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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

Boyfriend says I am controlling and lying over everyday things

190 replies

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:02

Boyfriend accuses me of ….

controlling him if I ask during the heatwave would he mind not frying so many foods, maybe use the air fryer or oven? Because I have an open plan kitchen and I’m aware I’m very house proud maybe too much, I never fried things due to smells but since I’ve met him I’ve wanted him to be happy so I say nothing but the day before with all the heat it lingered. He said ok no worries, then ten mins later he started doing it, and I said please can you not so he chucked the frying pan with oil in the sink

lying about being asleep earlier than I used to be (while he’s working away and finishes late shifts and I’m unable to talk due to being in bed)

lying about not being able to hear him on the phone due to bad signal, I was then told im insecure because I was testing to see if he wants to talk to me? I called him right back when I moved rooms as I get bad signal in living room

lying about falling asleep on the sofa… so basically we were together, I’ve been exercising a lot lately, it’s a hot summer night and before bed, it was all quiet, I lid on the sofa thinking I’d rub my sore legs, and before I knew it I dozed off. He came blasting in saying how dare you fall asleep, you should always tell me if u are going to sleep not in the bed together but I explained I didn’t mean to, it just happened. He said I’m avoiding him, going on and on at me until I snapped go away leave me alone then he said why can’t you just relax, by which point I was back in the bedroom but riled up un relaxed and yet by now he was totally relaxed, and asked why can’t I be normal and relax and I said I was very relaxed until u made me jump by screaming at me that I’m disrespecting you for falling asleep on the sofa. I tried explaining I wa tired and wasn’t intending to doze off but it just happened

lying about forgetting things. We were due to go out for the day a nice sunny day, I released I forgot a few things and went back up (I live in a second floor flat)… he went down the communal stairs, I went down the lift (no particular reason) just there’s a lift in the mirror and I like to check I look okay because he says if I wear leggings or certain things I look disrespectful so I make sure in this lift mirror I don’t look too revealing, and he refuses to be seen with me if I wear leggings and this day I had a little summer dress on and was a bit worried… anyway I realised gosh I’ve forgotten xyz. ( random things like sunscreen, and lip care etc, I love looking after my skin)… when I came down to the car park, all happy, my heart sunk and his face like thunder yelling how dare I make him wait and that I must have stood in the communial hallways for five mins just to make him wait, that I purposely waited for him to go downstairs but I truely didn’t, I simply forgot things. This day I shouted at him in the car that I’m exhausted from being accused of daily things. Also on this day he said I had made him wait three hours prior but the reality is it’s a Sunday morning, we had food, some breakfast, I put a lot of my clients records from the day before onto my app, I cleaned up, showered etc… I didn’t purposely make him wait

Also on this morning, it’s been a heatwave, I’m always on top of hoysework and can be labelled as OCD even, but I said do u mind if I don’t do washing up this morning it’s so boiling hot (when he’s home not working and he doesn’t live with me btw, he uses soooo many cooking pans etc) and it’s soooo much washing up, it actually hurts my skin even with gloves on… so he shouted no you are not leaving until it’s done, washing up must always be done, that I’m purposely trying to be difficult but I wasn’t snapping, I just said in a light hearted way can I leave it until later hoping he’d say sure based on the fact he says I’m the cleanest woman he’s been with which he loves but he then started chucking food he brought in the bin shouting if you’re going to misbehave then so will I. I was just flabbergasted. And begged him to stop. In the end I did wash up (when he’s here I promise I’m washing up about 5 times a day he’s a chef so cooks loads which is fine but so much washing up)

for a while I wasn’t working for health reasons, I was and am still fat but trying, my sleep was bad so he told me to get back working, sleep earlier, excersise… so I have started all of this. Now I try to sleep sometimes as early as 9.30 and the gym etc tires me out, I’ve started self employed, built up my clients again, but he says that’s not like me to sleep earlier and that I must think I’m better than him now I’m working, I’ve lost 4 stone since I met him, and he says things like I’d be quiet if I were you, with all that weight…, says he doesn’t like I now have a personal trainer so I agree to train on my own and ask maybe he can come too because as well as the gym I do circuit training outside… but he said he doesn’t want to come and why should he because he doesn’t need to get fitter, that I should do it… but if I do do these things and get tired, he says I’m avoiding him…. I’m really drained from it

