Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

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

Am i wrong in feeling this way?

64 replies

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:16

I've been with my partner for nearly 20 years, we are mid 30s and have 4 children age range 18 to 5. I feel a constant ache for more and to experience a connection with someone else, or just to feel at peace and not so stressed. Partner is selfish, he barely gives me any money, I'm lucky if he gives me £500 a month, I work part time he is a self employed builder so earns more than me. Although he does pay gor holidays and the odd takeaway when we have one but thats beside the point. I see to the children mostly, sort their things, appointments, he's never been to a parents evenings or school play/sports day, pick ups and drop offs is mostly me but he does if he's in the mood, most nights he goes to walk the dogs where he usually ends up at a quiet pub with his friends and I'm left to sort the washing up, the little one and pick my daughter up if shes been out with friends. When I go to work and am out the house for 13 hours I come home to barely anything done, he refuses to do any washing as he says hes not sorting through our dirty knickers, moams at me when i've not washed his work clothes, washing up is usually left, bathroom never cleaned, he says the elder children should do it, which I agree but so should he, and they will if they're told. He is emotionally unavailable, he's difficult to get a conversation out of him and has no sense of humour, I find I am not my true self with him as I feel stupid. Many many times over the years I have tried to talk to him about how I feel and tried to raise the issues I have but he doesnt listen, he becomes argumentative and turns things round on me and says I'm in a mood then we just go round in circles, we're fine for a bit then I get fed up and try to tell him his wrongs and how I feel etc but nothing works. I have no where to go so I cannot leave, no family only my grandparents and I certainly wouldnt mither them. I had a one night stand with someone we both know many years ago and he has never gotten over it, he cant understand why i did it, he was suicidal when he found out and still says now if he ever hears anything else he will kill himself and I feel he would feel this way if i did break it off completely and that worries me. He has his good points believe it or not, everyone I speak to say hes a good bloke, he's always been faithful, we do nice things together as a family, the sex is good and I've told him thats probably the only good thing going for us. I've had to have time off work due to stress and burnout with other things going on and couldn't cope with everything. I crave an emotional connection with someone else, I feel now I'm in my mid 30s I want to live and not waste my life feeling miserable and disrespected but I feel completely stuck and obviously dont know any different hence why I've put up with this for so long. Any advice/thoughts welcome, please be kind!

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:42

category12 · 21/07/2026 06:11

So now what?

He says he isn't that bad.

It's not exactly a gsme-changing response, is it?

He went off to bed as dosnt want to listen to it. Said I'm not perfect i can be vile.. yes when im stressed and burntout. He will ignore me all day now and think im just in a mood

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:46

NameChangeAgain48 · 20/07/2026 23:51

He'll be telling you he doesn't hit you or womanise, so he isn't that bad and expects you to be grateful.

He isn't a good partner. He isn't a good parent. He isn't a good provider. He isn't even doing what a single person would need to do to support themselves. A single person would have to cook, clean, shop and pay more that £500 a month to live.

He keeps you skint so you have less options and feel powerless. He keeps you exhausted for exactly the same reason.

You are young. You should more on and find someone that cares about you, your happiness and wellbeing. To this guy you are just a service provider. As long as you do your jobs and stay in your box he is happy. It doesn't matter if your miserable. If it did he'd make changes. He'd care why your unhappy and make changes.

I completely agree. I just dont know how to get out of it, without fear of the future, will i be ok in my own? no friends apart from work friends, my only family is my elderly grandparents as I'm an only child and lost my mum, never had a dad or stepdad. Worrying he will do something because he cant cope, I dodnt mention he is a functioning alcoholic, has crippling anxiety. I do care about him but I feel I'm putting his needs first to keep him happy

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:46

I suppose I am just trying to find the push from others and if anyone else has been in this situation

OP posts:
WhatNextImScared · 21/07/2026 10:49

You are only in your mid 30s. Your adult life has really only just started. You can choose how you spend it.

BillieWiper · 21/07/2026 10:55

There's no way he would KHS and the fact he says that is just a crude manipulation tactic. He's never displayed any suicidal ideation at all. He was just angry and bruised ego about the ONS. But honestly you probably should've split when that all came out.

I hope you can find the strength to get away from him. You don't deserve this abuse.

NameChangeAgain48 · 21/07/2026 12:32

Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:46

I completely agree. I just dont know how to get out of it, without fear of the future, will i be ok in my own? no friends apart from work friends, my only family is my elderly grandparents as I'm an only child and lost my mum, never had a dad or stepdad. Worrying he will do something because he cant cope, I dodnt mention he is a functioning alcoholic, has crippling anxiety. I do care about him but I feel I'm putting his needs first to keep him happy

You need to decide what you are more scared about. If nothing changes are you more scared of being alone in 5 years or still being with him? He has no intention of changing. If he was going to cgange he would have cared to do it when you cried and begged him too. He might make promises but thats just manipulation to keep yoi. Unfortunately, this is as good as it gets. In my experience people dont really change unless they really want to. Remember he doesnt think he's that bad. He minimises his actions and his impact on you and the children. That's not someone taking accountability.

Im sorry his MH is bad. What is he doing to change that? He's MH is his responsibility. You are not responsible for what he does. If he did hurt himself that wouldbt be your fault. You can't allow yourself to be held prisoner by him and his threats. Or his lack of action to get well.

category12 · 21/07/2026 15:31

Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:42

He went off to bed as dosnt want to listen to it. Said I'm not perfect i can be vile.. yes when im stressed and burntout. He will ignore me all day now and think im just in a mood

I didn't mean "what now" over what he's going to do.

