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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

Make it make sense....

37 replies

RealityChecksNeeded · 02/11/2025 12:01

I'm shamelessly going to use MN to log things happening to me. These events lead to me questioning my reality and sanity.

Sunday 02 November 2025.

Meeting members of my family for a lunch to celebrate my mums birthday.

DH has said he doesn't want to go as he doesn't trust me family, knows what they think of him and doesnt want to be fake.

Below, anonimised text I've sent to DH for context. It's long, they mostly are because it's predominantly how we communicate outside of day to day stuff.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You are only fixated on how you feel, your hurt, your struggle, and your victimhood.

You keep dragging things back and trying to pull me into it. It isn't fair, but I'm trying to understand you and not feel your attacks personally, even though they keep on coming.

Your mood swings are hard to brush off and very, very difficult when trying to create stability and calm along with moving forward.

I can do what you're doing, make comments, have digs, blame you, complain, I know there'd be no understanding or compassion for me in that scenario.

You are consistently punishing me, and I'll take it because you're not in a good place, but this will have its own impact as I'm human, too, I've been hurt and damaged by your actions too and I have just as much right to hold on to it. I'm choosing not to.

Please try to observe yourself. And what you're doing is damaging. You're struggling, I do understand that, but that doesn't give you the freedom to hurt me whenever you feel crap yourself.

You said:
I don't trust your family.
I tried to ask why and understand, I was not combatative.
You then said you can't fake it anymore with them. Well, I can't keep making excuses for you when it's very clear that you spend no time around them, unless they're here. From that place of honesty, because you can't fake it, I'll tell them how you feel. I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm drained pretending, and it's very obvious when you are around them that you don't want to be. You can't complain about isolation and then actively choose to isolate yourself.

Your comment in response that you're only doing what I've been doing for * years isn't fair or honest and then your parting shot after making such extreme and hurtful comments is 'I could be understanding and not combatative'. I'm not being combatative, but you're just hurting me, and that isn't fair, respectful, or kind.

I'll tell and not to be unkind or make you out to be horrible. They're more than aware of our problems, and they're good enough people to still hold space and love for you when you see their goodness for what it is and stop judging them or assuming things that aren't true.

I'm exhausted, too.
I'm depressed too.
I'm struggling, too.
I'm angry, hurt, and in pain, too.
I don't feel good about what's happened to me either.
I'm just not projecting onto you or talking about it all the time. It won't help. You won't understand and give me empathy anyway, and it won't be good for the home environment.
I'm trying to heal while listening to your attacks and, for the most part, not reacting. Please respect that.

It isn't fair to inflict your headspace onto me. Not when my own is so depleted and fragile. Consider going to *** today. It will help you. It's where you need and want to be right now and it'll, in turn, help us.

OP posts:
RealityChecksNeeded · 03/11/2025 09:33

Who/where is my energy going?

Child 1 - returning to school after a mental health break. Depression, anxiety and self harm.
Tapping in for support, understanding, reassurance and listening.
My Patience level: 0
My Energy level: 0
Have I reacted? No
Drained level: 100+

Child 2 - Aspergers, ADHD and ODD. Issues around school, behaviour and mental health. Attacking me, blaming me, refusing to be aware of anyone else other than own feelings and needs. Triggering me on a loop and lashing out. Withdrawing from me to only come back for reassurance that I still care and then withdrawing again and lashing out.
My Patience level: 0
My Energy level: 0
Have I reacted? No
Drained level: 100+

Baby - 8 weeks old. Not sleeping and is requiring a lot of care which I'll give unconditionally. Has 8 weeks jabs today and I have a post-natal 8 week check. I'm utterly miserable. The sertraline doesn't seem to be working as I'm still in a pit. I'm trying to dig myself out. I have no fucking energy.

Me: Working hard to keep myself grounded, balanced, centred and in the moment. Reminding myself that other people's stuff is their stuff.
Doing well for the most part but have struggled immensely these last 24 hours or so. Truly feel what is the point? Hating that my limited time off is being spent feeling this way, what a life. There will be no further mat leaves for me, last one.
Last baby.
Last newborn stage which has now passed and last time for a very long time that I'll be around as much in the home. I've hated it at points. I feel cheated out of something special.

What exactly am I thinking right now?
I hate what my life has become and that everyone else is more important and more worthy than me of compassion and understanding.
I hate working so hard to do my best to have it thrown back at me.
I hate the inside of my mind.
I want to give up.
I can't see how I can possibly go back to work, study sit and pass exams while my personal life is so intense and high needs.

What emotion might be sitting underneath this thought? Pain, fear and frustration.

Am I treating this thought like a fact or just a passing mental event?

Trying to treat it like an event but also finding it impossible to ignore people's behaviours and blame of me. It's hard. I know it's my state now but it's depleted me of all the energy and goodness I'd banked. Back to square 1.

If this thought had a voice, what would it be trying to protect me from? This spiral that my mind has now entered. I want to run away.

Physical symptoms:
Sleep deprivation
Ear ache
Pain where I've had my epidural
Aching legs
Bleeding and sharp pains through my vagina. Think I've damaged some tissues internally. Will get checked

Has anyone cared for me?
No. Child 1 is the only person who has asked me how I am and shown me compassion.
I'm alone, only useful when people deem me so but otherwise discarded.

I'm so ready to get off this merry go round. I just dont see the point. Building myself up and carrying on is getting harder each time. Maybe if I wasn't around, people would actually see my efforts.

What am I proud of today? That I survived yesterday.

OP posts:
RunnyBunny · 03/11/2025 09:37

Good god. How can you live like this? The constant angst and drama. It’s not supposed to be like this. It doesn’t have to be like this. Get out. Choose to be happy.

