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Mrs. Chrissy
Savvy June 2018

How to survive a marriage with an Angry husband

Mrs. Chrissy, on September 21, 2018 at 9:03 PM Posted in Married Life 0 91
My husband and I should be in our honeymoon phase post-wedding, but we’re not. We’re in a little over 3 months, and our marriage is already on the rocks. I honestly don’t know how this happened. One moment, we’re in love and enjoying being newlyweds for a good 3 weeks, and then bam! The fights have become increasingly hurtful, moreso emotionally than physically. We’ve gotten into 3 HUGE fights since then, not to mention the little petty arguments and outbursts that I try so hard to dismiss. Each fight, he has thrown the “D” word — divorce. It has me questioning everything and our vows we made to each other. I’ve heard some women describe how their husband changed after marriage and how their true selves came out. I don’t want to accept that this is what may have happened to my husband. But I also knew months into dating, he had an anger problem. We somehow navigated it through it and came out understanding each other. Now, there’s none of that. I feel like he has no respect for me and the line was crossed months ago. In the moment, I can only see this spiraling into the worst possible scenarios. But when things are at peace between us, I really believe we can make it through this like those 45+ year marriages you hear of.

He is the love love of my life and we really do get along well when there’s no anger in the equation. We have the same moral beliefs and have similar upbringings. Our personalities, when in a fight, clash and it’s an uphill battle I think we’re losing. We’ve talked about counseling many times and have seen 1 psychologist who he didn’t like. He’s had a history of going to an anger management group/session, but stated it doesn’t work. He’s also claimed that he thinks an eastern-based psychologist would be more helpful, but he’s yet to find a therapist. I have also been contemplating on revising my therapist just for my sanity, but my current insurance situation doesn’t allow me to do so. His mother had a glimpse of our fight and how he treats me, was completely ashamed of his actions towards me, but ultimately advised me to leave the room and allow him to stew in his own anger until he apologizes. I tried a few times, but I’m inconsistent with handling my own emotions at the time and haven’t been perfect about leaving him to think to himself.

Any advice on living with a husband who has anger issues would be appreciated. How do you live with him? How do you make it work? Is it better to just throw in the towel now than to later end up in divorce anyway?

91 Comments

Latest activity by Kristi, on December 10, 2023 at 4:44 PM
  • Disneydarling 9/10/20
    Dedicated November 2020
    Disneydarling 9/10/20 ·
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    I think what you should do is next time he fights with you say stop what is the problem okay I'm sorry how can I fix it and if he degrades you leave for a bit go to a movie come back and say I respect that you you were mad at me however I can't allow you to degrade me. This works for my fiance and I we've had a few fights.
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  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
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    First what don you mean by physical? If you are in any harm please get out get help. No one deserves to. E abused in any way, your first concern is your safety.

    secound He can not get help unless he accepts it. He has to want to change to change.
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  • Ingrid
    Super September 2018
    Ingrid ·
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    My FH has weird angry issues when he’s tired/hungry (like after a long day at work). What I’ve found that works is ask him (calmly) what he woukd like for me to change/to better next time. I think sometimes this makes him realize I didn’t really do anything wrong and we work it out.
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  • Y
    Dedicated January 2021
    Yami ·
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    Wow so sorry this is happening. Have you expressed how you feel.after the fighting is over?

    All I can say is remember those vows. Try to let him know how you feel and express your feelings once both of you have cooled off and are calm.