I’ve given him no reason to not trust me. I’m a boring homely girl, I love it. And when I do slip into sleeping late again he says I need to get my act together
for context he has fallen asleep many times on the sofa

So why is he one thing but another? Is it bipolar? Am I just simply not loved? If I don’t do something I’m grilled for hours upon hours, but if I do do the things I’m told I don’t do, eventually IM told I’m trying too much and getting ahead of myself. WHY I CANT MAKE SENSE OF IT

OP posts:
Sodthesystem · 01/06/2026 21:22

We don’t “punish” other adults as if they are our naughty five year old children.
He has no dominion to punish you. Who the hell does he think he is?

Tell him to do one. Change the locks. And don’t date again until you’ve taken at least two years learning to be happy in your own company and consistently reading up on how to spot abuse. So that when you do date again, you will never let a man stay in your life if he starts to disturb your peace, let alone your sanity or your joy.

BreadedChickenLips · 01/06/2026 23:17

bittertwisted · 01/06/2026 12:33

All true, but it’s very hard to break the pattern of believing you have failed, that if only you tried a bit harder the relationship will be wonderful

op needs to break this cycle first, to believe in her truth and respect her own boundaries. Doing this is extremely hard when you have spent your whole life thinking you are the problem

if she doesn’t she will be straight back as soon as he starts the process of making her feel special, saying he will change to entice her back. I know this from bitter experience

I second this. I was sure there was something I could do to make him happy and then everything would be fine and he would be the nice version all the time. It was only when I realised no matter what I did, it would be wrong or he would find something else to have a go at me about that I realised I couldn't win.

It was actually 2 days back to back where he told me I was lazy for not cleaning up after he'd cooked dinner - blazing row, chucked me out of the house we shared. Blah blah finally talked me back and it was smoothed over.

The next day I jumped up straight after dinner and started clearing up. He told me I was too uptight and couldn't I just relax and let him relax after a hard day. Why did I have to be cleaning up straight away.

It was like a lightbulb in my head and that's exactly why I read your thread this morning and kept it open until I had the time to reply. His overreaction throwing pans in the sink, complaining about the washing up, it was exactly the same for me. Exhausting trying to tiptoe round his moods. Till I realised it was a game I couldn't win because he kept changing the goalposts and the rules. He literally contradicted himself the next day and it showed me the only thing I could do was leave. When there is nothing you can do to make him happy, make yourself happy 💐

BreadedChickenLips · 01/06/2026 23:26

OneDogTwoCatsHalfaDH · 01/06/2026 13:42

Could you imagine this in 20, 30 years time? Always questioning yourself, worrying about upsetting him. Nah, a partner is supposed to be your friend, your supporter.
I can imagine it, I've been married for 18 years to a similar man.
I have become so accustomed to being unhappy and frustrated with his behaviour that it no longer really affects me.
@KiraChris please gather the strength to get out of this relationship NOW.
And get some help around you to ensure you stick to it. I actually left him a few years ago, but he wore me down with alternating between threatening suicide, drunken aggression and being all sweet and reasonable.
Please don't be me, don't waste your life with this man.
You are not being controlling or unreasonable at all, he is totally gaslighting you. The moving targets will always be out of reach, you can't change your behaviour to make him happy because making you miserable is what makes him happy.

My ex did this. He had a condition that needing regular medication and he would threaten to not take it or to overdose on it. I remember him ruining one Christmas Eve locking himself in the bathroom at my parents' house with me trying to talk him round without anyone finding out.

