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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

He makes me feel like I’m crazy!!!!!

66 replies

Letmeexplain1 · 30/01/2025 09:37

Hi everyone…I really really need some help from impartial sources as I am being made to feel as if i am crazy. This is going to be a long one.

I have been with my partner for nearly 3 years now, we don’t live together, but we don’t live far away from each other. I have one child, he has one also from previous marriages.

He is the sort of man with old fashion views of been very family orientated, he’s a ‘provider’ and prides himself on providing for his family
And being the man of the house. All of which I do look for in a man as I quite like the old fashioned view when it comes to families. But not to the extent he goes too and is slowly getting worse.

From the get go he would always comment on the clothes I wear, has a problem with me wearing gym leggings, or if there is a tiny bit of cleavage out. I am in my late 30’s and like to think I am trendy and fashionable but all I seem to get off him is ‘one day you’ll stop dressing like a teenager’ or can you go put a top on underneath that cardigan’ even if I’m not leaving the house he will still look at me in some sort of disgust. I have told him time and time again that I will always wear what I want to wear end of….but I have noticed that I do now cover up a lot more with baggy clothes just to avoid the agro or the looks from him.

If I want to go and see a friend for a few hours, he’ll never tell me I can’t but his energy will completely change and his face will change and he’ll ask me how long I’ll be, or ‘why can’t we all go’ ‘you never ask me if I want to come along’ ‘we should be doing things as a family’ when sometimes I just want to go and see my friends for a catch up by myself! Or if I go on a rare night out with my friends I just cannot relax because he’s either messaging me whilst I am out, or on the days leading up to me going out he’s asking me what I’m wearing, asking if I’ll want picking up, saying ‘nothing good happens after 12am’

When we do go out for meals with family or friends he tells me to ‘ssshhh’ that I’m being too loud and other people on other tables can hear me. If I’m just at home in a good mood saying silly things or joking about I’ll get him shaking his head at me saying I act like a ‘boy’ with my ‘boy humour’
I’m a bubbly person I just like to have a laugh and don’t take things too seriously but I feel as if slowly I’m changing into this person that he wants me to be which is a quiet little house wife with no personality!

I can’t even post a nice selfie on my
Facebook story because all I get is ‘ you look for validation from other people on the internet’ so I just don’t bother anymore because I know I’ll get a shitty message from
Him.

When I pull him up on these and tell him how all of these constant comments make me feel…and I mean it is constant picking and getting at me all the time. He will somehow twist things so cleverly and turn it all around and say it’s my hormones, I’ve ‘turned again’ that nothings even happened, I’m over reacting. When I know that these things are not normal. He’ll say I’m trying to make him out to be manipulative and someone that he’s not. Then I’m left questioning myself thinking is it me? Am I the problem? Am I over reacting? When I know deep down that it’s not me it’s him!!!

There is so much more I could write but I’d be here for days.

OP posts:
BodenCardiganNot · 30/01/2025 09:39

Is there a reason you can't leave him and live peacefully with your child? You are in a far better position than many women - you don't live together and you don't share a child.

Fastingandhungry · 30/01/2025 09:42

Blimey, I couldn’t put up with that shite, off you pop mate would be my reaction. Co-parenting only.

Beebsta · 30/01/2025 09:45

He is slowly killing your spirit.

genuine question, what are you getting from this relationship? It doesn’t sound like it is positive for you.

i think it might be time to move on and regain your sense of self before it is truly destroyed.

Odiebay · 30/01/2025 09:45

He si not old fashioned or traditional. He is controlling. Telling you what to wear and making it not worth the strop/atmosphere to see friends is him training you. It is controlling and abusive. These are the red flags that are glaring you in the face and this is the point you need to get out before you normalise this.

You have duty to teach your child this is not normal. If they were told by their partner what then can/cannot wear and made to feel bad about seeing friends what would you say?

ShushImTalking · 30/01/2025 09:47

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
He's controlling.
LTB
Be happy
That is all

Eyesopenwideawake · 30/01/2025 09:49

And his good points are?

MrsSethGecko · 30/01/2025 09:50

He's a nasty cunt, and nasty cunts don't improve. They get worse.

mamajong · 30/01/2025 09:55

Read your post back and imagine it was a friend telling you, what advice would you give? Simply put, this is controlling behaviour that you need to walk away from.

Kittylechat · 30/01/2025 09:58

He's trying to diminish you and make you less. Get rid of him.