    Dont lose hope and most definitely try to find a way to seek counseling, if for some reason you arent able to,atleast try to find strategies and mechanisms that can help you navigate through these issues via good books or online research in the meantime.
    Best of luck!
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  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
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    No one should be degraded in a relationship, my fiancé and her fight but do. You t degrade eachother,
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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    The latter. When you have a marriage not worth saving, enduring the pain longer never helps, or leads to a happier ending. People with escalating anger and control issues actually become dangerous, the linger the situation goes on. He can make you think you must have some fault, must change to do as he wants, or he threatens all the insecurities in you the idea of divorce brings on. A seeming uncovering of extreme anger and control issues only after he feels in a secure position to dominate his chosen victim, you, is often something that will appear very shortly after marriage. He has not changed. He has managed to keep himself on a leash while trying to win you over and get you to trust him, marry him, be dependent on your marriage for emotional security. He probably is quite capable of controlling his anger if he chooses too. But chooses not to. You are seeing the real him. It is ugly. It will get worse, not better. It will always be because of a bad therapist, or something someone else did , that he will say is why he cannot seem to change. Fact is, he does not fundamentally want to change. Everything is someone else's fault, he takes no responsibility for himself or his actions. And never will. But initially, to win you over, it was some outside party, so he could get you to give his behavior a pass. Over time, more and more will be your fault. Get out now before you get hurt. You are standing in a house with 2 rooms and the attic on fire, trying to think about how to save things. You need to get out. Stop trying to find just the right conselor on your health plan. Go to a women's center. Or call an abuse and domestic violence service, ir phone line, or drop in center. Listen. Ask for immediate assistance with an extremely angry husband. Please, it is your whole life. Help save yourself, now.
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  • Becca
    Devoted October 2019
    Becca ·
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    As a child of a parent with anger issues who's parents stayed married and have been married for more than 30 years, I will tell you that the absolute best thing you can do is learn to have firm boundaries with him. If he tries to degrade you, you end the conversation. Make sure he knows that he can express his feelings, but that you won't accept him being rude to you in the process. That will often mean walking away and letting him cool off. I recommend the book Keeping Your Love On. It's a great relationship book filled with how to have firm boundaries in a loving marriage. Being the one with strong boundaries means you have to learn to be consistent. It's hard, but you will notice a change. Hope that helps.
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  • Disneydarling 9/10/20
    Dedicated November 2020
    Disneydarling 9/10/20 ·
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    When I say degrade I mean like your being an arse he callede a b word once and left came back he apologized and made up. I wouldn't call that degrading but anything more is but my df only called me that one time. I went to the movies came back and said I can respect you beingad at me but I can't allow you to degrade me that's why I put that as advice
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  • Kate
    Devoted June 2019
    Kate ·
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    This. Do this as well as demand therapy and counseling for both of you. If he refuses then he’s not willing to change and most likely will never change and will only get worse and escalate to physical abuse. Don’t put up with being treated like this. If he’s not willing to change then you should leave because you deserve so much better than someone that refuses to treat you as you should be treated. As much as it will hurt to leave someone you love it’s better than being in an abusive relationship for the rest of your life.
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  • Caitlin
    Beginner October 2020
    Caitlin ·
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    Let me start by saying if your arguments are indeed that intense (especially if they are ever physical), then the most important thing to consider here is not what people will say, or how long you've been married for- look out for you and your safety above all else... And that goes for your emotional and mental well-being too! NO ONE worth having in your life will judge you if you feel like you need to leave.

    I can't imagine being in your situation, and I am so sorry that you are going through such a tumultuous time. I have not experienced something of that magnitude, but my future husband and I have been together for seven years and the first year of our relationship was riddled with intense arguments. I have maintained that the best thing that ever happened to us as a couple was going to counseling together, and I will always recommend it to anyone struggling with what to do. Having that neutral third party helped us cope with our baggage from past relationship/upbringings, that without us even knowing were impacting how we treated each other. It sounds silly and simple, but our counselor literally taught us how to speak to one another; we're opposites in many ways so in treating each other the way we wanted to be treated, we weren't really considering the other's point of view or needs.

    Look to your support system and don't be afraid to reach out to those around you for space and clarity. I wish you happiness in whatever steps you take toward a better future Smiley heart .

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  • Courtney
    Super December 2018
    Courtney ·
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    Are you prepared to live the rest of your life this way? Catering to his moods and walking on eggshells because he might get upset?

    He may not hit you, but this is still abuse.

