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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 left, Finally.

212 replies

Muddlethroughmam · 02/01/2026 06:21

That's it really, He left.

After a few years of constantly threatening to leave me, Me playing into it begging him to stay. Apologizing for anything and everything to convince him to stay. Putting up with so much of what I now know is emotional abuse (I was put in touch with Women's Aid) I constantly questioned if I was a horrible person that deserved everything. I said to him the next time you verbally abuse me will be the last time, And it was. The problem here is that in turn I became verbally abusive, I said horrible unforgivable things, Because I didn't want him to forgive me, I wanted him to leave.

We would have a disagreement, I would get the silent treatment for up to a few weeks - He would then finally talk to me and make me guess what I had done wrong, And I would, I would wrack my brain and try and think of things that might have upset him and he would agree with every one and then say nope keep guessing, It used to go on for hours.

He would take my mode of transportation away from me at the drop of a hat (Rural)

Refuse to contribute financially because I didn't deserve it.

Shine lights in my face to prevent me from sleeping.

Shout at me and intimidate me but then say it's not like I'm hitting you

He would sent me pages and pages of messages listing my faults and how I was responsible for the relationship failing.

He would tell me constantly that I needed to go to the doctors because I was mentally unwell and needed help because it was impacting our relationship.

He became sexually abusive recently (Not R. But very unwanted touching etc and then anger when I asked him not to) and I think that was the final straw for me, I'm not sure why this pushed me over the edge but I think I can pinpoint it to that.

I haven't stopped shaking since yesterday afternoon, Feel sick and worried, He took our car which leaves me a bit screwed. But apart from that which I think I have sorted I definitely feel lighter and relieved.

I don't know what the point in this post is really, But it's over and he's gone. I don't know how to move on, I don't know how to forgive myself for the things I have said. Awful horrible vitoral. I became him in that moment yesterday and I scared myself. I can't ever go back.

The house is mine and he doesn't have and can't copy keys, All of the bills etc are in my name so we are now completely separate.

OP posts:
SparklyGlitterballs · 02/01/2026 08:05

I think you wrote this down so that you have something to go back to should you have a moment of weakness OP. If you feel that way, please re-read your opening post thoroughly and it will give you strength again. Well done for turfing him out. 2026 is the start of your new life and things can only get better from here. Happy New Year to you!

PS. Are you 100% sure he doesn't have copies of keys? You can change the barrels of the locks if necessary, rather than have the whole locks changed.

Muddlethroughmam · 02/01/2026 08:08

SparklyGlitterballs · 02/01/2026 08:05

I think you wrote this down so that you have something to go back to should you have a moment of weakness OP. If you feel that way, please re-read your opening post thoroughly and it will give you strength again. Well done for turfing him out. 2026 is the start of your new life and things can only get better from here. Happy New Year to you!

PS. Are you 100% sure he doesn't have copies of keys? You can change the barrels of the locks if necessary, rather than have the whole locks changed.

Thank you, He has no keys. I made him give them back and they're security keys from council so they can't be copied. I lost one a while ago and tried to copy them and not one key place would do it without permission from the council.

OP posts:
FlowersInPots · 02/01/2026 08:24

Congratulations for getting rid of him.

Your behaviour towards him is a direct result of his abuse. It doesn’t reflect on you as a person.

I know this because while I’m a loyal wife who hates cheating, years ago when I was with an abusive ex (verbal and physical), after trying to end it twice and him just refusing to accept it, I went out and very purposefully cheated on him. Publicly. Because I knew he would be so humiliated there would be no going back.
It doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things, and this won’t matter so much to you soon enough.

BreezyPeachGoose · 02/01/2026 08:28

Change the locks, get a new mobile number. Enjoy your new life knowing that you were not the one at fault.

DaisyChain505 · 02/01/2026 08:31

Do you have a ring door bell, security cameras etc? If not get those installed asap.

Get a lock put on the inside of your bedroom door just for a bit of extra security at night time and keep something handy in your bedroom like a hammer that you may have been conveniently “putting up picture frames with”

Notarsed · 02/01/2026 08:32

Don't blame you at all for losing it. You gave him a taste of his own medicine and he didn't like it. Tough shit mate. Enjoy your freedom and all the very best for 2026 x

BillyBites · 02/01/2026 08:38

By “saying awful things,” do you mean you told him some home truths?
Break ups are often messy. Draw a line under this and move on.
Congratulations and happy new year.

Onemorechristmas · 02/01/2026 08:41

Have you looked into the Freedom Programme? For survivors of domestic abuse

BastardtheCat · 02/01/2026 08:42

Bloody Hell @Muddlethroughmam I am both in awe and very proud of you.

HUGE well done - you have now secured a more peaceful and eventually happier future for yourself.

