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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

Have I a dysfunctional relationship?

97 replies

tinalane · 02/01/2010 14:56

I am beginning to think so.

Do you agree? And how can I make this relationship functional again?

We have not been intimate for about four years now. DP has a stressful job & is probably mildly depressed some of the time.

DP refuses to cuddle anywhere. DP refuses to sit on 'my' sofa with me.

DP refuses to kiss normally, just pecks.

We live in DPs house, am grateful for that but whenever its discussed, DP says 'my house', not our home. Few years ago I got DP saying 'our' house, for a short while but Dp reverted again soon after without realising it. Dp had the house after their ex moved out & worked hard to keep it. I have moved 200 miles from where I grew up, if I moved out I would have nowhere to go.

Dp doesn't want children, never has, (although is ok with kids when we visit others). DP has NEVER asked me if I want them & I heard assuming I didn't when discussing with someone else.

Dp used to shout at me I was with the wrong person. I know that, but I want to work at it.

Dp once said to a friend that I wasn't their soul mate after a few drinks, I HEARD this but never said anything.

In some ways I get on better with DP's sister. We understand each other more, she would like another kid as well. At a party the other day (DP moved away when I sat next to DP), we were getting on great for some time, when DP's sister went to loo, DP moved the other chair!!

If I wear makeup, DP moans until I take it off. If I get a girly bag, or too girly things, DP moans.

We don't agree about politics, and I try to steer DP away from the mild racism that is normal round here. DP is not actually a racist or I wouldn't stay.

DP wants me to leave my church & go to a 'more normal' one.

I get cold, always was but also have medical reasons for it. When I go out dressed to be warm, DP moans until I take something off.

When we go out shopping together, DP refuses to walk at my pace & ends up in the distance. I can't walk fast, for breathing reasons, but Dp says they ust can't walk at my pace, which isn't that slow. Dp refuses to look in 'my' shops, but is happy for me to walk round 'theirs'.

Dp refuses to watch 'my' tv programmes saying they will go in other room if I insist.

If I try & talk about anything, DP is always busy watching tv, reading, doing this or that.

Whatever present I decide for anyone Dp always says is wrong.

Asked where I'd like to go on holiday whatever I say Dp disagrees again.

Dp won't watch a film with me, any film, as they get 'restless' feeling they have to stay there for hours, but Dp is happy to watch their own tv all night. I get told I read the wrong books.

Whatever I chose to wear for a night out it is wrong & I have to change again.

When house needs repairs I have to make all the arrangements & for weekends when I'm off, never for a weekday that Dp is off.

I think Dp has got into the habit of disagreeing with me.

Dp refuses to get married, is divorced, but said as they made a promise to God in church won't do it again. I know that Dp can't stand their ex though, so its not like that.

Dp has a kind heart & I know loves me, but does Dp love the real me or the idea of me?

Sometimes I feel Dp talks to me like a child, when I say so, I just get a row.

All that said we do have some laughs, and Dp is an nice person. Dp talks a lot & will always dominate any conversation, so much that people think I am quiet, until I talk to them alone, then I talk as much or more than Dp ever does. I have a quiet voice & people can't really hear me when Dp is talking.

Dp gets on fine with my mum, and I get on fine with Dp's family & friends. All these people are my friends too, I don't have many friends of my own, except from the church.

Dp does have a stressful job but is a bit paranoid about co-workers, but I have a stressful job too.

We don't argue that much, I had arguments all around me growing up & a bullying father, and I DON'T want any more as far as possible in my life.

I am NOT into SM, so don't enjoy being treated like this!!!

When I'm on my own at home, I feel its like a bath, like a relief for me. I love playing music a lot, but Dp objects.

Dp doesn't want another pet after the sadness of having their dog put down about 5 years ago who was very ill, despite reasurances etc. Dp won't have a cat that can look after themselves more.

All I want is a happy family in our home with pets & a nice garden as per standard dream!

I feel my life is going nowhere, things just run along at home without too many rows etc, but sometimes I feel if I wasn't alive any more would it make that much difference?

I do know Dp cares & when I was in hospital for a few days a few years ago, Dp was distraught & came in every day possible. I know Dp does love me.

I have lived with other people in the past, and when I left them I hurt myself more than them. i don't want this again, this time i want it to work, I never want to lose another bit of my heart again or there might not be any left.

