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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

Husband not happy with me

225 replies

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 04:52

Hi everyone,

I’m new on here but I really would like to get some blunt and honest opinions. I’m kind of giving up on my relationship, I can’t see any way to fix things anymore. I don’t have many friends as I’m always busy with work, home and exhausted like all other mums. Any comments or home truths will be v appreciated. Thank you …

My husband has a very angry personality. He always has. He over reacts and makes a big deal out of what I think are small things. His whole demeanour and outlook (in my opinion) is very negative and lacks any kind of awareness that he also needs to put effort into his way of thinking if he wants to be happy or find happiness / things to be grateful for. I mean we can all decide to throw our hands in the air and bang on about how bad everything is. Or we can try to remind ourselves to be grateful for health, kids, house etc. that’s what I think anyway

Sorry for rambling. So I think he doesn’t want to be with me anymore. But he won’t go as I think he’s not 100 percent sure. He thinks I’m a horrible person and although he doesn’t say this when we have a small disagreement (I’m not sweet and perfect and always softly spoken but I calm down very quickly and explain why I reacted like I did/ and how I felt that made me react) he can go days acting like I’m the devil. For example the other day we argued about food, I said five words (angry and snappy yes) and it’s been five days now of listening to what’s wrong with me and “what my problem is”. Within five mins I came down, apologised for swearing, explaining I felt unappreciated. Hoping for some human ness from him to revive me and understand me. But his anger is self igniting, he spent all day being really really nasty even though I hardly spoke. Just coming to tell me what I am, how bad I am. He can just keep coming and verbally attacking me as though he just really hates me. I think he blames me for everything.

The other morning I was asking how work was and my “tone of voice” was wrong… I think not sweet enough as I had my walls up for how he’s spent last two days verbally running me into the ground, and he straight away said “you’re like a man. It’s like there’s a man inside you”. Which to me is like clear evidence he can’t stand me or anything I do and just hates me inside.

We both share kids with other people, and if I talk with my ex he’s on speaker, I’m just wandering around house being open with nothing to hide. I have no feelings for ex even though we speak on phone. When he used to speak to his kids mum, he goes outside and closes the door and speaks in garden with his daughter. Last night he brought up, “oh if I spoke with her as much as you speak with him… you couldn’t handle it” and my argument is all about openness. He says “oh if a partner told you not to ever touch his phone you couldn’t handle it”- well no I couldn’t and I couldn’t be with someone like that because I really value trust, openness, honesty, saying everything however good or bad. I always think telling the truth about everything is the biggest respect . And being secretive is the biggest disrespect.

He lied and he cheated at the beginning (with said ex) so already laid a foundation for mistrust. I was very pregnant so didn’t leave (and she lives abroad so they were playing happy families when he went there”. But he’s never been open when he’s done something wrong, never come to me to tell the truth, I’ve always had to be suspicious, feel like I’m nuts, gather evidence, and I’ve always had to pull it from him bit by bit. Which trust me I never enjoyed doing it’s just I think my gut feeling wouldn’t rest.

Even lying about smoking. It’s not the smoking that’s the issue, it’s the lying and hiding an mental deflection that breaks me down and then makes me mistrust him… because he’s shown he can’t be trusted so of course I can’t act towards him how he does towards me (who’s open always- maybe too much so sometimes).

He threw in my face the other day that he can’t meet friends or go out of the house as I’m super controlling. But never once has he said he wants to, and even won’t go to the shops with me as he works long hours and just wants to be home/ rest. But suddenly I’m being devil- ised for a scenario which has never even happen . He said “oh my work friend (male) asked me to go an eat and I had to say no because you’d go mad because you’re so controlling”. But i wouldn’t go mad. I wouldn’t care if I hadn’t made dinner for him. But id find it disrespectful if I’d made food for him. To me that’s normal. I just find the whole reaction to me weird . Like no matter what I do or don’t do, he just seems to put the blame on me for “how I am”.

