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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

What am i supposed to think??? long and self pitying (again)

45 replies

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:01

Breif history: Things have been v hard since birth of DD (2.5) she is my 2nd child, i have DD1 (17), DPs first. Unplanned but very much wanted and loved. I had a bad time after she was born, illness bereavement and PND (only diagnosed last year), we are in a bad situation financially. I am still on medication for depression and v bad anxiety. When things got really bad with my depression (i was totally irrational, almost manic) it took a huge toll on our relationship - DP told me he had less and less feelings for me the more horrible i was (this was pre diagnosis) and that he almost felt nothing for me, couldnt look at me, the full monty, and that we should split - well, i begged and pleaded and he agreed to stay. Things got better, my anxiety was still bad and about a year later i was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, chucked on ADs and left to get on with it. The ADs did help, but i do have some really bad days, terrible PMT, but most days are OK.

DP knows how insecure i am and that questioning our relationship makes me feel terrible. Its like a spite thing - we had a very stressfull day today and i have actually been having what i call a "mad" day today. Just a very short fuse, frustrated and generally not great, was happy to go along with that if you know what i mean. But out of the blue he said, "you're not all there you know that don't you" because i was looking at him funny because DD had put some stickers on his shirt. Well he may well be right but WTF?? I can't remember what i said, but probably something along the lines of "well if you dont like it....." so he comes out with the classic sort of thing.."Well, perhaps its time to say goodbye" that sort of shit....he wont leave, he wont leave DD, he ADORES her. I have had enough of all that shit and i just said "look, dont pull this shit on me, if you want to go - go, i wont hold onto your trousers again (i did before - i have no shame )" Cant remember what was said next but he then said "You killed me (meaning us) ages ago" ......So, you tell me, what the hell am i supposed to think....he is VERY stressed out just now and doesnt feel well, and i do think its just spite, but...i will never forget that day when he looked at me and told me that he had no feelings for me, and I am pretty sure he stayed for two reasons, one because he felt sorry for me, i was destroyed and secondly because of DD, probably not in that order. He is a good man, kind, considerate, everything i would ever want, but When he says these things, it does make me wonder if he is right, if there really isn't any "us" anymore. I dont know how to feel about it either - ive certainly no fight in me, not sure i have it in me to beg him to stay if he wants to go, not that i want him to, i still love him, never stopped...but its so hard, we can never have a proper conversation without DD whining for attention (which she always gets from daddy) and it can be very stressfull when we are trying to sort out financial shit (as we were earlier today - although thats not what triggered the comments, i dont even know what started it). What makes me , is i will then get the whole, you kow i didnt mean it shit. Its like he uses it to keep me in check..yes i know i was being a bit short today, i think i have PMT but its been a shit day, bored DD, very tired mummy, broken TV and cant afford a new one. Crap weather and having to sort out mortgage shit.

So tell me, is he lashing out, or does he really feel nothing for me? He is so affectionate to DD, and thats great, i love to see it, they are so close - i feel left out though, on both parts, from him and from her. Im not jealous of DD AT ALL, but christ, i remember when he was affectionate with me like that, not anymore though. We have sex, but its mechanical, can be quite active and passionate, but hardly ever loving, and i miss that so much.

OP posts:
lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:19

Blimey, i must be pissing everyone off with my ramblings

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 01/05/2008 22:24

LEM, sorry to hear you are having a tough time.

Would you consider going to Relate, to have counselling as a couple, to help you both to identify ways to talk without having a 'flashover' ?

My heart aches for you, life is grim sometimes

windygalestoday · 01/05/2008 22:29

lem we have similar sort of shit going on here too ...

moondog · 01/05/2008 22:30

Lucy, you really really need some life or activity beyond your home.
It would make the world of differnece.

Can you not start by committing to something small? A few hours in a charity shop? Working on WRVS tea counter in a hospital?

Youcannotbeserious · 01/05/2008 22:33

Hi LEM!