A few years ago I did fall in love with someone at a distance. We met once in reality & it felt so right, so good, we didn't 'do' anything, but we felt so much more compatible, music loving etc. One day I was given the ultimatum by them, but I felt I was being used as a ticket away from their relationship & something wasn't quite right. Perhaps it was & we would have been happy every after, maybe I took a wrong turn. This person broke up with me & eventually found someone else & did leave where they where, but contacted me later to say I was always the one etc, which I think was probably true. In any case I didn't want to smash up my life again. Yes, i am 100% sure Dp knew nothing about it, I am positive about that, and it was just about all by phone & text anyway. If it didn't work out with that person, an affair with nobody else would ever work either & I don't want an affair anyway, I want this relationship to work.

What can I do to repair all this? I have tried talking & Dp would refuse to go to a councellor, I am positive.

I'm a happy little soul left to myself & an optimist, but sometimes Dp's mood drags me down.

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 02/01/2010 15:40

You are definately not "in love" either. "in love" is just something that happens at the begining of relationships, and is then replaced by real love.

What do ^you6 think love is tina?

kyotokate · 02/01/2010 15:41

This is so stupid Tina I do not know if I should laugh or cry... Run for the hills and run FAST... The situation you are in with this man will NEVER NEVER change.

If you stay you will be in exactly the same place in 10 years time and you will be 50 and it will be more difficult to leave.

Is this REALLY what you want.

overmydeadbody · 02/01/2010 15:41

Why though??????

Why try to fix something that can't be fixed? Why try to force him to like you are treat you better?

overmydeadbody · 02/01/2010 15:43

I take it you have no children?

Blu · 02/01/2010 15:43

yes, I was going to ask whether your dp is in fact male, since until the last post you wrote you used 'their' to avoid 'his' or 'her' - unless your dp assumes some sort of deity-like multiple personality and has to be referred to in the plural!

Anyway, it makes no difference, a partner needs to BE a partner, whatever sex, gender, religion etc they are, and your dp seems to be embarrassed to acknowledge you in public, and really just has you around the house like a sort of pet.

I'm pleased you feel you are a happy little soul - and would suggest you pursue a relationship that ENHANCES that happiness rather than blunts it. Especially if you would like children - don't lose your chance just because life is only a small improvement on 'unhappy'.

You shouldn't have to feel 'grateful' to live in a home with your partner, either. Investing in something that is jpintly yours and a home would be so much more rewarding.

purplepeony · 02/01/2010 15:44

Tina darling you need therapy. If you cannot see the situation for what it is, then you need help.

We are cross with you because you seem blinded tot he truth and are being walked over day afer day, like a doormat.

TBH you sound about 14, not forty, and as if you have no experience of a good relationship. What's to bet that all your men treated you like this and with a Dad who was a bully, it's alll you know- and possibly feel comfortable with? There is a huge amount of evidence that says women choose men like their fathers- good and bad. You seem to have.

Start making plans to move- and stop making excuses for him, and yourself.

mumonthenet · 02/01/2010 15:47

we are not angry with you tina, sometimes the comments come across as that but we are not.

How can we be angry with you - we don't even know you. And the reality of your relationship is only what you write so we don't even know the facts of that.

We can't judge your relationship from where we are all sitting but - you feel there is something not right. So take on board the comments here and then listen to your heart.

What you are saying is:

is this as good as it gets?

Only you can answer that.

tinalane · 02/01/2010 15:50

No, no children, I think I have lost my chance for them now, really.

Our gender is less fluid than our sex, Dp is more male, I'm female, as you say that doesn't really matter.

Yes I know our relationship isn't right, that's why I started this thread. I'm looking for ways to improve things other than walking out.

I really do love Dp, and Dp loves me, Dp has had a life without learning many relationship skills, but that doesn't mean inability to love or be lovable.

Over the years our love has deepened & is like a deep current. We really do love each other. I just want to make things even better behaviourarily.

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 02/01/2010 15:50

We're angry for you, not with you.

overmydeadbody · 02/01/2010 15:54

No, you're wrong, you really don't love each other.

Your partner puts you down and quashes you at every opportunity. That isn't love.

For god's sake don;t waste any more of your life with this person.

purplepeony · 02/01/2010 15:58

Tina- so DP is a woman? Why not just say so?

This is what you wrote.""I really do love Dp, and Dp loves me, Dp has had a life without learning many relationship skills, but that doesn't mean inability to love or be lovable.

Over the years our love has deepened & is like a deep current. We really do love each other. I just want to make things even better behaviourarily.""