If your H died by suicide it would be because of him not because of you. It would be his free will to choose that option and try and pin the guilt on you. But he is a grown up who makes his own choices and we cannot control other people's choices only our own. Which is why you need to leave and never talk to him again. If necessary do your grieving for the relationship whilst you're together. The last holiday you go on, the last time you have sex, the last time you share a bed, the last meal together. Whatever it is after 18 years, grieve it whilst you're together having made a plan for a definite end date. Have an accountability partner who you trust and can share your plan with. Ideally someone in real life who is a straight talker but kind and empathetic. If not, start a thread on this board and we'll support you towards that end date. He can say and do whatever he likes but it's his actions that have brought him here, not yours. Sending strength and support 💐

BreadedChickenLips · 01/06/2026 23:29

@KiraChris my ex wouldn't let me sleep either and it felt like torture. It was like falling asleep was some kind of criticism of him. Having a nap showed him how lazy I was. My DH of 20 years had to decondition me to that. He positively encouraged me to nap on him at the start of the relationship and ever since. On my birthday and mother's day he always plans a nap for me and takes our DC out to give me complete peace. Find a man that does this for you not tortures you or blames you for falling asleep. Noone should have to justify sleep to their partner.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/06/2026 23:42

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:17

How am I controlling? If I am I can learn from what I’m doing wrong

He has done a number on you making you think that you’re the one who needs to change. He is controlling and abusive. You need to escape but I’m worried you don’t have the confidence to because you love him etc. he is gaslighting and controlling hou. Please show your mum or best friend what you’ve written here and run.

SallyDraperGetInHere · 01/06/2026 23:49

If you haven’t watched I am Nicola with Vicky McClure on Channel 4, I suggest you seek it out on C4 playback.

Pearlstillsinging · 01/06/2026 23:49

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:17

How am I controlling? If I am I can learn from what I’m doing wrong

You are not controlling! He is! Who does he think he is telling you what to do in your own home?
Do not put up with this abusive behaviour any longer.

Wecanbeheroes26 · Yesterday 00:17

I am absolutely baffled as to WHY you are even with this man! He treats you extremely poorly. Nothing you do will ever be good enough. It's not you. It's him. So why are you wasting your life trying to change to please this person? I am so shocked by the low standards women accept.

NoisyMonster678 · Yesterday 01:50

LTB

NoisyMonster678 · Yesterday 02:00

Your BF is acusing you of the thibgs he is guilty of.

He is like a human tick - he draining you of everything that is good in your life.

If he loves you, he would be kind to you, and treat you with the kindness you deserve.

EvieBB · Yesterday 22:38

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:02

Boyfriend accuses me of ….

controlling him if I ask during the heatwave would he mind not frying so many foods, maybe use the air fryer or oven? Because I have an open plan kitchen and I’m aware I’m very house proud maybe too much, I never fried things due to smells but since I’ve met him I’ve wanted him to be happy so I say nothing but the day before with all the heat it lingered. He said ok no worries, then ten mins later he started doing it, and I said please can you not so he chucked the frying pan with oil in the sink

lying about being asleep earlier than I used to be (while he’s working away and finishes late shifts and I’m unable to talk due to being in bed)

lying about not being able to hear him on the phone due to bad signal, I was then told im insecure because I was testing to see if he wants to talk to me? I called him right back when I moved rooms as I get bad signal in living room

lying about falling asleep on the sofa… so basically we were together, I’ve been exercising a lot lately, it’s a hot summer night and before bed, it was all quiet, I lid on the sofa thinking I’d rub my sore legs, and before I knew it I dozed off. He came blasting in saying how dare you fall asleep, you should always tell me if u are going to sleep not in the bed together but I explained I didn’t mean to, it just happened. He said I’m avoiding him, going on and on at me until I snapped go away leave me alone then he said why can’t you just relax, by which point I was back in the bedroom but riled up un relaxed and yet by now he was totally relaxed, and asked why can’t I be normal and relax and I said I was very relaxed until u made me jump by screaming at me that I’m disrespecting you for falling asleep on the sofa. I tried explaining I wa tired and wasn’t intending to doze off but it just happened