I really want him to just find someone else who is sweet and kind and looks forward to him coming in from work and runs to greet him like an excited puppy. And doesn’t use the “tone” like me or be so unbearable as I apparently am.

I’m not perfect and I never really learnt how to do a perfect relationship. But I’m just me and I’m honest and open and I recognise why I react and explain it (if I snap or am rude for example). But none of that matters as he just seem to hate me and lay into me disproportionately.

He seem to have so much built up resentment for being “trapped”, and “controlled” but I didn’t trap him. I’ve always said just be honest and open and I’m not scared of the truth, like ever. It’s like he stays trapped just to justify releasing all his anger on me.

But always what will make me scared is feeling the other person is hiding something- it does make me insecure. And he’s shown he’s a hider , not open. And after him I don’t trust myself to be in another relationship. I have my amazing kids and I just can’t be with anyone else ever. I don’t have the trust to blindly give to another man. Both of my kids dads were married when I met them, both hid it, I found out about both when I was already heavily pregnant. Wow that sounds so disfunctional but yes the fact is I have a deep mistrust for men after this. Im not nuts, just any sign of none openness would set massive warnings off for me. Even once a therapist said to me “oh I don’t think you’ll ever trust a man after this” 😂 I think even she was shocked!!

Please help me, i love him which is how i think i see that he just needs to be with someone else. I’m not the one for him because i bring out the anger and hate. Maybe with someone else he’ll be a much lighter person, maybe even happy and relaxed and tbh I’d love to see him like that. I don’t think he’s bad inside, just broken. I’ve come to the realisation that he needs someone and something else in life, not me.

Even though my heart is honestly broken and I just keep crying for myself and the way my life has been pooped on by dishonest men. But hey ho, my kids are my favourite little people.

Thank you for your time and I’m sorry it’s been long. I just wrote this as sometimes it’s too much to keep in my head and it’s hard to see anything clearly. Lots of love Xx

OP posts:
Flufferz · 03/04/2026 08:41

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 05:57

Can I ask your opinions… is this just me bringing this side of him out? Is it possible it’s just with me he’s like this? Because with someone sweeter I don’t think he’ll be like this.

His ex was calm and lovely, he never had a single argument with her. I know because I spoke with her. But she did say he never really was happy with life in general. I seem to bring out this craziness in him because of how I am. But I always think I give respect honesty openness communication etc and kind of want the same level back otherwise it’s not fair :-(

No, no, no, no, no. And just in case that wasn’t clear… NO!

None of this is your fault. He is an abuser.

now read that again from the beginning, and over and over again, until you believe it!

There’s lots of domestic abuse support out there, both nationally and on local levels, give it a google and find one that you like the look of and get the support to get rid of him.

It being just your house doesn’t make it harder, it makes it easier…

whomadethatmess · 03/04/2026 08:42

Good grief. I’m glad you’re taking on board that this is a terrible relationship and you do not have to stay in it any longer.
You and all the DC involved deserve much better. You can make that happen by ending this marriage as soon as you after taking professional advice as pp have advised and making sure you keep safe
You have a much better future ahead of you

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 08:44

Wish44 · 03/04/2026 08:39

I have been in a relationship like this and they make us question ourselves to the core. I recommend using co pilot to talk it through. Very helpful and you can ask it not not just agree with you but to give honest reflection on your own part in things which not does very well

good luck op. These men are so so strange. They hate us but stay with us. Malcontents I heard them described as on another thread

They really are so strange, I think a lot of them are very conflicted when the woman is capable. Sometimes when he’s going cuckoo I just watch him like this 🤨 it’s really very intriguing . It’s a saviour he can’t see what goes on in my mind otherwise I think he would have done serious damage to me by now

OP posts:
Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 08:45

whomadethatmess · 03/04/2026 08:42

Good grief. I’m glad you’re taking on board that this is a terrible relationship and you do not have to stay in it any longer.
You and all the DC involved deserve much better. You can make that happen by ending this marriage as soon as you after taking professional advice as pp have advised and making sure you keep safe
You have a much better future ahead of you

Thank you xx

OP posts:
IHate · 03/04/2026 08:48

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 05:57

Can I ask your opinions… is this just me bringing this side of him out? Is it possible it’s just with me he’s like this? Because with someone sweeter I don’t think he’ll be like this.

