's abuse, but regardless - is this life pleasant for you? I cannot for a second imagine it would be. What is the reason you haven't left him?

I love him for all the good things he did for me, and for him (how he is, minus the rage)... We don't live together, so when he'd storm out, he'd go home. I guess I hoped that with time and my patience, his temper would go. Wrong, it's only gotten worse and more frequent! 😩

OP posts:
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