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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

Opinions please

33 replies

DracunculusVulgaris · 29/10/2024 05:52

Good morning - lying awake, ruminating, anxious and possibly overthinking, but would value opinions please...

There is a long backstory, but, essentially, I have been with my partner for nearly three years, although we do not live together, live 70 miles apart and I travel up every Friday, after work, to spend the weekend with her, leaving in the early hours of Monday morning and drive straight to my place of work.

From the start, I have seen some red flags fluttering in the breeze, but recently have become more aware of behaviours which might be described as 'dogwhistling', DARVO and 'triangulation'. She is loud, swears a good deal, prone to irritability and anger, is, by her own admission, bossy, has a relationship and attitude to alcohol which I am uneasy with (although I recognise that, as my mother was alcoholic, I am wary and cautious around it myself), poorly educated and, forgive me, lacking in intelligence and the ability to converse or write in an articulate and comprehensible manner. All the polar opposite to how I perceive myself.

Until now, I have not felt physically unsafe, but, on Saturday, something happened which has caused me to think that her behaviour is escalating in terms of risks to my physical, as well as mental wellbeing. We were at her mother's house, relaxing after having spent the afternoon helping her mum in her garden, had just eaten and were sitting on the sofa. She, and her mum were watching a 'cheesy' Christmas film (not my 'thing' and I had started dozing!). Suddenly she reached across to me, said "you will watch this film" and proceeded to squeeze the left side of my chest so hard that it hurt. I challenged her at the time and she did apologise and no more was said. However I did raise it again on Sunday and her response was that she hadn't done it - when I told her that she actually had, she then proceeded to tell me that she had forgotten, but, in any event, it was something she occasionally does to her adult son in 'fun' and that I was overreacting to 'playfulness'.

I am not so sure and see it as a ramping up of what I perceive to be abusive behaviours, but, and it is a big but, I am autistic and not always sure about the context and intent of other people's actions or words. I am also aware that I am very sensitive and have a tendency to take things to heart, can be very black and white about things, can be very 'proper' and am, apparently, "pompous, stuck up, a snob and have a stick up my arse"!

May I please have thoughts and opinions as to whether or not I am right to be concerned?

Sorry it is so long

OP posts:
Poisonwood · 29/10/2024 06:02

Do you actually like her? There’s nothing in your post about why you are with her? What makes you smile about you and her?

I have to say, you come across rather derogatory about her anyways.

Railworker · 29/10/2024 06:02

I think you’re right to be concerned and should listen to your feelings in this matter. Tbh, she doesn’t sound well suited to you. Sorry.

DustyLee123 · 29/10/2024 06:04

She is abusive to you. End it.

Garlicnaan · 29/10/2024 06:05

I'm sorry to hear that your partner, who is meant to love and cherish you, physically hurt you.

That's not ok.

Also she does not have the right to demand you watch a film.

She then tried to gaslight you the next day.

From your introduction she doesn't sound like a nice person at all - and you don't sound compatible in the slightest either.

The relationship also sounds very one sided, you driving to her every weekend.

I have to ask, why are you still in this relationship? It does not sound like fun at all. I wonder if you feel worried about leaving and the possible repercussions?

wickerlady · 29/10/2024 06:09

Agree with others.

What are here redeeming qualities that counteract all the awful, unattractive things you have listed?

Shoxfordian · 29/10/2024 06:16

Who said that last paragraph to you? Her? I don't know why you're with someone you clearly don't like or respect

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 29/10/2024 06:28

She’s not the right person for you, OP. It’s not playful it’s hurtful.
She sounds like she has got issues that you shouldn’t have to deal with.
You also sound like you have nothing in common.

Interlaken · 29/10/2024 06:32

I also have no idea why you are with this person. They sound awful.

TwistedWonder · 29/10/2024 06:38

Why are you together? You sound like you don’t actually like each other at all.

Just end it - honestly it’s no loss

BMW6 · 29/10/2024 06:43

She sounds really horrible and nasty with it.

What do you like about her? Why would you want to see someone so unsuited to you?

Apart from her unpleasant character her physical abuse is unforgivable imo.

AgentJohnson · 29/10/2024 06:47

RUN!!!!!!

At best you are incompatible and at worst she’s abusive. The point of dating someone is to see if you are compatible, you are clearly not compatible, so why are you still with this person? If you are able to answer this question, hopefully you will be able to avoid this type of relationship in the future.

twentysevendresses · 29/10/2024 06:48

Good grief...apart from the glaringly obvious fact that she's a horrible person, you clearly don't like this woman and speak about her in an appalling manner!

Just end this ridiculous relationship today!

If I thought that the person I was dating thought about me in the way you do about her (uneducated, illiterate, unintelligent, etc) I'd be mortified!

