Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

(TW SA) 2nd thread (support)…

976 replies

ByPinkPoet0 · 02/04/2026 11:13

First thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/relationships/5497497-trigger-husband-sa-why-cant-i-tell-him-and-why-do-i-feel-guilty

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in this so far. If you’ve got this far I really appreciate it. I read all the advice even if it seems like I don’t take it on board straight away. It’s been a difficult time of realisation for me.

I am making another thread so I can continue to post.

This is such a helpful outlet for me I’m so grateful ❤️

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
category12 · 10/04/2026 06:25

Fawn! Not dawn.

missspent · 10/04/2026 06:35

I’m so sorry to read this PinkPoet. He has no respect for your boundaries, not even giving you 12 hours never mind 2 weeks. And all this when you have said you are sore. It’s absolutely not OK, but you know this x

TwistedWonder · 10/04/2026 06:44

He is a vile disgusting rapist - there is no other way to describe him. What he’s doing to you is a criminal act for which the maximum sentence is life in prison. It is that serious.

He is doing this to show you he’s in control and because you’re daring to challenge him. He sees you as a possession and you saying no means he’s punishing you for being a person in your own right.

This is nothing to do with having a high sex drive, it’s about power and domination over you. .

I know you aren’t ready to go but he is escalating and you are in a lot of danger here

PinkPoetAgain · 10/04/2026 07:10

TwistedWonder · 10/04/2026 06:44

He is a vile disgusting rapist - there is no other way to describe him. What he’s doing to you is a criminal act for which the maximum sentence is life in prison. It is that serious.

He is doing this to show you he’s in control and because you’re daring to challenge him. He sees you as a possession and you saying no means he’s punishing you for being a person in your own right.

This is nothing to do with having a high sex drive, it’s about power and domination over you. .

I know you aren’t ready to go but he is escalating and you are in a lot of danger here

Edited

I feel really frightened today. Like really scared. He’s acting totally normal . Like nothing happened. I feel AWFUL. Like I’m going to be sick any minute.

Is it another assault ? It feels like it.

what can I do ? I feel really scared of what he might do. I do feel like it’s escalating . You were all right but I didn’t think it would come to this since he seems so remorseful when we talk about it

DoesthislookgoodOnMe · 10/04/2026 07:12

I’m sorry but he raped you again, he is an absolute monster. The person you contacted at rape crisis is wrong, this is out and out rape, you are not going mad. I’m so sorry for you, you must be so scared and in pain physically and emotionally. I feel like crying reading this, he is a fucking monster.

Please let us know how we can help you today to get through it hour by hour.

shoppingred54 · 10/04/2026 07:14

Speak to Woman’s Aid today.

There’s lots of information on this link.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/

DoesthislookgoodOnMe · 10/04/2026 07:15

Please pack a little bag with essential and if you have your own car put it there. I think you need to leave, it’s escalated with him staying home, going through emails and waking up on top of you. Try take a few deep breaths. It isn’t your fault. You trusted him. It’s not your fsult how he acts.

DoesthislookgoodOnMe · 10/04/2026 07:16

I mean leave with the kids.

he is walking around like nothings happened as he’s gaslighting you,

FMc208 · 10/04/2026 07:16

Are you going to make an attempt to leave
OP?

SaltySpitoon · 10/04/2026 07:20

So sorry OP, it's definitely escalating, probably because you tried to set boundaries. Please leave today if at all possible. Call Women's Aid.

ScrollingLeaves · 10/04/2026 07:21

I am crying Poet: that you finally got the courage to call RC and that’s what they said.

That was someone who no idea of the full picture. The person who did know full well was your husband. That was gaslighting when he said ‘No way…’
Do not doubt yourself.

SharpSheep · 10/04/2026 07:28

I'm sorry he has done that to you pinkpoet, that is horrendous.

He can see you are setting a boundary, he doesn't like it and he is using all his old ploys to worm around it.