I'm sorry you are having a bad day - I'm have a sh*t day too, if it's any consolation!!

I think one problem you and your DP have is that you both feel under quite a bit of pressure........ He's the breadwinner, and is probably feeling a bit of stress that you don't have much money and you feel 'stuck' (I think, from what you've said before)

I think, almost certainly, he's lashing out. If he felt nothing, that's what you'd feel from him - nothing....The fact that there is anger means there is something, IYSWIM....

I know you like being a SAHM, but maybe you could look at ways to help him with he business or with another job (You have a Phd, right?) - Maybe tutoring in the evenings or something?

I (Personally) think this might bring you some confidence and fulfillment too........

These are just my thoughts, so please take them for what they are worth..

Hope you are feeling brighter soon.......

YCBS x

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:34

Im just not sure i have the energy tbh - ive thought about getting a job, but i have no confidence

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moondog · 01/05/2008 22:36

Lem, you know that it is a slef fulfilling prophecy don't you?
The less you do, the less you want to do.
Ask yourself if you want to spend the rest of your life sitting in the house feeling miserable.

You've only got one crack at it.

Youcannotbeserious · 01/05/2008 22:41

LEM - Moondog is right!

And, when you start doing something, you might find you really enjoy it (if you don't you can always quit!)

You don't have anything to lose by giving it a shot!

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:45

well there is the fact that if he really doesnt want me, i will have to fend for myself anyway - that would be the ironic thing, he would probably want me then.....he has spent the last week harping on about his client, how she is always out running, keeping fit etc - think he really admires her strength and enthusiasm. Maybe he is trying to encourage me

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BreevandercampLGJ · 01/05/2008 22:46

You have to fight for you and for your relationship.

I am thinking of a poem, about extreme inertia called First They Came For The Jews.

You have to fight and you have to fight now, otherwise you run the risk of waking up one day and there will be nothing left to fight for.

Youcannotbeserious · 01/05/2008 22:48

It's not a one sided thing, though, is it?

Your DP needs to knuckle down and run his business as a proper business - not doing this that and the other for clients for free etc.,

But, yes, I am sure he'd be over the moon to see you have more confidence and doing something you really enjoy doing..........

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:50

Is it really because im lazy? All of it? I feel like it is, the money, the lack of, well anything, between me and DP. He does that alot, talking about other women.....it must be so awful for him seeing all those strong minded, beautiful women and then coming home to me. It IS a self fullfilling prophecy moondog - i know that, but how the hell can i stop it. He used to be so proud of me but now well, hes not ashamed but..he's hardly going to be bragging to his mates about me is he.

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lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 22:53

some days i feel really positive, but then i realise its a mask, like i have to really try to pretend that i am happy wiht my life. I love my DD so much, and i am so proud of her, she IS my life, i would feel to guilty i think to have it anyother way - pathetic really.

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moondog · 01/05/2008 22:54

I have been off work for 6 weeks (Long complicated story)
When I work f/t I also manage to exercise x3 a week, study for my MSc, run a p/t business nad bring up 2 kids alone (dh away)

After a few weeks being off I have lost so much energy and willpower. I am not trying to say how great I am or belittle depression but my own descent into (temp.) inaction has shown me what a vicious circle it can be.

Thank Gawd am returingi to work next week or next step would be not to get dressed in the morning.

I am looking at Acceptance & Commitment Therapy as part of my MSc. it is part of the 'third wave' of cog. therapies, mext on from CBT.

One of the many useful things it does is suggest changing the word 'but' for 'and'.

So simple yet veery powerful.

'I want to change my life but I have little confidene'

'to

'I want to change my life and have little confidence'

Sort of feel the fear and do it anyway.

BreevandercampLGJ · 01/05/2008 22:56

She is not your life, she is a huge part of your life.

Stop hiding behind her, and start taking small but positive steps.