His ex was calm and lovely, he never had a single argument with her. I know because I spoke with her. But she did say he never really was happy with life in general. I seem to bring out this craziness in him because of how I am. But I always think I give respect honesty openness communication etc and kind of want the same level back otherwise it’s not fair :-(

OP, is therapy still available to you? Are you still going? Because WTF am I reading? Are these genuinely things that you think?

ForNoisyCat · 03/04/2026 08:50

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 04:52

Hi everyone,

I’m new on here but I really would like to get some blunt and honest opinions. I’m kind of giving up on my relationship, I can’t see any way to fix things anymore. I don’t have many friends as I’m always busy with work, home and exhausted like all other mums. Any comments or home truths will be v appreciated. Thank you …

My husband has a very angry personality. He always has. He over reacts and makes a big deal out of what I think are small things. His whole demeanour and outlook (in my opinion) is very negative and lacks any kind of awareness that he also needs to put effort into his way of thinking if he wants to be happy or find happiness / things to be grateful for. I mean we can all decide to throw our hands in the air and bang on about how bad everything is. Or we can try to remind ourselves to be grateful for health, kids, house etc. that’s what I think anyway

Sorry for rambling. So I think he doesn’t want to be with me anymore. But he won’t go as I think he’s not 100 percent sure. He thinks I’m a horrible person and although he doesn’t say this when we have a small disagreement (I’m not sweet and perfect and always softly spoken but I calm down very quickly and explain why I reacted like I did/ and how I felt that made me react) he can go days acting like I’m the devil. For example the other day we argued about food, I said five words (angry and snappy yes) and it’s been five days now of listening to what’s wrong with me and “what my problem is”. Within five mins I came down, apologised for swearing, explaining I felt unappreciated. Hoping for some human ness from him to revive me and understand me. But his anger is self igniting, he spent all day being really really nasty even though I hardly spoke. Just coming to tell me what I am, how bad I am. He can just keep coming and verbally attacking me as though he just really hates me. I think he blames me for everything.

The other morning I was asking how work was and my “tone of voice” was wrong… I think not sweet enough as I had my walls up for how he’s spent last two days verbally running me into the ground, and he straight away said “you’re like a man. It’s like there’s a man inside you”. Which to me is like clear evidence he can’t stand me or anything I do and just hates me inside.

We both share kids with other people, and if I talk with my ex he’s on speaker, I’m just wandering around house being open with nothing to hide. I have no feelings for ex even though we speak on phone. When he used to speak to his kids mum, he goes outside and closes the door and speaks in garden with his daughter. Last night he brought up, “oh if I spoke with her as much as you speak with him… you couldn’t handle it” and my argument is all about openness. He says “oh if a partner told you not to ever touch his phone you couldn’t handle it”- well no I couldn’t and I couldn’t be with someone like that because I really value trust, openness, honesty, saying everything however good or bad. I always think telling the truth about everything is the biggest respect . And being secretive is the biggest disrespect.

He lied and he cheated at the beginning (with said ex) so already laid a foundation for mistrust. I was very pregnant so didn’t leave (and she lives abroad so they were playing happy families when he went there”. But he’s never been open when he’s done something wrong, never come to me to tell the truth, I’ve always had to be suspicious, feel like I’m nuts, gather evidence, and I’ve always had to pull it from him bit by bit. Which trust me I never enjoyed doing it’s just I think my gut feeling wouldn’t rest.

