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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 emotional abuse?

51 replies

Mumof295 · 10/07/2025 00:45

Hello everyone I’ve been holding off on posting here for awhile now in fear that my partner might find out I have an account. We’ve been together 15 years and have two children ages 9 and 5. He was always quite gentle and understanding with the odd anger issue which I overlooked because in general he was a good partner and dad. The last 4 years he has changed dramatically. Recently he has been telling me I show too much skin, in dressing for men’s attention. He calls me derogatory names in front of the children. He has threatened to leave me if I don’t delete certain guys off my Facebook, mostly close family friends, even one being a distant cousin. So I deleted them. I did used to accept anyone and everyone, not to chat to them but just because I didn’t see Facebook as a totally personal thing. I uploaded a profile picture of myself which he made me delete because I looked like a “prostitute”. His words. I do not in any way look like a prostitute but he said the red lipstick was going to attract men to look at my profile. He has argued with friends I’ve made and told me I shouldn’t be friends with them. He told me if I go back to work, he might aswell leave me. He constantly speaks ill of my family. My 9 year old son tells me he is scared of his dad and that he is so mean. He says it’s better when daddy isn’t here. My partner works away so we only see him every fortnight when he comes home for the weekend. This has only been since the end of May. I have voice recordings of him threatening to leave me if I didn’t delete my Instagram account. I did delete it for him. He tells me I am playing games with him and has threatened to kill himself and leave it on my conscience. He told me yesterday he will leave me and never see or speak to me or the children again. I have told his mum I am worried about him as he has become unrecognisable. She just says he has difficulty regulating his emotions. I cannot cope with him anymore. I feel like he doesn’t even like me, let alone love me. I tell him he’s hurting me and he says things like “you’re playing with me, you’re acting like a victim, you’re a woman getting all up in your emotions”. He tells me I am listening to my family too much. He says I shouldn’t speak about what goes on at home, it should be kept “in house”. He once shoved me during an argument and when I mention this he screams at me “say that again and I will leave you”. He gets extremely angry to the point I am frightened sometimes. He has threatened to kill me one night, so I went to my brothers and he didn’t stop calling and texting, again threatening to kill himself. I had to call his mum because I was worried about him. He told me to stop telling his mum because she is worried about my mental state. I don’t know what he’s said to her about me but I have a feeling he’s told her I’m mentally ill or crazy. Once when we were arguing he followed me to the bathroom and I called him a woman beater, because I feel emotionally beater. He said “I’ll show you woman beater!” And raised his fist, at which point I called my then 8 year old son. He didn’t hit me but gave me the fear that he was going to. When I tell him I think he’s abusing me, he denies it or says I push him to act that way. He says men act in anger when they are upset, whereas women cry. I am 34 and I don’t need this stress in my life. I just wish I could make him see what he’s doing to our little family. He always promising this dream life, he wants to earn loads of money, buy property and land, give us a good life. I don’t feel safe with him. I really don’t wanna break up my family but I don’t know if I’ll ever get through to him. I love him, well I love how he used to be. He has changed so much and become such an angry man. Has anyone been through something similar? Is this abuse or am I overreacting? I really feel trapped.

OP posts:
Mumof295 · 10/07/2025 00:51

Sorry there are a few typos there because I was typing it all out so fast trying to get as much info in as possible. There’s so much more to it but I’m waiting to see replies and then I can go from there. Don’t wanna bombard you all with too much at once.

OP posts:
SapphOhNo · 10/07/2025 00:53

In short yes. You should leave him.

Charliecatpaws · 10/07/2025 00:58

He’s abusing you, huge red flags. When he tells you next time he’s leaving tell him to go. Please contact woman’s aid for advice and help

CharlotteFlax · 10/07/2025 01:18

It sounds awful. You are not over reacting. Please leave him.

Kimwestonhelpless · 10/07/2025 01:22

Abusing you and the children please don't underestimate the effect of seeing this will have upon them.
I grew up in a DV household having therapy for it 50 years on.

MarxistMags · 10/07/2025 01:33

It's time to go. You called your 8yo DS to protect you. How damaging is that for him ? Next it could be your 4yo DS .
It's time to get everything sorted financially and leave him before he kills you and your sons.
I believe there is info on here about DV and what to do about leaving your abuser.

MeTooOverHere · 10/07/2025 01:36

Next time he's away working, take the opportunity to get your necessary paperwork together and see a solicitor.

Do you have access to money that he doesn't know about? Get a place to stay and move ASAP. If you can do that all in the same time span when he's next away do that. If not, stay calm and pleasant when he's home and then bolt once he's left again for work.

Kimwestonhelpless · 10/07/2025 01:36

Markxist mags.. that's the sort of stuff that I witnessed and a whole load more.
It leaves its mark.

DNLove · 10/07/2025 01:37

Your son has told u his father scares him. That should be enough to tell you what to do. You called your 8 year old son to stop your partner punching you. Your child is seeing domestic abuse. Only you have the power to protect him. Make the right choice. Get your evidence together,talk to a solicitor and get a restraining order. Once in place have the locks changed.

SwisswolvesLilley · 10/07/2025 01:38

Yes this is most definitely emotional abuse. His change of personality is surprising and it is giving me the impression he is drinking a lot or taking substances. Either way, you and your kids do not deserve this. Get out before something really bad happens.

