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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 he emotionally abusive? Or am I?

22 replies

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 14:30

I need your opinion as I am just so confused to what am I dealing with.

Long story short, we are in couples therapy for a year now, which (apparently) addressed a lot of past resentment, lack of trust. We were ready to finish the therapy last summer on a happy end note (I was on antidepressants at the time). I am not sure now if I really came out of depression or did it just blunt my emotions to the point I stopped being upset about stuff.
It's been few months again into feeling again pretty bad about us, once I came of it. Our biggest issue through 10 year relationship is poor communication and despite trying hard to deal with ongoing arguments, it's hard to not feel resentful and deeply hurt. He will pick arguments about anything. Few examples:
On Christmas holidays abroad I always communicated when I am going to be washing my hair as without hairdryer it was a long process until I'd be able to leave the house. I also planned on using this time to tidy the apartment we were staying in. As our toddler was getting ready for nap and being needy towards me, I suggested for husband to take him out now so I can finish getting ready. Big fallout over me rushing him out of the house.
I packed new toothbrush heads for all family. He announced he picked green one. I made comment "Need to tell daughter about it, as it was her colour" Few days later, big drama, I didn't tell her and they were using the same toothbrush head for few days. Because I said, "I need to tell her..." Maybe I said I will, maybe just threw that she needs to be told. Not my toothbrush, not my problem, I dismissed that piece of information as soon as I heard it, and I no longer supervise her brushing to spot it either.
I got defensive straight away, there is tens of similar situations, but they all have similar behaviour theme.
He tells me that I lie to him about what happened. He gives me hateful looks like I killed someone, won't let me speak to defend myself, interrupts, get angry when I walk away from an argument, or get angry when I don't reply immidiately - like I am not allowed to gather my thoughts to what is actually happening). He accuses me I just want to argue when I raise my voice from frustration (I literally didn't do anything to start this conversation in the first place).
I have a new phone, and asked him to put passwords to home maintenance apps that are registered to his e-mail address. He got angry that I can find them myself saved on my laptop. Eventually, started yelling at me that I don't give a sh*t, but wasn't able to explain himself. I struggle to understand most of the time what does he refer to. Few hours later he came to conclusion it was about me not setting the home alarm at night while he was away (one of the apps I needed the password for). My explanation was laughed at, again, storming out, yelling, calling me delusional and always looking for excuses... What I really think it was about? He has been away for work, where maids clean his sheets and fold his pants everyday, but then he comes home to messy and loud house. When on his first day back, asked me what I would like to do - I said to work on my digital content website. So I did. Then he pointed out I haven't done anything in the house that day (after doing everything for past week with zero help) because I spend 4 hours on Instagram.
He will get be flipping out when I start crying - accusing me of emotionally manipulating him with tears and making him look like he is a bad guy here.
Eventually, he will go outside to smoke, come home and apologise. Apologise with 'BUT'
I feel like walking on eggshells, I never know what is going to trigger him. Spending too much time in the supermarket? Forgetting to remind him I go to work the next day, so he has to stay home with kids?

I lost hope things can change and in order to preserve myself I stopped running back to his arms every time he 'apologises'. I feel so deeply hurt and unhappy yet he still makes me doubt myself.
What do you think?

OP posts:
MeAndBoqDrivesmemad · 19/01/2025 14:58

He sounds horrible and emotionally unstable. Did the counsellor address his abuse?

myplace · 19/01/2025 15:02

It sounds unhappy and beyond salvage.

Why are you still with him?

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. You are unhappy. You can’t change anything about his behaviour so better to call it a day.

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 15:16

MeAndBoqDrivesmemad · 19/01/2025 14:58

He sounds horrible and emotionally unstable. Did the counsellor address his abuse?

Not at all, called it's ok to express anger as it's a valid emotion as every other and tried to work with him on putting it towards something else. She will give me looks full of compassion when he is in his element going on about all my wrongdoings. I have had few solo sessions (agreed by all of us) but she is too focused on not taking sides on those, and show me his perspective. That's why I doubt myself in everything, when professional won't call it. on either of us?

OP posts:
Catapultaway · 19/01/2025 15:19

Honestly... ask your couples therapist. I'm sure there are two sides to every story so nobody here is really qualified to tell you.

Velvetbee · 19/01/2025 15:24

Just leave. This person makes your life miserable, you have tried and tried and tried. Stop analysing whose fault things are and just end it.

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 15:24

myplace · 19/01/2025 15:02

It sounds unhappy and beyond salvage.

Why are you still with him?

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. You are unhappy. You can’t change anything about his behaviour so better to call it a day.

I am financially dependant on him.
We have two kids below 5.
He made me used to nice lifestyle.
I have gone wrong about conceiving our first child - so still feel like he has right to be angry about it...
In general he is generous, kind, loving man - apart from when he is not.

