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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 said "you deserve to be in an abusive relationship"

81 replies

heresay · 10/12/2025 14:07

Had a row with my boyfriend last night. He's always had a bit of a temper but he outdid himself last night by telling me that I deserve to be in an abusive relationship. I was just so shocked and taken aback. He genuinely didn't seem to think what he had said was that bad.

But it is that bad, isn't it?

I'd said to him "I just can't win with you" and he got really annoyed about that too; English isn't his first language so he thought I actually wanted to "win" the argument, when what I meant was that whatever I say, it will annoy him. So he was already riled.

He spent about an hour ranting at me and telling me what a vile and selfish person I am. One major complaint is that I can't change my contact days with my kids to enable us to have a long weekend. But their father won't agree, and it is out of my hands. Bf thinks I shouldn't have asked I should have just told him days were changing but I can't because there is a court order in place.

I am especially upset because he knows I have been in relationships which abuse has occured in, and then he says that this is what I deserve.

I feel like it is the point of no return now. I don't see how I can continue with him if he is saying stuff like this.

OP posts:
Copperoliverbear · 11/12/2025 00:18

You don’t need to ask us what to do, you know in your heart. LTB.
do not under any circumstances take him back, he is abusing you and it will get worse.

Magsbd · 11/12/2025 00:33

Please leave him.

WearyAuldWumman · 11/12/2025 00:36

You deserve much better than this. LTB.

pikkumyy77 · 11/12/2025 00:37

heresay · 10/12/2025 14:26

He just didn't seem to appreciate that their dad and me had to go to court because we couldn't agree on virtually nothing so why would their dad agree to swap days. It is like he took it personally.

I agree I might be abit more peaceful without worrying about him. Which I do a lot.

He does what he wants. He doesn’t have to “appreciate” your situation with your ex. He wants to hurt you and fight with you so he finds an excuse to by “taking things personally “ but its just an excuse.

pikkumyy77 · 11/12/2025 00:38

heresay · 10/12/2025 17:31

That is so true that he is mad at me not my ex.
I have told bf that ex and I don't get on well so I don't know why he expected ex to say anything except "no" about changing contact day around.

He was also mad because he'd texted me about going away mid week and I'd not replied because I was working and he'd sent me about 10 texts and I hadn't noticed the one about going away mid week and by that point it was too late to organise anything. I suggested next week instead but he said he will be busy then - because he wants to "mirror" my (?bad?) behaviour - to teach me. I don't think my behaviour was that bad, I genuinely don't. He was really rude about my work - it is important but not very well paid - so when I said I'd been dealing with emergencies all day he started taking the piss and saying they weren't real emergencies. And didn't I have 2 seconds to send him a text? But I'd called him in my lunch hour, he didn't mention going away till we were hanging up, I can't extend lunch-break and make it up at the end of the day it has to be exactly half an hour.

So now in the cold light of day I am wondering, did he manufacture this argument about going away midweek?

Yes

snugasabug75 · 11/12/2025 01:00

Why are you with him? He has no qualities at all.

Wishihadanalgorithm · 11/12/2025 07:12

Tell this piece of shit to get to fuck! Block him in everything, delete his number and warn him, if he contacts you again it will be harassment and you will contact the police.

Then, sit down and plan how you can build a life so you won’t be tempted to go near abusive pricks like this again. Be single and enjoy time in your own and with the kids. Build hobbies and new friendships but stay away from pricks like this.

Make 2026 a new year for you to be happy and build self-esteem.

You deserve so much better than this man.

heresay · 11/12/2025 15:47

Copperoliverbear · 11/12/2025 00:18

You don’t need to ask us what to do, you know in your heart. LTB.
do not under any circumstances take him back, he is abusing you and it will get worse.

Youre right - i do know what to do really i guess it is almost like that sunk costs fallacy where we have been together for a significant amount of time at this point and some weird part of me thinks it's "worth fighting for" even though I know in my heart of hearts that it isn't.

I can't believe what he said 😪 it was like the worst thing he could say to me because he knows i have been in an abusive relationship and he still said I deserve to be in one. Even though he knows it nearly destroyed me and I was very lucky to make it out alive.

I think he equates "abusive relationship" to violence and he doesnt realise that mind games etc. also count as abuse.

