Gransnet forums

AIBU

Upset by negative comments about my appearance

(37 Posts)
Magenta8 Sat 15-Nov-25 20:16:53

Self esteem is very fragile and is often quite difficult to hang onto. You are worth more than this.

Some men are just not husband material they are too selfish and emotionally cold. You say he doesn't do his share of the day to day stuff and he is clearly disrespectful and insensitive to your feelings. I have a horrible feeling that things will only get worse the longer you stay.

Telling someone they are being over sensitive is a classic ploy, often used by bullies, to gaslight you into thinking that their behaviour is acceptable. It most emphatically is not.

I would tell him to get on his bike and cycle off.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sat 15-Nov-25 19:38:02

‘He’s no god’
I bet he’s got money. He must have something to have pulled you (and 2 others) in.

It’s certainly not charm, nor kindness.

He’s a bully and sadly you’re realising that.
How you deal with it is up to you.

charley68 Sat 15-Nov-25 19:31:53

Leave. I would have left following that first 'feedback' about your looks, your weight, taken advantage of, and gaslight about your lives.

As others have said, make plans, keep them to yourself, and leave.

rafichagran Sat 15-Nov-25 19:15:06

Is he worried about the age difference. Is he trying to put you down so you feel bad about yourself.
How could anyone prefer a ill underweight woman, he must have known what you are going through and how it would hurt you.
Talk to him, and if he does not change his insensitive ways, I think you should think about leaving as it will get worse.

Skye17 Sat 15-Nov-25 19:10:58

I'd be upset by what you describe too, and it looks bad to me. I like CariadAgain's idea of a break to think about it. Maybe talk to someone you trust? That helps me to get a clearer picture of whatever I'm thinking about.

Lathyrus3 Sat 15-Nov-25 18:54:29

Almost 70% of second marriages end in divorced so you don’t have to feel there’s anything wrong in thinking that this may be a mistake.A lot if people have shared your experience.

Think very carefully as to whether you would be happier out of what sounds like a destructive relationship.

CariadAgain Sat 15-Nov-25 18:46:24

Maybe he's following a pattern established with previous wifes?

Wonder if you know any of the circumstances of what happened there - ie as to whether he's "following the same road" again.

Sounds like he's not pulling his weight re running the home either (ie 50% - assuming you both spend similar amounts of time earning the money).

Is it possible to have a few days away somewhere on your own for a bit of a break from him? - ie so that you can think about the situation from a distance.

Babs03 Sat 15-Nov-25 18:37:09

He sounds very insensitive to the point of being downright cruel, then he gaslights you by saying it is really just you over reacting. No. It really isn’t.
I think is time to mull over just why you are the third wife, hopefully soon to be an ex?

Grammaretto Sat 15-Nov-25 18:33:23

I'm so sorry. I don't know what the answer is or why this man is being so horrible to you but I couldn't just read and leave.

After you being so unwell surely the least he could do would be to want you to recover. Undermining your self confidence is not going to help that!

mumski Sat 15-Nov-25 18:32:23

Plan, and then leave ASAP.
I had exactly the same treatment from my ex. It got worse and worse until all my confidence was totally eroded. It took me a long time to realise what was happening.
Good luck

aggie Sat 15-Nov-25 18:30:53

You are not imagining this , make plans , leave

Angelnan Sat 15-Nov-25 18:23:05

Hi, first time posting. Im upset about my husbands comments and behaviour about my looks..
im 10 years younger than him and have always been secure in myself. He has recently started downloading and printing photos of me; some suggestive but not explicit. All of me some 5 years ago. We have been together for 10 years. I was considerably slimmer and obviously younger then . I was infact unwell and clinically underweight. He has made no secret of the fact that that he preferred me then. I have had a history of eating disorders and while over it, have no desire to go backwards.
He is a fit active man for his age; but certainly no god, and so am i within the confines of my health issues which include osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other issues. I am not clinically overweight or even close to. I now feel undesirable, insignificant and upset.
We already have an unequal relationship where i do most of the day to day stuff and he cycles.
Its my second marriage after a 30 years first and an extremely traumatic divorce which followed. Im his 3rd wife.
I have been resolute that i cant go down the same route again, but i feel so undervalued.
It has been raised and discussed, sort of. Dismissed as me over reacting and being over sensitive.
This same argument arises over other issues too .
AIBU, or is this wrong?