Even lying about smoking. It’s not the smoking that’s the issue, it’s the lying and hiding an mental deflection that breaks me down and then makes me mistrust him… because he’s shown he can’t be trusted so of course I can’t act towards him how he does towards me (who’s open always- maybe too much so sometimes).

He threw in my face the other day that he can’t meet friends or go out of the house as I’m super controlling. But never once has he said he wants to, and even won’t go to the shops with me as he works long hours and just wants to be home/ rest. But suddenly I’m being devil- ised for a scenario which has never even happen . He said “oh my work friend (male) asked me to go an eat and I had to say no because you’d go mad because you’re so controlling”. But i wouldn’t go mad. I wouldn’t care if I hadn’t made dinner for him. But id find it disrespectful if I’d made food for him. To me that’s normal. I just find the whole reaction to me weird . Like no matter what I do or don’t do, he just seems to put the blame on me for “how I am”.

I really want him to just find someone else who is sweet and kind and looks forward to him coming in from work and runs to greet him like an excited puppy. And doesn’t use the “tone” like me or be so unbearable as I apparently am.

I’m not perfect and I never really learnt how to do a perfect relationship. But I’m just me and I’m honest and open and I recognise why I react and explain it (if I snap or am rude for example). But none of that matters as he just seem to hate me and lay into me disproportionately.

He seem to have so much built up resentment for being “trapped”, and “controlled” but I didn’t trap him. I’ve always said just be honest and open and I’m not scared of the truth, like ever. It’s like he stays trapped just to justify releasing all his anger on me.

But always what will make me scared is feeling the other person is hiding something- it does make me insecure. And he’s shown he’s a hider , not open. And after him I don’t trust myself to be in another relationship. I have my amazing kids and I just can’t be with anyone else ever. I don’t have the trust to blindly give to another man. Both of my kids dads were married when I met them, both hid it, I found out about both when I was already heavily pregnant. Wow that sounds so disfunctional but yes the fact is I have a deep mistrust for men after this. Im not nuts, just any sign of none openness would set massive warnings off for me. Even once a therapist said to me “oh I don’t think you’ll ever trust a man after this” 😂 I think even she was shocked!!

Please help me, i love him which is how i think i see that he just needs to be with someone else. I’m not the one for him because i bring out the anger and hate. Maybe with someone else he’ll be a much lighter person, maybe even happy and relaxed and tbh I’d love to see him like that. I don’t think he’s bad inside, just broken. I’ve come to the realisation that he needs someone and something else in life, not me.

Even though my heart is honestly broken and I just keep crying for myself and the way my life has been pooped on by dishonest men. But hey ho, my kids are my favourite little people.

Thank you for your time and I’m sorry it’s been long. I just wrote this as sometimes it’s too much to keep in my head and it’s hard to see anything clearly. Lots of love Xx

You’re not right for each other. you’ve never been able to trust him because he lied to you at the beginning. He’s really nasty to you now. you’ve reached a dead end with this one - his frustration snd anger will only get worse and damage you.

Hardwick · 03/04/2026 08:50

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Imdunfer · 03/04/2026 08:53

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 08:40

Yes the time has to be right, otherwise it can go the wrong way. And I have to take the majority of the responsibility . What goes on in my head is one thing, but what I say a lot is thought through. The problems happen when I vocalise my true thoughts and it all goes upside down

That's when they happen.

But they happen because your partner is abusive, not because you are doing anything wrong.

Laurmolonlabe · 03/04/2026 09:03

He sounds horrible, I don't usually advocate the "leave him" camp, but being with someone so negative is truly toxic- you will never be happy.

BunnyLake · 03/04/2026 09:03

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 08:44

They really are so strange, I think a lot of them are very conflicted when the woman is capable. Sometimes when he’s going cuckoo I just watch him like this 🤨 it’s really very intriguing . It’s a saviour he can’t see what goes on in my mind otherwise I think he would have done serious damage to me by now

You said you love him, but do you, really? What is there to love? What do you love about him?What does he do to deserve your love?