MarxistMags · 10/07/2025 01:44

@Kimwestonhelpless I'm sorry Kim. I can't imagine what that is like

I know how childhood physical abuse leaves a MH mark as my friend is only now getting therapy at age 60+

Bittenonce · 10/07/2025 08:43

You’re not overreacting. This is a truly bad situation for you and your kids, it will only get worse and you need to get out. Even if you manage to avoid being physically hurt, it’s damaging you and the kids.
Time to get your ducks in a row - first, change passwords on every device you use, make sure your accounts are locked down so he can’t see what you’re doing. If he’s this controlling, he’ll be trying to check on you.
If he’s away most of the time, it gives you time and space to check out and organise somewhere else to live. Say nothing to him, just do it. Line up your family, friends, whatever support network you’ve got available to you. Get a job. Basically plan your life as if he didn’t exist, because he is the definition of toxic, you don’t love him, you love the person you first met, how he seemed then. But he is not a good person. You and the kids are all scared of him, you’re controlled by him. Don’t even try to get through to him, you can’t.
Please just do it now - today.

Girlmom35 · 10/07/2025 08:50

When I read the title of your post, I was half expecting a very subtle description of grey area abuse. You know, the kinds of things we put up with because they hardly ever happen, or maybe he didn't mean it, or maybe he was just having a bad day and deserves to be cut some slack. And I was ready to validate you that even in these grey areas, you still shouldn't put up with these things.

Holy sh*it. That was not what I read.
You are being abused so heavily that it doesn't even warrant a question anymore. This is no grey area. This is horrible. I'm so sorry that he's treating you like this.

It doesn't matter that he says his behaviour is your fault, or that you drive him to it. There is never an excuse for what he's doing to you. EVER.
And the only reason why he's doing it, is because he's come to believe that you'll never leave him anyway.
Please prove him wrong. If not for your sake, then for your children's sake.

its2025 · 10/07/2025 08:51

Wow - didn't even read the full post - and after the first sentence - YES you are in an abusive relationship. Be wary. Yes you should leave but abuse always gets worse at the point of separation - so please please be careful. Talk to women aid if you need to.

Depending on your housing situation You need to leave while he is away - or get his stuff out the house and change locks if you can stay where you are.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 10/07/2025 08:57

Yes it is seek help to leave safely and then consider reporting to police

Noshadelamp · 10/07/2025 09:07

I just wish I could make him see what he’s doing to our little family.

I really don’t wanna break up my family but I don’t know if I’ll ever get through to him.
@Mumof295

You're wasting your time and energy trying to get through to him.

He is choosing to do this to you and your family. He knows and doesn't care.

Why would you want to keep this family together when you and your son don't feel safe?
Someone needs to protect your son.

yeesh · 10/07/2025 09:12

He is really abusive, I couldn’t even read it all. You shouldn’t be frightened of your partner and your will be so damaged by living in this environment. Please leave, for your son if nothing else.

teenmaw · 10/07/2025 09:13

I know it’s hard when you’re in the situation to see when the breaking point is but I can tell you now, your son saying he is scared of someone in his home is it. You can not knowingly keep this man in a home where he is terrorising a young child. That’s the place your babies are supposed to feel safe and it’s damaging to keep their dad there. I’m afraid now you know this, you’re contributing to the impact on your children if you choose to stay. That trumps any good side your partner may have, ultimately he’s as good as his worst behaviour

Itsseweasy · 10/07/2025 09:37

This will not get better.
He is controlling and abusive, more than likely a narcissist.
Every time you tell him you’re done he will do whatever it takes to reel you back in. He will threaten things such as suicide or maybe go to the other option of promising you that he will change etc.
Now that you know this - it will NOT get better with him - it is up to you to make a decision about what you want for yourself and your poor, poor children.
Living like this will cause them lifelong harm. If they don’t end up with emotional trauma it will be a miracle.
They will grow up to either become exactly like your partner or to attract their own partner exactly like him, that’s how it works whether we like it or not.
Again, no amount of false promises from him or threats of suicide are going to make him change or improve your life together.
You absolutely need to get out, but you need to take personal responsibility and control of your own life to do so.
I don’t recommend telling him your plans, get everything sorted and go, no matter how long it takes (sooner is better of course).
Again do not utter a word to him - the most dangerous time for you will be when you are in the process of leaving him. Once they realise they’ve lost control of you they will do anything (and I really do mean anything) to regain control, even if that means killing you (which he has already threatened) so keep all your plans under wraps until you are safely away with your children.
Do you have a trusted friend to confide in/stay with/get support from? If not then there are charities who can help.
You have the strength to do this - for your kids if not for you 🩷

Ruby0707 · 10/07/2025 11:39

Yes this is abuse and I'm sorry you are going through this but calling your 8 year old son to protect you is unacceptable. You should be protecting your son by leaving this horrible man.

Kimwestonhelpless · 10/07/2025 12:53

I done the protecting about the same age as op son.
I was battered and it only stopped once I wet myself.
Decades later in therapy to reconcile.
Again op as said up thread this will affect the children no doubt about that.

Stilllifes · 10/07/2025 13:13

Get yourself to a police station.
He has threatened to kill you.
He has verbally abused you in front of your children which is emotional abuse of them.

He is guilty of Coercive control which is a crime.

He is dangerous.
Tell the police the truth.
None of you are safe.

EternalLodga · 10/07/2025 13:19

Hes an absolute prick. You need to leave. Today. Take your son and do a moonlight flit to your brothers and block his number

Zanatdy · 10/07/2025 13:45

Your son has told you he is scared of his father. That alone must spur you on to leave him. He will not change.

MageQueen · 10/07/2025 13:53

He will not see what he is doing as abuse and you cannot convince him. Leave. Right now, this sounds tryly scary and I am genuinely scared for you. I think you should call Women's Aid for advice and then do whateverc you need to to get away. The fact that he is away for 2 weeks at a time means that you have a two week window to do what you need to do and get out.

I'm sorry it has come to this.