OP posts:
heresay · 11/12/2025 15:49

snugasabug75 · 11/12/2025 01:00

Why are you with him? He has no qualities at all.

Overall yes he is awful and I know I am right to end it but we did have some really nice times together although he did also sabotage lots of other plans we made which would have been nice. And he has said pretty awful stuff to me in the past but nothing as horrible as that I deserve to be in an abusive relationship and I really think that this is the final straw.

OP posts:
selffellatingouroborosofhate · 11/12/2025 16:18

heresay · 11/12/2025 15:49

Overall yes he is awful and I know I am right to end it but we did have some really nice times together although he did also sabotage lots of other plans we made which would have been nice. And he has said pretty awful stuff to me in the past but nothing as horrible as that I deserve to be in an abusive relationship and I really think that this is the final straw.

If you had a Porsche in concours condition, but one time in 100 it wouldn't stop when you tried to brake, would you drive the car? It's a lovely car otherwise, right?

You wouldn't, because it's not safe. Cars can be repaired, men can't, so when a man shows you that his brakes don't work properly, all you can do is walk away.

heresay · 11/12/2025 16:38

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 11/12/2025 16:18

If you had a Porsche in concours condition, but one time in 100 it wouldn't stop when you tried to brake, would you drive the car? It's a lovely car otherwise, right?

You wouldn't, because it's not safe. Cars can be repaired, men can't, so when a man shows you that his brakes don't work properly, all you can do is walk away.

Very true.
I wasn't expecting it to be amazing all of the time but he gets so nasty it is unreal. I know it isn't healthy or normal to be so verbally abusive.

I have never met anyone who can get so angry in such a short amount of time.

Some of the things he has said to me are totally beyond the pale but for some reason saying I deserve to be in an abusive relationship has just flipped a switch in my mind I can't stop thinking about it.

OP posts:
AquaForce · 11/12/2025 16:38

heresay · 10/12/2025 20:25

That is probably true but really upsetting, I don't like the idea of somebody actively enjoying being abusive, to me or indeed anybody.

I know heresay, it's almost beyond comprehension and difficult to accept from internet strangers who don't even know you❤

I always say this. These men do not think like we do. I swear they were grown in a lab. Mine was a soulless creature with the devil in him. Shark eyes, sociopath stare, the gas lighting and picking endless fights over nothing.

He once did something really awful to me and when he turned to leave the room I saw him smile to himself. My blood ran cold and that's when I knew what he was.

EDIT typo

AgnesX · 11/12/2025 16:44

heresay · 10/12/2025 14:49

Haven't spoke to him today as working. No plans to see each other today though normally would see him weekend.

I know I need to end it but when I have done that in the past he has reacted quite badly.

So I am sort of not finished with him but also feel detached from him as he was so nasty.

You continue to not speak to him. Do you really want to.

If you absolutely have to see him to break up with him make sure there's another adult nearby when you do and makes sure that he leaves wherever it is.

If he's left stuff at yours collect it up, give it to him at the same time so there's absolutely no need for him to return. You really need to be crystal with him so that he's in no doubt that you're finished.

You really don't need that sort of misery in your life.

bigboykitty · 11/12/2025 16:50

heresay · 10/12/2025 21:38

I genuinely don't think he sees that he himself is abusive. More that I'm unreasonable and that going forward I deserve to be in an abusive relationship (not a nice one like this one is). He seems to think he's a great boyfriend and I should count myself extremely lucky to have met him. He was listing all the nice things he has done ... he doesn't realise it's not a cheques and balances system where he can be dick if he's cooked me a nice dinner, or he can hurt my feelings because last week he got me flowers etc. He literally seems to think it works like some kind of old-fashioned weighing scale ⚖️

But it's academic in a way at this point.

No abusers see themselves as being abusive. They invariably see themselves as being pushed around and being abused, even when the are bog standard, textbook abusers. He isn't going to agree with you. You KNOW he's abusive. Nice things don't cancel out abuse. As people used to commonly ask on Mumsnet, how much shit do you want in your sandwich?

Sodthesystem · 11/12/2025 22:57

You are in one.

Anyone ranting at you for an hour is nuts by the way. And abusive.

Dump.