Daleksatemyshed · 30/01/2025 09:58

He's not traditional, he's controlling and possessive Op. You've noticed already that you're changing how you dress, in a few years you won't see your friends, laugh out loud or go anywhere without him.
It's your life, not his, get out before you're a shadow of the real you

TwistedWonder · 30/01/2025 10:00

He’s not old fashioned and traditional, he’s a manipulative controlling cunt waving more red flags that the Russian army on May Day.

Thankfully you don’t live together which makes running for the hills a lot easier.

CarliLove35 · 30/01/2025 10:02

Dump him NOW. You’re already changing the way you dress so as not to rile him. Don’t! Get rid of him and start enjoying life again.

BodenCardiganNot · 30/01/2025 10:02

@Fastingandhungry
No co-parenting needed. He's not the father of her child, thankfully.

Wishimaywishimight · 30/01/2025 10:03

For the life of me I cannot see why a grown woman would allow a man, with whom she doesn't even live, to have such a say in how she lives her life.

Why on earth are you continuing with this 'relationship'? He sounds utterly horrible. A partner is someone who love and likes you, who supports you and wants the best for you, who wants you to be happy and enjoy your life. Does he do any of these things for you?

olderbutwiser · 30/01/2025 10:05

Have some validation from another person on the internet - he is a controlling arsehole, kick him into touch.

Thank goodness you don’t live with him or have a child with him.

(NB: don’t attempt to get into a conversation with him about this, just TELL him it’s over. He won’t like you taking control so expect a bumpy response but stay calm, stay firm, step away.)

2chocolateoranges · 30/01/2025 10:06

Please leave, you have a child , you need to show them this is not how women should be treated and now how men should act!

BlueBeam · 30/01/2025 10:10

Wow... I think by posting here you know this isn't right, but for context my DH has somewhat traditional values (as do I), however he treats me the exact opposite of what you've described (loves seeing me dressed up, actively encourages me having a social life etc.).

I'm sure there are many other women who have similar experiences and would agree that the 'traditional values' is a load of nonsense, and just a mask to hide his controlling ways.

He is eroding yourself confidence slowly but surely and you need to get out before he causes any further damage. For what it's worth, the way you describe yourself you sound great - confident, fun, sociable, trendy - all lovely qualities that the right person will adore in you and not try to change!

As others have pointed out, you are in a good position as you don't live together so you can totally distance yourself without him trying to gaslight you / worm his way back in.

Go find someone who loves and appreciates you for who you are. If your DP is looking for a doormat, I saw some on offer at Dunelm the other day.

ilovelamp82 · 30/01/2025 10:12

Thank goodness you don't live with him. He would only get worse, once you moved in/got married or had a child together. I'm sure he would love to trap you. I bet his ex has a fair few stories she could tell you too. Get out while it's relatively simple to do. This is no life to live.

BodenCardiganNot · 30/01/2025 10:14

Go find someone who loves and appreciates you for who you are.

Or decide to take time to appreciate being single and all the benefits that brings. It's not a case of 'any relationship - no matter how awful - is better than no relationship'.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 30/01/2025 10:14

I stopped reading after your first paragraph - it told me everything I needed to know! He is a horrible controlling man and you need to end this 'relationship' asap. Thank your lucky stars you don't live with him or have a child with him. You can do better, even if that's remaining single forever!

PeterPicklePiper · 30/01/2025 10:14

He is not making you happy

Therefore end the relationship & be happy

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 30/01/2025 10:16

Please leave this relationship. He constantly criticises you as a means of control. He has you changing your personality to appease him. I was married to someone like this who hated when I went out with friends and created an argument either just before I went or just after I returned. Every time. Spending money on clothes or golf clubs for him wasn't a problem but spending money on me was a source of rage. He beat me down over the years and eventually had an affair and we split. It took me ages to get over his treatment of me. To this day, I freeze if a man gets annoyed and panic. Thank god you don't live together.

MounjaroOnMyMind · 30/01/2025 10:17

Why on earth are you giving this awful man any of your attention? He's jealous, paranoid, selfish and wants to limit your life. Honestly, he's really awful. I think you should end it immediately and block him on all channels.

TheFormidableMrsC · 30/01/2025 10:21

Fuck all of that. It's death from a thousand cuts. Please end this relationship. You deserve so much better. He's a controlling, manipulative, gaslighting arsehole and this will NEVER get better. I would also consider doing The Freedom Programme so that you are better armed when you meet men in future. Good luck.

BellissimoGecko · 30/01/2025 10:21

Why are you staying? What do you get out of this relationship? It sounds like he doesn't like anything about you!

He's a manipulative, controlling twat and you're not happy. Dump him.

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