The poem is below...approach it from the view point that apathy is running through the verse, not laziness apathy

First They Came for the Jews
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

Youcannotbeserious · 01/05/2008 22:57

It's got nothing to do with laziness, IMO -
and it's not just about YOU!

But, I think you have it in you to be that strong willed, confident person.......... You've just got to reconnect with her!

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 23:02

moondog, you are the sort of woman i could only aspire to be. Ive always wanted to be an acheiver, make people proud of me. Prove people wrong - i was a VERY rebellious teenager, bound to amount to nothing......well.....looks like they were right.

Funny, i saw someone who i sort of lost my virginity too, i was very young (too young), he was much older and married, I had an enourmous crush on him, i saw him yesterday, he blanked me, ive seen him a few times recently and he has completely blanked me. Not that i really want to say anything to him, but i went thorugh a hard time over him, from the age of about 14, until, well, 21 at how long that particular episode dragged on for. I wanted him to talk to me, just to prove to him that im not a silly little brain dead slag, that i did OK for myself, but well, i looked like shit, don't have much to boast about, believe me ive tried to think of ways to say, oh, i have a PhD you know, into the imaginary conversation, im that vain - just to show him, he didn't actually have any affect on my life after all....... Another part of me wants to go up to him and say, "oi, you sick cunt....you took advantage of me and you fucked my life up, thankyou very fucking much" To be honest i dont think he did, i mean, i fancied him so.......fair game i suppose. Just wish i had more self respect.

OP posts:
BreevandercampLGJ · 01/05/2008 23:04

Stop looking backwards.

We are talking about your future.

moondog · 01/05/2008 23:06

LEM, and you are the kind of woman I aspire to be.
I want a PhD more than anything in the world. I am very jealous indeed.

Point is perhaps that we all want to steal parts of other people's lives.

I know though that wasting your brilliant mind as yuo are doing is criminal.

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 23:07

i hate it when i do this, i want to break this cycle i really do, you guys have so much patience, and i know i would test the patience of a saint.

OP posts:
BreevandercampLGJ · 01/05/2008 23:08

OK

Have you read the poem ?

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 23:10

Its funny, when i was doing my PhD and people who i tell about it (i dont tell anyone in RL) say to me, oh you must be so clever - but im not, really, im not. I am not stupid, im intelligent, but average. I scraped through my PhD basically because i had a bereavement and they felt sorry for me. I honestly believe that. I am not running myself down when i say that, i used to think that about fellow students i used to think, but he/she is a fuckwit, how the hell can they fool people... but they do, perhaps i should start practice the art of deception

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lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 23:11

I did read the poem, im not sure i get it though, i like it and it makes me feel angry but im not sure why.

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lucyellensmum · 01/05/2008 23:13

I think my DP resents me for not working, after all i could make all the money worries go away if i worked, but then i resent him for pissing around with this business that has crippled us over the past 2-3 years and just get so angry actually. When he was working for others he was earning 30K before tax. For the past three years he has netted 10K - so yes, i do blame myself for not working, but he couldnt have chosen a worse time to do this business thing, i guess it was now or never, but Is it worth it?

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chocciepot · 01/05/2008 23:14

LEM you have to stop hiding. Stop keeping your life on hold. Could you stop the ADs and get back to being YOU?

If your life is shit, ADs is just covering it up, it is not actually helping turning your life around, only YOU can do that.

I agree with moondog, the less you do, the less you want to do.

I have killed my husbands love. I am a snappy, unhappy, rash, patronising and judgmental, short tempered, and sometimes quite dumb woman. I have just not been a very nice person to be with the last couple of years. I too had pnd, I guess that was what started it. And I am fat, I cant be bothered with how I look, and I am not very nice to him, why should he still love me? Why?

He looks at me, and I can see, not exactly hatred, but despise. He does not behave like a man who loves. He is with me for the children. I know that.

The thing is, you cant just behave like crap, and expect love to go on for ever. It can die. You have to work at a relationship. Sorry if this is not what you want to hear, but that is what I have experienced.