He wasnt really asking your consent , because you knew and he knew if you said 'no' in that moment he would have done it anyway.

shoppingred54 · 10/04/2026 07:30

And today he will act charmingly towards you and you’ll be bewildered. Can you make an appointment this morning and go to speak confidentially to your GP?

YourOliveBalonz · 10/04/2026 07:34

The only reason you said yes is because you feel afraid to say no - afraid of what will happen next - when it gets to that point. I think it is really rubbish of RC when you were looking for support (were they coming at this from what would be clear cut in terms of criminal charges, which isn’t why you were contacting them?!) I really think you now need to find time to speak to Women’s Aid to get practical advice on what you can do to escape (you may need to go out somewhere, can you take the kids to visit someone and then go off privately for the call?)

I also have concerns about if your therapist is appropriately qualified; are these online sessions through Better Help or is this someone outside of that who offers online sessions? Do you think going back to the first one might be a good idea? I know you were afraid on the off chance that she would know your husband - but apart from the fact that it would never leave that room, I think you need to move past the idea that he should be protected at all costs.

PinkNosy · 10/04/2026 07:49

This is horrendous, I'm so sorry.

Can you and the kids go and stay somewhere else, even if you tell yourself it's just for a bit? With parents, friends? I really think you need to get out of there quite quickly now for your physical and mental safety.

HyggeTygge · 10/04/2026 07:52

afterwards he said ‘well if I’d have known you were up for it in the night i would have tried that ages ago’

Once again he's telling you who he is.

I'm so sorry poet Flowers

PinotPony · 10/04/2026 08:18

Oh Poet, you must be a bag of nerves today.

What he did to you was rape. Nodding your head, not fighting him off, not explicitly saying No… those are all normal responses. You had set a clear boundary when you said you wanted a break from sex: he’s just steamrolled straight through your boundary.

I agree with others that things are escalating. He knows something is up. That’s why he’s keeping such a close eye on you. I don’t want to scare you but I really think you need to get out of there, with or without the kids for now. You can say you’re going to the shops or taking the kids to the park and drive straight to a police station. They WILL believe you if you say “My husband rapes me and I need help to leave.”

hiyapalll · 10/04/2026 08:21

I agree with the others, this is an escalation as he is sensing that you are developing an awareness and setting boundaries.

I also agree that you need to get out, even if only for a little bit. This is for your physical safety, and to give you some distance from the psychological horror of not being able to go to bed at night safely and walking on eggshells. It might seem like an impossible task so perhaps think of it only for a day or two at a time.

Leaving long term might seem like it’s too difficult - you’ve cited money issues in the past. But there are I’ll be financial support in the form of benefits and also child maintenance payments. You’re probably thinking that there will need to be an adjustment of lifestyle to you and your children, which doesn’t seem fair. You’re right, it’s not fair, but it’s a loving act. Your children will not begrudge living in a smaller home, doing less activities, but this will not harm them. Staying in your household (no matter how much you claim it won’t) will harm them. Psychological safety is everything, and sometimes the most permeating effects from childhood comes from children not knowing which version of a parent they will be around from one moment to the next. This will then affect their adult relationships, and so on, and so on.

it really does seem like the scales are starting to fall off your eyes. One step at a time - get yourself safe before the next stage of the cycle begins.

PinkPoetAgain · 10/04/2026 08:27

I don’t know if I can get away even to call. He’s off today and we have family plans all day. He will know if I make an excuse to go out to call. I’m worried about that. Monday I should be able to. I’m trying my best but I just feel like shit.

I cried in the shower. It just seemed really aggressive and it’s really affected me. My back hurts where he was leaning on me. I told him I didn’t want to, I was sore, I had a headache and had taken meds for it. I wish I had said ‘no get off’ but in that moment I really felt afraid with him over me like that. How does he not realise that??