    THIS. ESCALATES.

    If he won't control himself less than a month into it, what is this going to look like in a year?

    Whether or not he can control himself is moot.

    He ISN'T (or if he IS that's even scarier). He doesn't feel like he needs to any longer? He's got you where he wants you? Is he holding all the cards?

    Asking him what YOU can do differently frames this as your fault, as.if you are to blame. You are not.

    Walking away and letting him rant and rave is tantamount to approval because there are no consequences.

    When HE throws the D-word around ** he's manipulating you ** into thinking he'll leave you... putting you in the position of the one that has to keep HIM happy.

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  • D
    Dedicated May 2019
    Dana ·
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    I’m sorry to hear this. Try to use language that you’d get in therapy sessions, like “I feel” “I think” “when you say....I feel....” remind him that you’re not going anywhere and that you’re in this thing together. Stay at it and be consistent and try to be patient. As a woman you are stronger than him emotionally, so try to guide him to a better place.
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  • C
    Master July 2018
    Cuoghi ·
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    Counseling as soon as possible. Physical harm? Run.
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  • Kayla
    September 2020
    Kayla ·
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    1. You may need to see a therapist on your own I believe you mentioned that and you should.
    2. Only apologize if you actually did something wrong not because he’s mad. That puts you at fault everytime he’s upset no matter what.
    3. If fights get physical at the hand of either of you one it only gets worse and two that’s beyond not okay and you need to leave
    4. Throwing around Divorce is surely manipulation and that’s abuse
    5. Know your worth and don’t allow ANYONE to treat you less than you deserve.
    we teach people how to treat us. If we let someone treat us badly and let them off the hook they will continue to do so.
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  • Mrs. Chrissy
    Savvy June 2018
    Mrs. Chrissy ·
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    Leaving has always been a battle for me. I've been trying to do this, but it's difficult for me to stand my ground. I feel like in some way, if I leave, it's me giving in. I think it's rooted in needing to not be disrespected and a need to stand up for myself and not be a pushover. But I totally see how taking myself out of a degrading situation would actually be taking myself out of becoming disrespected. Thank you for your advice; I'll keep it mind.

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  • Mrs. Chrissy
    Savvy June 2018
    Mrs. Chrissy ·
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    My husband has these moments too, and I get it. People are allowed to be grouchy sometimes, but it's not ok to take it out on a loved one. My husband is normally logic and therefore, is capable of realizing when he's being mean when he's not in that angry zone already.

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  • Mrs. Chrissy
    Savvy June 2018
    Mrs. Chrissy ·
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    In the beginning, his outbursts only included yelling. Then it escalated to him getting in front of my face while yelling, calling me names, and putting me down. Then after that, there was an instance of pushing me off the couch to get me away from him, and recently smacking my arm away while I try to use my arm to keep distance between us.

    I know that people can't be forced to change unless they want to change. I also know that people who don't want help can't be helped. I feel like he was in the mindset of wanting to change before. But now I recollect him only stating that he feels he can't change.

    I appreciate your advice.

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  • Mrs. Chrissy
    Savvy June 2018
    Mrs. Chrissy ·
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    We've talked about it the following day or when things have cooled off. And he always is apologetic for it and realizes he shouldn't be threatening divorce, yelling at me, or calling me names. That's when the therapy conversation comes around.

    I've been searching online and reading articles on how to handle this situation. I can only do so much reading. I definitely need to seek counseling. Thank you for your advice.

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  • AGRowe19
    Beginner June 2019
    AGRowe19 ·
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    I am a psychiatric nurse. People who can't control their anger will only seek help when they are ready. His mother's advice is key. That's her son and she would know his behaviors. I'm praying that you find peace and happiness within your marriage or that you find the strength to do what's best for your happiness.
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  • AGRowe19
    Beginner June 2019
    AGRowe19 ·
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    Facts!!! You hit it right on!! The mere fact that he gets angry enough to threaten divorce is because he knows that's her biggest fear.
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