Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

P cheating, please could somebody help, I don't know what to do (long, sorry!)

870 replies

dismantlethesun · 28/06/2010 07:27

Argh

Background- I was OW briefly. DP told me he and wifey had been separated for 7 years, they had not

We moved in together after 6 months, it became a fiery relationship because he hacked into my emails and read that I had said he was controlling

He banned all friends. He banned relatives. He banned staying 5 mins late at work. Banned certain clothes and shoes. Stopped me progressing in my career.

Began to falsely accuse me of things. Always false. Began to be very violent.

Reverted to old drinking habits. Drinks A LOT.

I got pregnant (one year in) and he got even more violent.

I suspected him of an affair because I found a message on his phone but he denied it then beat me up badly.

I really loved him. He was so good at controlling me, being ver 30 years my senior.

Had DD, he was awful. I told him I was leaving and he said if I left he would lie to social services and say I was a bad mother. I said, but I'm not I'm a great mother, he said 'I have police connections/etc etc they won't believe you'

So I stayed. During that year he nearly killed me with a wine bottle and with other acts of violence. He grabbed DD once when she was crying but I jumped in and fought him off her. He punched me hard in the head and strangled me while I was holding her. When DD was almost 1 she became acutely unwell and was admitted to hospital. She was there for 3 months and then she died.

He was never in the hospital, he was in the pub on his laptop, or somewhere else. He would tell me he was fcking a barmaid, then say he only said it to wind me up, he told me he was fcking a colleague, then said he only said it to wind me up. He would not let me stay in the hospital with DD overnight, because he said if I did he would leave and not pay rent so I'd be homeless (I was on extended maternity leave) and I got scared and thought DD wouldn't be able to be discharged if he did that as we'd have no home to go to. So I stayed.

She died, he turned up briefly to shed a false tear. I got pregnant immediately- I reget this now, but it was a one-off and I was extremely upset.

I went back to work, he became violent again, kicking me in the stomach hard. I bit him (one time) in self defence to get his arms off me as he was holding me down to kick me. The police were called and they let him go because he has 'connections' and he reported my act of defence. The only time I've ever fought back.

Baby was born. Blabla. He's now been made redundant. WE have no s*x life at all because he is so much older and is diabetic so it's pretty useless. But he has always said 'it works fine when I want it to' My grandma died, my best friend died the other week, and DP has destroyed all my other friendships except for a few in Canada.

I have just found a memory stick with his emails on it from work. I looked at it because he indicated he was emailing his wifelet (he wasn't) and he had hidden the stick. I read lots of it, including his sent emails which mentioned a new secret account. I logged in (same password for everything) and he has been having an affair since before DD was born.

WHat do I do?? I am scared. I am in rented accomodation that is more than my full time salary. DC2 is 5mths old. I have no income other than statutory maternity pay. I have no family now really and all my friends gave up 4 years ago. I am 24. I have ruined my career by having babies and being so unprofessional. Hell, I don't even know if I want to be in my career. I want to go back to uni. Or leave the country. Or right now I jjust want to curl up and die, quite frankly.

I honestly do not know how to handle this- he is still married to the ex as well, so I'm not entitled to anything if we split. I have a low income even when working full time. No childcare.

Thanks anyone, he's going to wake up in a minute and I'm going to have to pretend I don't know I really believed him when he said I was his soul mate etc. He said he loved me. I hoped he would change. I am mortified that I have been so stupid and didn't leave when DD was small.

OP posts:
Cartoose · 30/06/2010 21:51

Great news!

CinnabarRed · 30/06/2010 22:00

CTOFN - please give Dis our love and best wishes.

Dollytwat · 30/06/2010 22:03

Can't did she say where she was? Where she was planning to be? Don't post it here, but will she be safe?

puffling · 30/06/2010 22:09

Good luck Dismantle. Do call WA. Unlikely, what a lovely kind offer.

Karmann · 30/06/2010 22:11

Haven't posted on this one before but have been following it. This is human kindness at it's best - wonderful to see such support for a young girl in need of help. The ladies that have offered such support to Dis will be involved in changing her life for the better. Marvellous.

Rindercella · 30/06/2010 22:12

Dismantle, you are doing so incredibly well. x

LimaCharlie · 30/06/2010 22:14

Well done dismantle - you've been so very brave and we're all so proud of you - stay strong

mrswill · 30/06/2010 22:20

Hi dis,

Glad to hear you and DS are still safe darling.

Dont listen to the voices in your head that try and give you excuses to go back there. Thats just him talking in your head. Years of mental abuse dont just go away when you decide to leave, and his abuse of you has trained your mind to get back there, where life is predictable, even though you are being hit etc.

His threats about Social Services are laughable, its amazing that all abusers say the same things like its written off a script, women are often threatened with social services by their abusive partners as another form of control to make them stay. He'll be saying next, he'll phone social services/police etc and tell them hes been hitting and abusing you and you did nothing etc, and they'll take the kids off you, blah blah. Social workers come across this sort of prick all the time, and are well aware of the things they say and do, so have no fear.
Ive worked as a social worker in child protection, and there is no way they would take DS away from you for this. Hes talking bollocks.

Im so sad, that the people in your life you've had the most important relationships with, have behaved like complete shits. You have nothing to be ashamed of at all, I think you should be very proud of yourself

Slovenlymummy · 30/06/2010 22:30

Had to add my support and best wishes to you OP, and to say what lovely wise ladies all you posters are.