PinkNosy · 10/04/2026 08:35

He does realise, he just doesn't care.
Same as, I think he only asked you, so that he had a technical yes (he knew, in that moment, you wouldn't say no), and that way - in his mind - you couldn't accuse him for rape as per the other incident. That's also why he doubled down with his statement after, that you were "up for it". Make no mistake, he is fully aware you're not "up for it" - no man confuses the situation you describe as a woman being "up for it". It's just that most men would never dream of creating that situation in the first place or attempting to have sex if they were.
He knows exactly what he's doing and is fully in control of himself.

SandMartins · 10/04/2026 08:38

This is awful, I’m so sorry. He knew you didn’t want to do anything, you’d clearly told him so when you were awake and fully capacitated. You said you felt something was off when you were approaching bedtime. He didn’t move to the sofa tonight, he knew exactly what he was going to do, and by technically ‘asking for consent’ he can now pretend he thought you really did want to do it, but it’s all part of his power, control & manipulation. I am very worried for you and your children, your husband appears to be a very dangerous man, and abuse does tend to escalate when the abuser feels their control is under threat. If your family isn’t likely to understand & be supportive (which he will know, and plays into his control over you), I can only suggest getting professional advice from a DV support organisation, but you must be completely honest and upfront with them. So sorry you’re going through this x

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/escalation/

hiyapalll · 10/04/2026 08:40

PinkPoetAgain · 10/04/2026 08:27

I don’t know if I can get away even to call. He’s off today and we have family plans all day. He will know if I make an excuse to go out to call. I’m worried about that. Monday I should be able to. I’m trying my best but I just feel like shit.

I cried in the shower. It just seemed really aggressive and it’s really affected me. My back hurts where he was leaning on me. I told him I didn’t want to, I was sore, I had a headache and had taken meds for it. I wish I had said ‘no get off’ but in that moment I really felt afraid with him over me like that. How does he not realise that??

He probably does realise it I’m afraid, he just didn’t care in that moment as he saw that his needs are greater than yours. I can see you’re grappling with the idea that he might not know what he’s doing, but the truth is it doesn’t matter if he realises what he’s doing or not - either way he’s extremely unsafe to be around.

This is not your fault, you communicated your boundary very clearly, and he violently stamped all over that. His comments afterwards were disgusting, completely disregarding your feelings and your pain as if you saying “ok then” when under a lot of pressure means that you were up for it. You do know that this is giving him a green light to ignore your boundaries as it’s happened before and it was ok? We all know looking in that this is far from the case but in his warped mind that’s what he’ll be thinking, justifying and rationalising it so he can get away with raping you again.

I’m so worried about you PinkPoet, Monday is a long time away. The fact you can’t even step away to make a phone call is pure control.

PinkPoetAgain · 10/04/2026 08:52

PinotPony · 10/04/2026 08:18

Oh Poet, you must be a bag of nerves today.

What he did to you was rape. Nodding your head, not fighting him off, not explicitly saying No… those are all normal responses. You had set a clear boundary when you said you wanted a break from sex: he’s just steamrolled straight through your boundary.

I agree with others that things are escalating. He knows something is up. That’s why he’s keeping such a close eye on you. I don’t want to scare you but I really think you need to get out of there, with or without the kids for now. You can say you’re going to the shops or taking the kids to the park and drive straight to a police station. They WILL believe you if you say “My husband rapes me and I need help to leave.”

The police wouldn’t help with this I’m sure of it , and I feel quite sick at the thought of sitting in a room with men (probably) and discussing the ins and outs and whether I nodded, said yes, gave consent or not etc etc.

for probably nothing to come of it except him being livid

shoppingred54 · 10/04/2026 08:53

He doesn’t care, Poet. He is getting off on his power.

Make sure you delete your browsing and call history on your phone. Take a note of last night’s incident so you don’t diminish it.

Leave everything to Monday now. Logistically you can’t do it today. If he takes the children out somewhere, call Women’s Aid at the first opportunity.

On Monday I would go to the GP and tell them what you are experiencing. This will be a confidential service. You can tell him you’re going because of the recurring headaches. If there is a chance you can make an appointment for today, I would do that.