OP posts:
GoldOrca · 19/01/2025 15:38

Honestly leave. Do you want this the rest of your life? Would you let your daughter go through this? You clearly don't get on and he doesn't sound very nice but sticking a label on why isn't going to help either way. I'd be getting organised and making a plan to leave.

JoyousPoet · 19/01/2025 15:42

This is domestic abuse - by him. I’m so sorry, OP. I know how it feels to live like that. It’s no life.

Please get support from Refuge or Womens Aid. They will help you to unpick what is happening and find a way forward.

Check out Lundy Bancroft’s books too. I found them very helpful.

Sending hugs. 💐

MrTiddlesTheCat · 19/01/2025 16:03

You need to ditch the couples counsellor, who sounds rubbish anyway, and go for individual counselling.

whaddayawannado · 19/01/2025 16:10

Joint counselling wherever there is even a hint of abuse in a relationship is a really bad idea. Might I suggest that you find a different counsellor and go on your own (and don't tell him you are going either).

Yes, I think your relationship is abusive, and no, I don't think it is you.

ludicrouslycapaciousbags · 19/01/2025 16:11

I have gone wrong about conceiving our first child - so still feel like he has right to be angry about it

What does this mean?

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 16:17

ludicrouslycapaciousbags · 19/01/2025 16:11

I have gone wrong about conceiving our first child - so still feel like he has right to be angry about it

What does this mean?

got pregnant despite him saying 'not yet'

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 19/01/2025 16:22

Neither of you are abusive but you do bring out the worst in each other. It doesn’t sound as if you even like each other at this point and you’re only there for the money.

Stop fannying around with a business that doesn’t pay and get job. Then leave him and adjust your expectations around a lifestyle.

rwalker · 19/01/2025 16:23

The whole thing sounds exhausting tbh I don’t think you bring the best out in each other
you sound like a hyper organised person wants to schedule and plan everything and he is a what ever do it when ever person nobody is wrong but it’s a bad combination

myplace · 19/01/2025 16:48

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 16:17

got pregnant despite him saying 'not yet'

Deliberately?
You are very vulnerable to the situation and it seems as though it was your deliberate choice.
You need to organise yourself into a better position. Go back to work. Organise the house so that you have options. Don’t engage with him emotionally, view it as a situation to be managed until you can change it.

Betchyaby · 19/01/2025 16:56

How exhausting. LTB.

Labrawindow · 19/01/2025 17:08

StormingNorman · 19/01/2025 16:22

Neither of you are abusive but you do bring out the worst in each other. It doesn’t sound as if you even like each other at this point and you’re only there for the money.

Stop fannying around with a business that doesn’t pay and get job. Then leave him and adjust your expectations around a lifestyle.

Edited

Did we read the same Op? there's no excuse for him to treat her like that, we also don't know how her business is doing. Plenty of content businesses make loads of money... and it can be quite challenging to make a business work when you're the primary carer.

Twaddlepip · 19/01/2025 17:59

He’s abusive. Therapy can’t work with abusive people. I would end this, it’s clearly making you desperately unhappy and people like your dud of a husband will never, ever change.

Twaddlepip · 19/01/2025 18:00

StormingNorman · 19/01/2025 16:22

Neither of you are abusive but you do bring out the worst in each other. It doesn’t sound as if you even like each other at this point and you’re only there for the money.

Stop fannying around with a business that doesn’t pay and get job. Then leave him and adjust your expectations around a lifestyle.

Edited

This is a worrying post.

Twaddlepip · 19/01/2025 18:01

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 16:17

got pregnant despite him saying 'not yet'

Did you make yourself pregnant then?

Of course you didn’t.

This further cements that he is abusive. Punishing you for apparently getting pregnant all by yourself.

StormingNorman · 19/01/2025 18:03

Labrawindow · 19/01/2025 17:08

Did we read the same Op? there's no excuse for him to treat her like that, we also don't know how her business is doing. Plenty of content businesses make loads of money... and it can be quite challenging to make a business work when you're the primary carer.

I read a post where two people treat each other badly and speak to each other appallingly. Shouting and being disrespectful don’t necessarily add up to abuse. Having arguments is not necessarily abusive.

And we know OP’s business doesn’t pay well enough to support her because she’s said she’s financially reliant on her OH. A business that doesn’t pay is a hobby.

trippy8 · 19/01/2025 18:11

Labrawindow · 19/01/2025 17:08

Did we read the same Op? there's no excuse for him to treat her like that, we also don't know how her business is doing. Plenty of content businesses make loads of money... and it can be quite challenging to make a business work when you're the primary carer.

I work part time to access childcare discounts, in the industry that doesn't interests me anymore but it pays ok for what it is and they're flexible with my various children related needs. I have no family in UK to support me with this.
Therefore, I am trying to start something different that can be done from home.
I cannot work full time until both my kids are at school age, because of the cost of the childcare in this country.

OP posts:
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