Shouldbedoing · 03/04/2026 09:11

It is very worrying that you have talked to your little girl about living away from Dad and new bedrooms etc. She could blurt this out, she's only young.
You need to act quickly.
P.S This is not your fault. You have probably had the 'boiling frog' experience.

nochance17 · 03/04/2026 09:11

After everything you’ve said about him you still say you love him and therein lies the problem. He sounds abusive. Why are you thinking about what he needs , what do you need ? He may well be a different person with someone else (but I doubt it) however that will be nothing to do with you and your life. What do you want and what will be best for you and your kids ?

BunnyLake · 03/04/2026 09:14

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 08:44

They really are so strange, I think a lot of them are very conflicted when the woman is capable. Sometimes when he’s going cuckoo I just watch him like this 🤨 it’s really very intriguing . It’s a saviour he can’t see what goes on in my mind otherwise I think he would have done serious damage to me by now

You said you love him, but can you, really? What is there to love? What do you love about him?What does he do to deserve your love?

Cherrysoup · 03/04/2026 09:18

Glitchymn1 · 03/04/2026 08:34

If you are married and he has children I’d see a solicitor as even though the house is in your name he still has a claim, his children need a home, I don’t think it’s as easy as saying there’s the door. Where will he go? Where will his children go? Does he rely on you for money? Are you the main bread winner? Marriage is a financial contract. You may need a non molestation order too by the sounds of it.

Sound advice, the house, even if you’re the only name on the AST, is the marital home, so he may have a legal right to stay. I think, from what the OP says, that his dd with his ex is abroad. Shelter can give you legal advice on the housing situation.

LittleMyLabyrinth · 03/04/2026 09:19

It's not you. He would not be happier with someone else. From experience, I know that miserable people like this are incapable of change. They don't want to. They are human black holes who want to suck everyone down into misery with them.

Leave him. This dynamic is abusive to your children.

icecreamphoenix · 03/04/2026 09:20

Echoing what everyone else has said.

Also - when he says "You're like a man," he means "You're not being submissive." He thinks women's role is to act as support humans for men.

Bikergran · 03/04/2026 09:29

Does he support you financially? Otherwise I can see no reason whatsoever to stay in this relationship. Stop bloody apologising when you've done nothing wrong.

Sensiblesal · 03/04/2026 09:29

I picked up from your original post that you have trust issues. You mention re his phone.

have you had previous bad experiences with Men?

this is not your fault at all, you don’t need to be sweeter. Maybe kinder because swearing at him isn’t right either but it will 100% be a trauma response. You also need to be kinder to yourself he has made you think this is your fault & its really not

just tell him to leave OP. You both sound like you don’t want to be with the other at this point & he will continue being cruel.

what you say about being single is right. You can’t be in another relationship till you can get over your trust issues &. You will also need time to heal over this relationship. Don’t jump straight into another because you will not trust and the trauma responses you have now will become you being abusive in some contexts due to the learned behaviour from the trauma response. Its really hard to get past the trauma & be ‘normal’

AlwaysTheRenegade · 03/04/2026 09:40

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 05:17

As I was writing it I realised how dysfunctional it is… kind of embarrassing tbh. I’m not a stupid person in day to day life but I’ve go myself in this weird dynamic relationship

Please don't be embarrassed Flowers

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 03/04/2026 09:42

It's not your fault OP
He is a functioning adult who is in charge of his behaviour and is choosing to be abusive
His behaviour is abuse
Your life will be 100x better without him in it - calm, free, no walking on eggshells in case you set him off, no nastiness, insults or arguing
It's an abusers trick to try and get their victims to think it's their fault
Yes he might have been different in different relationships but that doesn't mean it was a healthy relationship - his ex might have been scared to do what she really wanted or say what she really thought, to avoid setting him off.

Please finish with him. Be prepared for promises of change again, and know they won't last

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 09:45

KimuraTan · 03/04/2026 08:36

This. Is he British or does be somehow need you for housing/visa?