Stop beating yourself up for your response to him. You have finally lost your shit after what sounds like years of abuse and torture. Let’s not minimise how this man has treated you.

I’m very glad to read this post this morning and know that your life is going to be so much better.

Put measures in place to make sure that your life is safe from him (previous suggestions from posters), but by God, be proud of yourself, woman!

Flowers
mumofb2 · 02/01/2026 08:47

Congratulations and good riddance to him.

MonkeyTennis34 · 02/01/2026 08:56

You should feel incredibly proud of yourself OP.
To those on the outside of abusive relationships it appears so simple for the abused to just leave but it usually isn’t and can take time and what little self-confidence the abused has left.
As many have suggested, when you have a wobble, and you probably will, re-read this thread to ground you and give you strength.
A close friend is in a similar situation, locked into a cycle of her partner being abusive then charming and so on, again and again.
I truly hope that this year is the year she ends it.

soddingspiderseason · 02/01/2026 08:59

Your behaviour to him is reactive abuse, he has pushed and pushed you till you reacted. It’s absolutely nothing to feel bad about. Contact a domestic abuse service, you need professional support. He has been extremely abusive to you, the emotional and psychological abuse can impact just as hard as physical abuse. Well done for getting rid, but read up and get as much support as you can.

WhamBamThankU · 02/01/2026 09:06

Reactive abuse is what come from being worn down by their abuse. Look up darvo. Well done for starting your year in a positive way!

aquashiv · 02/01/2026 09:09

Congratulations! Now you can start fresh. I believe he might come back, so it's a good idea to block him everywhere. If he does return, don't hesitate to call the police. Stay safe and take care! 😊

Dollymylove · 02/01/2026 09:18

Well done you. In the grand scheme of things losing the car is small fry. Stay strong and dont lose your resolve if he starts trying to weasel his way back.
Take your life back and be happy 😊 😃 😇

THATnewyearnewmebullshit · 02/01/2026 09:19

Congratulations op

I left an abusive arsehole in 2025 and it is the best thing I could have done. Sure there are some bumpy bits but just keep going because your life will be so much better

1Messycoo · 02/01/2026 09:21

Hi OP , well done for being brave and having courage to see him out the door, finally !
Can you contact Woman’s Aid again for support ? Reach out to family/ friends for emotional support?
It’s so hard to finally know you are free physically, mentally over time we can minimise the abuse as you are so vulnerable right now and it will take time to adjust to living without fear and control .
Don’t know what else to say, but wanted you to know many of us have been where you are and it does get easier and much much better . I found having counselling/ therapy a huge help to get perspective and to be able to “off load” my jumbled thinking in a safe place to rant and helped me move forward to and not be stuck with toxic thinking about myself as I was so worn down .
You’re doing great, be kind to yourself and fk him !! Sending hugs and best wishes to putting yourself first 🫶

Spondoolie · 02/01/2026 09:28

Well done

Don’t ever feel bad for what you said.

There is a future and it is peaceful 🙏🏼

HipHopDontYouStop · 02/01/2026 10:50

He sounds deranged.

im delighted he’s left. I hope you have a peaceful serene life.

lechatnoir · 02/01/2026 10:56

Congratulations OP and here’s to 2026 being your BEST year without that piece of shit dragging you down. Don’t give your Long overdue and entirely justified outburst another thought.

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 02/01/2026 11:29

I don't know how to forgive myself for the things I have said.

You have done nothing that needs to be forgiven. He forced you into that position. Be proud of yourself for having got this piece of dirt out of your life.

BellissimoGecko · 02/01/2026 11:34

I’m sorry, OP, that you have been through such a terrible time. I’m really glad he has now left and you can start to rebuild your life.

Please don’t worry about anything you said yesterday. Sounds like he totally deserved it.

Ohcrap082024 · 02/01/2026 11:39

You told him some home truths - a good thing.

He has fucked off - another good thing.

The priority now is to keep him gone. And your safety. A ring doorbell is a good idea.

Muddlethroughmam · 02/01/2026 15:15

Thank you all for your supportive comments.

Just discovered that before he left he destroyed a couple of very special keepsakes of mine. Irreplaceable, Sentimental items that I'll never get back. I think this tops it all, To have full awareness of the level of pain this would cause and to do it anyway.

OP posts:
Philandbill · 02/01/2026 15:23

Muddlethroughmam · 02/01/2026 15:15

Thank you all for your supportive comments.

Just discovered that before he left he destroyed a couple of very special keepsakes of mine. Irreplaceable, Sentimental items that I'll never get back. I think this tops it all, To have full awareness of the level of pain this would cause and to do it anyway.

He really was vile. You've been really strong so far, wishing you even more strength for 2026.