Sodthesystem · 11/12/2025 22:59

heresay · 11/12/2025 16:38

Very true.
I wasn't expecting it to be amazing all of the time but he gets so nasty it is unreal. I know it isn't healthy or normal to be so verbally abusive.

I have never met anyone who can get so angry in such a short amount of time.

Some of the things he has said to me are totally beyond the pale but for some reason saying I deserve to be in an abusive relationship has just flipped a switch in my mind I can't stop thinking about it.

They are not abusive because they are angry - they are angry because they are abusive.

'Anger' is a tool to intimidate you into putting up and shutting up. It's deliberate.

Comtesse · 12/12/2025 08:48

You’re already in an abusive relationship - with him. He’s no good, no point in dragging this out.

heresay · 12/12/2025 09:29

AquaForce · 11/12/2025 16:38

I know heresay, it's almost beyond comprehension and difficult to accept from internet strangers who don't even know you❤

I always say this. These men do not think like we do. I swear they were grown in a lab. Mine was a soulless creature with the devil in him. Shark eyes, sociopath stare, the gas lighting and picking endless fights over nothing.

He once did something really awful to me and when he turned to leave the room I saw him smile to himself. My blood ran cold and that's when I knew what he was.

EDIT typo

Edited

I'm really sorry that happened to you 😥

Oh that is really creepy about the smile; it sent shivers down my spine 😕

this guy becomes almost childlike after a "tantrum", it's really weird- he seems to forget all the horrible stuff he has said and suddenly becomes really happy and boisterous

It really is like they are grown in a lab!!

I was thinking back to the argument we had and it was basically just him being horrible and every now and then saying I "made" him fall in love with me. Laughing to himself like a crazy person and saying that "this" has happened again - like why did he fall in love when it always ends up going badly. He called me a monster and said i was really horrible 😌

OP posts:
rainbowunicorn22 · 12/12/2025 09:39

yes and he needs a kick in the nuts

rainbows40 · 12/12/2025 09:44

Get rid

heresay · 12/12/2025 12:45

bigboykitty · 11/12/2025 16:50

No abusers see themselves as being abusive. They invariably see themselves as being pushed around and being abused, even when the are bog standard, textbook abusers. He isn't going to agree with you. You KNOW he's abusive. Nice things don't cancel out abuse. As people used to commonly ask on Mumsnet, how much shit do you want in your sandwich?

Yes exactly but he really seems to think he is a good guy. He was telling me how he has so much love to give but it always goes wrong. Like bad thing (such as meeting me) always happen to him but all he is doing is going through life trying to find love.

OP posts:
bigboykitty · 12/12/2025 13:10

Yes, he's not going to deviate from that. Poor him. It's everyone else's fault he's unhappy.

pikkumyy77 · 12/12/2025 15:03

heresay · 11/12/2025 15:47

Youre right - i do know what to do really i guess it is almost like that sunk costs fallacy where we have been together for a significant amount of time at this point and some weird part of me thinks it's "worth fighting for" even though I know in my heart of hearts that it isn't.

I can't believe what he said 😪 it was like the worst thing he could say to me because he knows i have been in an abusive relationship and he still said I deserve to be in one. Even though he knows it nearly destroyed me and I was very lucky to make it out alive.

I think he equates "abusive relationship" to violence and he doesnt realise that mind games etc. also count as abuse.

No he doesn’t. He just thinks his abuse of you is deserved, fine, fun.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 12/12/2025 16:08

heresay · 12/12/2025 09:29

I'm really sorry that happened to you 😥

Oh that is really creepy about the smile; it sent shivers down my spine 😕

this guy becomes almost childlike after a "tantrum", it's really weird- he seems to forget all the horrible stuff he has said and suddenly becomes really happy and boisterous

It really is like they are grown in a lab!!

I was thinking back to the argument we had and it was basically just him being horrible and every now and then saying I "made" him fall in love with me. Laughing to himself like a crazy person and saying that "this" has happened again - like why did he fall in love when it always ends up going badly. He called me a monster and said i was really horrible 😌

I "made" him fall in love with me

aka Rule One: "Women are responsible for what men do".

NoisyMonster678 · 12/12/2025 16:15

Tell this looser its over.

No one, in the right mind would justify abusing you but this loser is justifying abuse.

Red flag larger than a skyscraper fgs LTB