lying about forgetting things. We were due to go out for the day a nice sunny day, I released I forgot a few things and went back up (I live in a second floor flat)… he went down the communal stairs, I went down the lift (no particular reason) just there’s a lift in the mirror and I like to check I look okay because he says if I wear leggings or certain things I look disrespectful so I make sure in this lift mirror I don’t look too revealing, and he refuses to be seen with me if I wear leggings and this day I had a little summer dress on and was a bit worried… anyway I realised gosh I’ve forgotten xyz. ( random things like sunscreen, and lip care etc, I love looking after my skin)… when I came down to the car park, all happy, my heart sunk and his face like thunder yelling how dare I make him wait and that I must have stood in the communial hallways for five mins just to make him wait, that I purposely waited for him to go downstairs but I truely didn’t, I simply forgot things. This day I shouted at him in the car that I’m exhausted from being accused of daily things. Also on this day he said I had made him wait three hours prior but the reality is it’s a Sunday morning, we had food, some breakfast, I put a lot of my clients records from the day before onto my app, I cleaned up, showered etc… I didn’t purposely make him wait

Also on this morning, it’s been a heatwave, I’m always on top of hoysework and can be labelled as OCD even, but I said do u mind if I don’t do washing up this morning it’s so boiling hot (when he’s home not working and he doesn’t live with me btw, he uses soooo many cooking pans etc) and it’s soooo much washing up, it actually hurts my skin even with gloves on… so he shouted no you are not leaving until it’s done, washing up must always be done, that I’m purposely trying to be difficult but I wasn’t snapping, I just said in a light hearted way can I leave it until later hoping he’d say sure based on the fact he says I’m the cleanest woman he’s been with which he loves but he then started chucking food he brought in the bin shouting if you’re going to misbehave then so will I. I was just flabbergasted. And begged him to stop. In the end I did wash up (when he’s here I promise I’m washing up about 5 times a day he’s a chef so cooks loads which is fine but so much washing up)

for a while I wasn’t working for health reasons, I was and am still fat but trying, my sleep was bad so he told me to get back working, sleep earlier, excersise… so I have started all of this. Now I try to sleep sometimes as early as 9.30 and the gym etc tires me out, I’ve started self employed, built up my clients again, but he says that’s not like me to sleep earlier and that I must think I’m better than him now I’m working, I’ve lost 4 stone since I met him, and he says things like I’d be quiet if I were you, with all that weight…, says he doesn’t like I now have a personal trainer so I agree to train on my own and ask maybe he can come too because as well as the gym I do circuit training outside… but he said he doesn’t want to come and why should he because he doesn’t need to get fitter, that I should do it… but if I do do these things and get tired, he says I’m avoiding him…. I’m really drained from it

I’ve given him no reason to not trust me. I’m a boring homely girl, I love it. And when I do slip into sleeping late again he says I need to get my act together
for context he has fallen asleep many times on the sofa

So why is he one thing but another? Is it bipolar? Am I just simply not loved? If I don’t do something I’m grilled for hours upon hours, but if I do do the things I’m told I don’t do, eventually IM told I’m trying too much and getting ahead of myself. WHY I CANT MAKE SENSE OF IT

You can't make sense of it because he's messing with your head. He's projecting HIS faults on to you. HE'S the controlling one..... yelling at you, telling you you have to do X, Y and Z.
Seriously he will never change. It will only get worse. Please LTB.

EvieBB · Yesterday 22:43

arethereanyleftatall · 01/06/2026 12:08

Why ON EARTH would being in this relationship be happier for you than being single?

Because of trauma bonding.
Hopefully she can release herself from this abusive, toxic shit 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Meteorite87 · Today 00:15

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 12:38

@bittertwisted What you just said. That’s done it for me. I don’t know who you are, but in that moment of reading your post, it’s suddenly hit me. I’m going to leave ! THANKYOU XXXXXXXX

More power to you @KiraChris
I hope you are safely split from him now.

SnowFrogJelly · Today 00:30

Why are you with this awful man..

FetchezLaVache · Today 01:09

he said because I had disrespected him (I went to my friends house next door to see her and he told me not to but I did) he would then “punish” me to teach me a lesson by smoking in my home or walk the carpets with shoes on

My darling, I do hope you come sooner rather than later to the realisation that with a shitbag of this order, you don't need to analyse or seek to improve your behaviour to any degree. Just get rid of this vile man. Let "fuck that noise" be your mantra.

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