FlyingFig · 30/06/2010 22:40

Have been reading this dismantle and would like to add my love, support and best wishes to you and your DS.

It is possible to start all over again - I did it, although you have been through much worse than I did. I left with the clothes on my back, a bin bag stuffed with whatever I could get my hands on and my precious DDs.

I have a vivid memory of arriving at my mum's and looking at the aforementioned bin bag thinking "is that it? Is that all I have to show for the past 4 years?"

But I look back now and understand that from that solitary old black bag, came better times. It was the start of good things to come

Take care - the ladies on this thread are right behind you, as am I xxx

Mermaidspam · 01/07/2010 00:01

Just wanted to echo what Slovenlymummy said really.

You're all very wise women and it is such a shame that you've had to experience these depths of hell in order to provide such good advice to others.

Dis - Make that call to WA.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 01/07/2010 00:30

Oh, I hope that meeting happens and dismantle stays hidden and safe until Tuesday. That's a great plan, and I'm so so pleased that she's talking to real life people about this situation. Just fantastic.

DutchGirly · 01/07/2010 06:47

UA, what a fabulous woman you are for offering a safe haven.

Dis, I will be more than willing to drive you there or get you safely on a train.

Can't has my mobile no, you can call me day and night, no problem.

When I left home aged 15, I got lots of help from some lovely people who hardly knew me, out of sheer kindness. Now it is my turn to return the favour to a person in need, so please do not feel awkward about accepting help. It is good for my Karma!

cluelessnchaos · 01/07/2010 07:24

Morning dis, another day in your new life

instructionstothedouble · 01/07/2010 07:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 01/07/2010 07:51

Morning Dismantlethesun - hope you are feeling more positive and you got some sleep last night. Keep strong and keep talking x

CantThinkofFunnyName · 01/07/2010 08:03

Morning ladies. Dismantle is blocked from MN. I'm hoping that MN lift the block this morning when they get into the office.

Some doubts were raised over trolling but I can assure anyone who has/had doubts, she is no troll. Just a very young person who has had a traumatic life and a most unlikely set of circumstances that most people are fortunate enough never to have had to endure.

x

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 01/07/2010 08:12

WTF? Who on earth reported her for trolling? Hope MN sort it soon.

mamsnet · 01/07/2010 08:13

Trusting that MNHQ will sort that out super quick.. lots of people on another board can vouch for her.

Dis Good morning and good luck on this next morning of the rest of your life!!

MercyMe · 01/07/2010 08:19

Hi dismantle so glad to hear that you're out and doing well, I would think that it will be one step at a time. Again if I can do anything please let me know.

Very disappointed about the whole troll thing, hopefully will be sorted soon. But on the other hand this thread has shown what wonderful and kind people there are in the world. All of your generosity had been heart warming.

Jux · 01/07/2010 10:06

WTF???? That's outrageous. WTF are MNHQ doing? Who can I report them to?

Dismantle, good morning . Hope you had a better night and can see the sun that is entering your life now, as the burden that was your dp evaporates.

Think of him as a heavy sack of grain that has bowed your back for years; but the sack has worn through, and the grains are falling out, at first one at a time, but the hole is getting bigger and bigger as time passes. Those grains are the thoughts and feelings he has taught you, the beliefs he has forced into you. Soon those grains will be pouring out in a flood. Your shoulders will straighten, your load is lightening every day as you shake off those old miserable ideas.

And while those old ideas, the grain, is pouring out of the sack, the sack itself is attracting beautiful butterflies - new happy thoughts, ideas and beliefs. The butterflies are taking hold of the sack, and soon it will be empty and there will be so many butterflies they will just pick it up and take it away entirely.

Your world will be full of sunshine and light, colourful flowers and dancing butterflies.

Please stay strong, look into the light ahead; banish those negative thoughts, ignore the git. Keep safe, dismantle, keep safe.

ladylush · 01/07/2010 10:28

I suppose it's a bit like an addiction. You think you need it (him) and all the shit that goes with it - the instability, the chaos, the beatings, the constant worry, the fact that you can't think beyond this day.....if you manage to survive it. You think you need it because it's all you've known - that is your normality.

BUT you are the mistress of your own destiny. Don't let another person, least of all him, dictate how you lead your life. Slowly but surely you will become strong and powerful and you will be on one of these talk boards giving inspirational advice to someone else in the same position you're in right now - I can really see it That strong, secure lady will attract new, supportive friends and no one will be able to drive them away. There is a great future ahead - you just need to grasp it.

ladylush · 01/07/2010 10:31

Oh and whoever reported dismantle as a troll - wtf were you thinking? Several mners have confirmed she is genuine.

TimeForMe · 01/07/2010 10:51

Ladylush I think you have it spot on there! While I was in refuge being supported everything was great but once out and living on my own I felt in strange territory, I felt I still needed him to be controlling me, telling me what to do and how to do it 'properly' ect. Also, the fact I have nothing to worry about, that I can just relax and be happy has taken some getting used to. I know I can cope on my own but felt as though I couldn't cope without him, I still felt I needed his approval I think.

dismantlethesun you have been very brave and shown such great courage. It's not easy to just up and leave but you have done it and you should be very proud of yourself. You have taken the hardest step and your life can only get better from now on. You stay strong xx

maduggar · 01/07/2010 11:04

I know Dismantles other posting name, and she is a well established poster. Im a bit sad that anyone would report her for trollery