I’d leave and not expose your kids to this toxic attitude. OP, I mean it with absolute kindness when I say this: stop falling pregnant with any man so quickly!! 3 kids by three men in the circumstances you describe sounds like you’ve been vulnerable for a while and still are. 💐

No he doesn’t need me for any kind of visa. Two children, not three.

No offence but my son’s dad is not just any old random person. And I was with him for four years before getting pregnant and we ran a successful business together. I am not responsible if he had a wife he hid from me for four years.

And I was with my current one two years and got pregnant. Again, he told me the woman was an ex, and only when I saw messages I realised he’d lied to me since day one. Again, my fault if I put insecurities aside from the first husband and tried my best to trust the second one? Not my fault. I didn’t meet, get pregnant. And neither are some unemployed losers gaming all day. They’re both hard workers. Just dishonest.

not sure where you got the idea I popped out theee within weeks of meeting people but I didnt

OP posts:
Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 09:47

Sensiblesal · 03/04/2026 09:29

I picked up from your original post that you have trust issues. You mention re his phone.

have you had previous bad experiences with Men?

this is not your fault at all, you don’t need to be sweeter. Maybe kinder because swearing at him isn’t right either but it will 100% be a trauma response. You also need to be kinder to yourself he has made you think this is your fault & its really not

just tell him to leave OP. You both sound like you don’t want to be with the other at this point & he will continue being cruel.

what you say about being single is right. You can’t be in another relationship till you can get over your trust issues &. You will also need time to heal over this relationship. Don’t jump straight into another because you will not trust and the trauma responses you have now will become you being abusive in some contexts due to the learned behaviour from the trauma response. Its really hard to get past the trauma & be ‘normal’

Edited

I won’t get over trust issues, I know that. That’s why I won’t be in another relationship. I’ll just put my energy into work and kids and keep busy . I’m done trusting men and being treated like a mug

OP posts:
Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 09:48

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 03/04/2026 09:42

It's not your fault OP
He is a functioning adult who is in charge of his behaviour and is choosing to be abusive
His behaviour is abuse
Your life will be 100x better without him in it - calm, free, no walking on eggshells in case you set him off, no nastiness, insults or arguing
It's an abusers trick to try and get their victims to think it's their fault
Yes he might have been different in different relationships but that doesn't mean it was a healthy relationship - his ex might have been scared to do what she really wanted or say what she really thought, to avoid setting him off.

Please finish with him. Be prepared for promises of change again, and know they won't last

Thank you, I did wonder as well if she just didn’t want to tell him the truth as she’s not like that and like me, wants to leave things nicely xx

OP posts:
1000StrawberryLollies · 03/04/2026 09:48

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 05:57

Can I ask your opinions… is this just me bringing this side of him out? Is it possible it’s just with me he’s like this? Because with someone sweeter I don’t think he’ll be like this.

His ex was calm and lovely, he never had a single argument with her. I know because I spoke with her. But she did say he never really was happy with life in general. I seem to bring out this craziness in him because of how I am. But I always think I give respect honesty openness communication etc and kind of want the same level back otherwise it’s not fair :-(

No no no. This is a very dangerous and wrong-headed way of thinking. He is a horrible, abusive man. The idea that you sonehow cause this or 'bring it out' in him is a line straight out of the abusive men's handbook. He has made you feel like you are at fault for his behaviour.

Even if it were true that he wasn't overtly nasty like this to his ex, you surely don't think it would be worth making yourself into a cowering, submissive mouse in order to preserve your relationship with this bullying arsehole?

Pyjamabanana16 · 03/04/2026 09:49

icecreamphoenix · 03/04/2026 09:20

Echoing what everyone else has said.

Also - when he says "You're like a man," he means "You're not being submissive." He thinks women's role is to act as support humans for men.

I think this too… he wants someone who sticks him on a pedestal. And I want someone equal. Which is what he says he wants but I think his words and actions are different

OP posts:
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