Tina, there is not one shred of evidence in what you have writen which shows that this person- male of female- loves you. If you think there is, then I'm afraid you seem to have no idea of what real love is.

I'm afraid it is going to take more than a few posts on MN for you to see what is really going on here .

Can you begin to see that you are making excuses all along for this person- who doesn't seem to give a flying fuck for you, what you want in life, your emotional well being- anything?!

Sorry, but I am out of this thread now,a s it is simply too frustrating trying to help you when you aren't listening.

RumourOfAHurricane · 02/01/2010 16:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

tinalane · 02/01/2010 16:04

Oh dear!

This thread has only been going an hour.

I am listening, everyone is telling me to leave & find someone else.

What I want to do is to find ways to improve things & stay.

I'm sorry if I'm frustrating anyone.

Probably things are not nearly as bad as I've portrayed them , concertinering years of issues into a few posts. All this didn't happen in one day! I'm sure Dp could write as much about me too & also get sympathy & advice.

As I say we're ok, we have our ups & downs, do have affection & love for each other even if its not shown much.

Its just I wanted to know how to improve the coupledom for someone with few compromise skills etc.

Thanks for all the support, I really do appreciate it.

OP posts:
purpleduck · 02/01/2010 16:05

You are unhappy with him, thats all that matters.

Jux · 02/01/2010 16:06

I knew a woman whose dp brought her a cup of tea in bed EVERY morning. He had to love her to do that, didn't he? The fact that he beat her senseless at least once a week as well was irrelevant

He doesn't love you. He doesn't even like you. Don't waste any more of your life on him.

purplepeony · 02/01/2010 16:10

I think the DP is a she not a he-
Tina says
Our gender is less fluid than our sex, Dp is more male, I'm female, as you say that doesn't really matter.

"more" male? whatever that means...?

dittany · 02/01/2010 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purpleduck · 02/01/2010 16:14

he/she/them (did at one point in the op think that tina was with a gaggle of dp's

LOL shineon! I don't know why but "marvelous" makes me laugh.

It will be the word of 2010

tinalane · 02/01/2010 16:14

I really appreciate all the advice.

I'd rather this was about relationships, behaviour & how to make things better than gender.

I can really feel all your frustration coming back at me & I'm sorry for that.

Dp does love me, maybe not like somethings about me, and likes other things about me.

I'd like to know how to improve the relationship rather than leave it. I really want to work at it, and normally we are happy enough, just have some frustrations, and I think Dp has frustrations with me too.

OP posts:
dittany · 02/01/2010 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kyotokate · 02/01/2010 16:16

"more" male? whatever that means...? purplepeony..

A new third gender???

Think we are wasting our time here and I am throughly confused.

DuelingFanjo · 02/01/2010 16:21

the way you talk about your DP, with all the 'they're' and 'theirs' makes you sound very distant from him. Like you are talking about someone you never have much to do with.

tinalane · 02/01/2010 16:24

I know this isn't easy, but I want to try.

I appreciate everyone's advice, thank you.

Don't stay if you just frustrated with me, but if you think you can help, please let me know what you would do to improve our relationship.

Thanks Dittany, No I don't think its my role to stay no matter what. In the past I've left several people, perhaps too hastily, this time I just want to work at it & make it work,

What was your dad like?
He was an emotional bully.
How did he treat you? How did he treat your mum?
Very dominating, now he's a changed man after they split up many years ago.
How did your mum treat you?
Very well, she was & is great.
Because something certainly is stopping you seeing this relationship the way it is.
No, I can see how it is, I just want to stay & improve things.

OP posts:
nickelbabyjesus · 02/01/2010 16:29

i don't think it matters at all whether dp is a man or a woman. dp is a shit to the OP.

honestly, my ex was very similar to how you describe your DP in your 1st post and afterwards.

he tried to grind me down but i'm a stubborn sod and managed to keep my own personality until i had the opportunity to leave him.
my family stated that after they'd met my new OH who is normal, that "he doesn't try to control you as much as ex did".

that's rather telling, i think.

you need to save your life from your dp.

warthog · 02/01/2010 16:33

unfortunately i don't think there is anything that YOU can do. it's all down to your dp now, as she's the one who doesn't seem to want to be in the relationship. sounds to me like you haven't given up, but perhaps you're close enough to issue an ultimatum: 'either you treat me better or that's the end.'. but you have to stick to your word.

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