He's perfectly OK with the way things are. He'll just wait until normal service is resumed.

I meant "what now" over what you're going to do.

If you wait for him to change, step up and stop being a nasty bastard to you, you'll be waiting forever.

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 21/07/2026 15:55

Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 10:46

I completely agree. I just dont know how to get out of it, without fear of the future, will i be ok in my own? no friends apart from work friends, my only family is my elderly grandparents as I'm an only child and lost my mum, never had a dad or stepdad. Worrying he will do something because he cant cope, I dodnt mention he is a functioning alcoholic, has crippling anxiety. I do care about him but I feel I'm putting his needs first to keep him happy

You're not responsible for him, OP. He's a grown man, HE is responsible for himself.

A lot of men threaten to commit self-harm when their wife wants to leave. It is abusive, it is emotional blackmail, it is a TACTIC to keep the women running after them.

If he EVER threatens suicide again, the only response is to call emergency services. Because if he is serious, YOU can't help him - he needs help from experts.

And if he's not serious, he'll never threaten suicide again, not after the emergency services figure out he was doing it to abuse you.

https://zawn.substack.com/p/when-your-abuser-threatens-suicide

When your abuser threatens suicide

Threatening suicide is a common abusive tactic. But the risk is also very real--and could extend to you and your children.

https://zawn.substack.com/p/when-your-abuser-threatens-suicide

Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 16:29

category12 · 21/07/2026 15:31

I didn't mean "what now" over what he's going to do.

He's perfectly OK with the way things are. He'll just wait until normal service is resumed.

I meant "what now" over what you're going to do.

If you wait for him to change, step up and stop being a nasty bastard to you, you'll be waiting forever.

I completely agree. I've spoke to him today I said I meant what I said. I just need to stick to my guns and try not to think about the things that scare me. I've been too soft for too long. Like I said I feel a constant ache for more and I'll never be happy feeling like this and being treated this way

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 16:30

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 21/07/2026 15:55

You're not responsible for him, OP. He's a grown man, HE is responsible for himself.

A lot of men threaten to commit self-harm when their wife wants to leave. It is abusive, it is emotional blackmail, it is a TACTIC to keep the women running after them.

If he EVER threatens suicide again, the only response is to call emergency services. Because if he is serious, YOU can't help him - he needs help from experts.

And if he's not serious, he'll never threaten suicide again, not after the emergency services figure out he was doing it to abuse you.

https://zawn.substack.com/p/when-your-abuser-threatens-suicide

Thank you. I agree I'm not responsible for him. I just couldnt bare the thought of that happening

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 16:39

NameChangeAgain48 · 21/07/2026 12:32

You need to decide what you are more scared about. If nothing changes are you more scared of being alone in 5 years or still being with him? He has no intention of changing. If he was going to cgange he would have cared to do it when you cried and begged him too. He might make promises but thats just manipulation to keep yoi. Unfortunately, this is as good as it gets. In my experience people dont really change unless they really want to. Remember he doesnt think he's that bad. He minimises his actions and his impact on you and the children. That's not someone taking accountability.

Im sorry his MH is bad. What is he doing to change that? He's MH is his responsibility. You are not responsible for what he does. If he did hurt himself that wouldbt be your fault. You can't allow yourself to be held prisoner by him and his threats. Or his lack of action to get well.

I had this conversation with my nan probably 5 years ago. She said the same whats his plans for the future, what does he want to do to better himself etc. I said nothing will change. And here we are. He wont get help for his mental health or for his alcohol problem I've told him to get counselling or go the doctors but he wont

OP posts:
Theloudbiscuit · 21/07/2026 17:16

Married male, 38 and been married to my wife for 8 years.... also going through a difficult time with my partner but for different reasons. Take what everyone tells you with a pinch of salt, take on board what they say but dont be too irrational! To me it sounds like your husband is somewhat selfish... but that's my opinion! I wouldn't keep it bottled up, and so maybe tell him how you feel and explain some things need to change. Im not going to sit here and tell you to leave him, but also like you said dont be wasting your life in a relationship your not truly happy in. My wife doesn't really open up to me and ive found myself in a really tough predicament! I really wish she would talk to me more, that way I wouldn't feel so much in the dark and I'd know how I can make things right! Maybe your partner feels the same as me i dont know, but its 100% worth telling him how you feel... us men aren't mind readers

category12 · 21/07/2026 17:46

She's already told him multiple times. It's not a question of her not saying what the problem is.

NameChangeAgain48 · 21/07/2026 18:00

Sugarplum5 · 21/07/2026 16:39

I had this conversation with my nan probably 5 years ago. She said the same whats his plans for the future, what does he want to do to better himself etc. I said nothing will change. And here we are. He wont get help for his mental health or for his alcohol problem I've told him to get counselling or go the doctors but he wont

Your nan told you 5 years ago and you are still in the same position. You need to change something. He's not going to change. He's demonstrated that. So you need to change and make changes or in 5 years time you will still be in the same boat. Its not easy, change is really hard and scary but realistically you are doing everything, paying for most things snd carrying a grown man as well. Im all for supporting your partner but there nent to be give and take on both sides. He's all take.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread