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Relationship New And Confused

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MicheIIe

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Hi, first of all, thank you for those who have created and continue to support this forum. It is great to know that there is a place to turn to for help and support from those who truly know.

I have been with my husband for 4 years and married for 2 1/2. He is 100% disabled due to his PTSD. He was honest with me from the beginning about his combat-related PTSD and his past involving domestic violence. He seemed to have proven to me pretty early on that he was a different person after his jail time and his being sober. I should have waited a bit longer before saying "I do".

For the past 9 months or so, he has told me and my 16yr old daughter to leave 3 times. Every time he has apologized after he calms down and says he didn't mean it. The second time he threw us out, then changed his mind, I told him that he needed help and if he didn't get it, I was truly leaving. He agreed. Two months later he finally went to a therapist and decided to tell the therapist (and my daughter) that I was forcing him to get help and he doesn't think he needs it. He feels his anger issues are ONLY because of my daughter and the fact that I don't discipline her...or so he says. My daughter is a sophomore in high school. She's in honors classes and when not in school she is writing songs and playing piano. She's never been in trouble in or outside of school. Her flaw is that she is strong willed and when my husband berates her for something silly (like leaving a cup on the table), she feels the need to explain why she did it. He calls this "running her mouth" and goes into a rage. He has told her that he doesn't give a &(#$ about her and has often ignored her for days at a time. My husband claims I don't discipline her because he expects me to support him when he is yelling at her for something silly and petty. I can't support him if he is verbally and emotionally abusing her. (I firmly believe the punishment must fit the crime.) I don't say anything when this goes on. Then I find myself justifying her actions to him and his actions to her once the yelling as stopped.

My husband has an 11yr old son who lives with his mother. His son has gotten into some serious trouble at home and at school. A few times the police were involved. I have asked my husband repeatedly to focus his energy on helping his son instead of finding fault in my daughter. He refuses to believe there's anything he can do about his son because he doesn't have custody. My husband also has an 18yr old daughter who moved into our house last August. Since she has been in the house, my husband has shown significant favoritism towards her and continues to belittle my daughter and me in front of his daughter - like it's all a joke.

This past week, my husband told us to leave again and this time he said he wants a divorce. He says this because I "don't support him". Again, how do I support someone's discipline if I don't agree with it?? So, I found us a place to go and we are in the process of moving out. Of course, my husband has apologized and said he doesn't want us to go. Again I told him he needs help and if he doesn't see that himself, I'm certainly not going to convince him.

The anger and the rages over the most ridiculous issues are tearing me apart. I want to leave because of these issues..but when I stop and consider the good things about my husband, I'm torn. In the end, I know I need to protect my daughter and leave the abuse, but I'm truly struggling while he is acting like he's never been happier.

My husband hasn't worked in the 4 years we've been together - he collects disability. I have continued to work my full time job to help support the family (his daughter contributes nothing) Well, he has decided since we are leaving that he will now work for a friend of his full time and his daughter is picking up extra hours at work. Why after all of these years is he and she just doing this now??

I'm angry, heartbroken, and slighted. I feel like with the right help, my husband would be the person I want to be with for the rest of my life. Am I making the right decision to move on??
 
Hello Michelle,

I moved your thread into the supporters section becasue it was in the wrong forum.

I know I need to protect my daughter and leave the abuse,

This quote is the key and makes me think your already know what the right decision is. I see a lot of abuse by your husband in your post and a lot of damage he can cause to you and your daughter just by staying there. I worry about the safety of both of you staying in that environment. I think waiting for your husband to 'be the person you want to be with for the rest of your life with' is too much wishful thinking on your part. That may not happen while the abuse IS happening.

Wishing you the best.
 
No one can tell you if is the right decision, what we can tell you is that his behaviour is un-expectable. PTSD is one thing, acting like he is, is another.

You cannot make him get help and if he is in complete denial that he needs it, nothing you say or do will change his mind.

I hope you find some peace some how, and in some way, in what ever way you go, and you can put this behind you and move forward.

Take good care of yourself and your daughter, before you try and take any more care of him.
 
Thank you, Ayesha and Amethist. I guess I do know what I need to do. I have such a heavy heart and have truly given so much.. I'm just having a hard time knowing how to pick up the pieces to move on.
 
In my own sufferer opinion, YES! I think you are doing the right thing for both yourself and your daughter.

Your husband is abusive and you need to protect your daughter. The thing is that abusive people are never 100% abusive. There will always be good qualities in them that you may even love them for. It was that way with my abuser. It's that way with a lot of them....and why so many women end up staying in abusive relationships. The truth is that there is NO excuse for abuse.
 
You need to get your inner tigress out and protect your child. When you give of yourself, you lose a little of yourself. However, there will be new components to yourself that you will find to take up what was lost, and make you a better person.
 
I'm so sorry. Personally, I would leave someone who mistreated my child. I know what it's like to love someone who isn't doing right. It really sucks.
 
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