DracunculusVulgaris · 29/10/2024 06:51

Thank you for the responses thus far - a division of opinion!

@Poisonwood, I take on board your comments about being 'derogatory' and I did not mean it to come across that way, but, fundamentally, we are opposites in terms of levels of education and ability to articulate - perhaps she is correct and I am 'pompous' and a 'snob', but I also feel that I have an absolute right to maintain my own standards in respect of my manner of speech and vocabulary, which remain unchanged, regardless of who I am engaging with.

@Shoxfordian, I have to say that my love and respect for her IS diminishing, but perhaps that is because of the behaviours which, although they have been present from the start, are only now becoming obvious to me, make me feel that I am 'useful, but not important', worthless and somehow 'less than' - I am far from perfect, and have many, many faults, as do we all!
But the question I am asking is: am I right to be concerned that the latest incident is an escalation, and whatever the status of our relationship, nobody should be caused physical pain or discomfort by their partner?

OP posts:
TwistedWonder · 29/10/2024 06:52

Thank you for the responses thus far - a division of opinion!

Wgere are you seeing this? I’d say it’s pretty unanimous to end the relationship- not a division of opinion at all .

RealHiker · 29/10/2024 06:59

Leave her. It sounds like you have nothing in common really. Her 'playfulness' will only get worse with time. Best to rip the plaster off rather than leaving it any longer.

Neverneverneveragain · 29/10/2024 07:01

She has physically hurt you and then gaslighted you. There are also other wrong behaviours and attitudes towards you which are wrong that you are seeing. Please leave her. She does not need to agree. If you discuss things with her she will blame you and turn the tables. You cannot make someone abusive like that see what they are doing. If you stay it will escalate for sure and she will continue to bully you until you will be so brainwashed and downtrodden that you won’t able to leave her. The fact that you are assessing your safety makes me think that you’d better tell her over the phone and not in person. Take care

DracunculusVulgaris · 29/10/2024 07:01

@TwistedWonder, perhaps , division of opinion' is not the correct choice of words, but I am seeing responses which suggest, possibly correctly, that I am being judgemental regarding my partner's character, but, regardless, do not feel that this warrants being caused physical pain.

As I said, in my opening post, I am autistic and do not always see things which are obvious to those who aren't! Not that I am using that as an excuse, if I am being horrible

OP posts:
BMW6 · 29/10/2024 07:03

But the question I am asking is: am I right to be concerned that the latest incident is an escalation, and whatever the status of our relationship, nobody should be caused physical pain or discomfort by their partner?

Of course! It really shouldn't need to be said, but it appears that we need to state the obvious.

Hairyesterdaygonetoday · 29/10/2024 07:06

Garlicnaan · 29/10/2024 06:05

I'm sorry to hear that your partner, who is meant to love and cherish you, physically hurt you.

That's not ok.

Also she does not have the right to demand you watch a film.

She then tried to gaslight you the next day.

From your introduction she doesn't sound like a nice person at all - and you don't sound compatible in the slightest either.

The relationship also sounds very one sided, you driving to her every weekend.

I have to ask, why are you still in this relationship? It does not sound like fun at all. I wonder if you feel worried about leaving and the possible repercussions?

I agree. She doesn’t seem to like or respect you. I wouldn’t stay with her.

Lurkingandlearning · 29/10/2024 08:50

She deliberately hurt you. I appreciate you’re autistic, but you know no one should deliberately hurt you, don’t you? That’s what you need to focus on.

The fact she also deliberately hurts her son in the same way tells you that no one is safe from her physical abuse/ spitefulness. If you are unsure what pain you should tolerate doesn’t how she treats her son make you want to be as far away from her as possible

Seaoftroubles · 29/10/2024 09:00

OP there is no division of opinion here. Replies are unanimous that you should leave. The way she is treating you is not OK and this last example of her deliberately hurting you physically, and then gaslighting you tells you all you need to know.

TwistedWonder · 29/10/2024 09:02

OP - I appreciate you’re ND so look at things differently but you’re focusing on this one incident rather than looking at the bigger picture that this relationship is dead on the water.

feelingfree17 · 29/10/2024 09:09

Every single word in your post screams end it.
It will only get worse, and you wouldn’t want this woman to be the mother of your children.

Sounds like you had a difficult upbringing with the challenges of an alcoholic Mum, please don’t make it difficult for yourself for the rest of your life. You have choices at the moment, so please end it.

Vermeers · 29/10/2024 09:13

Time to end things.
She deliberately hurt you, lied, and denied it.
Get out while you can.
You live far away, just text her its over.

MainlyWater · 29/10/2024 09:59

You live 70 miles away from her.

Just don't visit her again.