UpDownAllAround1 · 03/11/2025 11:38

No mention of OH in your update. Have you talked?

Goldengoose5 · 03/11/2025 14:36

Just finished reading page one
My first thought was ..omg are you me 10 years ago
Second thought
Your husband has autism
Third thought
Child two is doing the same as your husband.
You have to mentally detach from him ,or you won't be able to support your children.
He's an adult,you can't help him ..but your children need you .hes draining you ,and you need to put yourself first ,to be a good mum
He can't help you , because he can't help himself

luckylavender · 03/11/2025 14:41

Goodness that’s heavy. And publishing it too. Are you proud of how complicated you are? I wouldn’t type a text that long and my husband certainly wouldn’t read it. If anything it would make him even more entrenched, as it would me. Why do you want to live like this?

Goldengoose5 · 03/11/2025 14:44

You have autism to op ...it takes one to know one ..
You can't reach each other because your both struggling,your both overwhelmed.
Have you sorted out contraception so no more children.
Look up
Samantha crafts unofficial checklist,females and autism
The art of autism.
You will find yourself there x

barskits · 03/11/2025 14:50

PersephonePomegranate · 02/11/2025 20:05

So then the OP finds life hard and isn't able to prioritise her DH's feelings either.

That rationale just creates a never ending cycle of people wrapped up in their own feelings and unable to think of other people - like the ones they're supposed to love.

Perhaps I didn't make my post clear - if someone is suffering from mental health problems they may well (as a result of that condition) be totally unable to sympathise with their partner finding things hard.

thepariscrimefiles · 03/11/2025 16:55

RealityChecksNeeded · 03/11/2025 09:33

Who/where is my energy going?

Child 1 - returning to school after a mental health break. Depression, anxiety and self harm.
Tapping in for support, understanding, reassurance and listening.
My Patience level: 0
My Energy level: 0
Have I reacted? No
Drained level: 100+

Child 2 - Aspergers, ADHD and ODD. Issues around school, behaviour and mental health. Attacking me, blaming me, refusing to be aware of anyone else other than own feelings and needs. Triggering me on a loop and lashing out. Withdrawing from me to only come back for reassurance that I still care and then withdrawing again and lashing out.
My Patience level: 0
My Energy level: 0
Have I reacted? No
Drained level: 100+

Baby - 8 weeks old. Not sleeping and is requiring a lot of care which I'll give unconditionally. Has 8 weeks jabs today and I have a post-natal 8 week check. I'm utterly miserable. The sertraline doesn't seem to be working as I'm still in a pit. I'm trying to dig myself out. I have no fucking energy.

Me: Working hard to keep myself grounded, balanced, centred and in the moment. Reminding myself that other people's stuff is their stuff.
Doing well for the most part but have struggled immensely these last 24 hours or so. Truly feel what is the point? Hating that my limited time off is being spent feeling this way, what a life. There will be no further mat leaves for me, last one.
Last baby.
Last newborn stage which has now passed and last time for a very long time that I'll be around as much in the home. I've hated it at points. I feel cheated out of something special.

What exactly am I thinking right now?
I hate what my life has become and that everyone else is more important and more worthy than me of compassion and understanding.
I hate working so hard to do my best to have it thrown back at me.
I hate the inside of my mind.
I want to give up.
I can't see how I can possibly go back to work, study sit and pass exams while my personal life is so intense and high needs.

What emotion might be sitting underneath this thought? Pain, fear and frustration.

Am I treating this thought like a fact or just a passing mental event?

Trying to treat it like an event but also finding it impossible to ignore people's behaviours and blame of me. It's hard. I know it's my state now but it's depleted me of all the energy and goodness I'd banked. Back to square 1.

If this thought had a voice, what would it be trying to protect me from? This spiral that my mind has now entered. I want to run away.

Physical symptoms:
Sleep deprivation
Ear ache
Pain where I've had my epidural
Aching legs
Bleeding and sharp pains through my vagina. Think I've damaged some tissues internally. Will get checked

Has anyone cared for me?
No. Child 1 is the only person who has asked me how I am and shown me compassion.
I'm alone, only useful when people deem me so but otherwise discarded.

I'm so ready to get off this merry go round. I just dont see the point. Building myself up and carrying on is getting harder each time. Maybe if I wasn't around, people would actually see my efforts.

What am I proud of today? That I survived yesterday.

You've just had a baby and your older children have their own issues. How helpful is your husband being? Has anyone looked after you in the post-partum period?

Why does your husband go to your siblings to complain about you and get their support? He sounds exhausting and attention seeking tbh. If he isn't going to be helpful, you would be better off without him.

Starlight1984 · 26/11/2025 11:08

Abracadabrador · 02/11/2025 13:03

You don't need to live like this. The man attacks you and gaslights you, he is failing to enhance your life and make it fun, which is the whole point of a relationship.

Divorces are now non fault and can be started online.

How do you know this? Genuine question.

All we can see are the texts sent from the OP to her husband? Not his side or responses?

Carycach4 · 26/11/2025 11:14

You need therapy, both of you! Professional therapy, not from your siblings or randomers on Internet forums.

BeNoisyFish · 26/11/2025 11:15

This is so intense and dramatic. You have a newborn, pause the relationship drama. Maybe you have PND you know. I'm not saying he's an angel but the texts are so full of hatred and blame.

Itsgottobeme · 26/11/2025 11:20

His mother and sister seem so concerned they are stepping in. Your sister and brother have too. Why are they trying to step in? What did they tell your daughter that happened in his past(that you said was in the past) that got her so upset?You do need some realities checking.
There are some huge concerns here. From both posts your writing today there are some reaaaally big concerns.

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