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Relentlessly negative pessimism from OH

(10 Posts)
Gwyllt Tue 11-Aug-26 16:59:04

Has this guy always been so negative
Leopards rarely change their spots
As others have said is it a way of control ?

eddiecat78 Tue 11-Aug-26 16:37:57

I must admit that in my marriage I am the glass half empty one whereas my OH is like you.
My natural inclination when anyone says anything is to point out the possible problems - but I am trying hard to stop that now.
To me, it sounds like your OH is finding life overwhelming at the moment and all these small additional things are too much for him to cope with. I wonder if he is worried about something that he hasn't shared with you.

MT62 Tue 11-Aug-26 16:32:25

Sounds like he suffers from anxiety, or a real worrier which is based around anxiety.
Would CBT help at all?
Maybe start of dementia which is making it worse.

Shelflife Tue 11-Aug-26 16:32:02

Buckie, you are corrrct. This is about being in control and a fear of losing that control . Kobieta, tell your DH how this makes you feel. If he ignores you go ahead with your plans and leave him to his own devices. He may well have back down , his loss if he doesn't!

Bukkie Tue 11-Aug-26 16:17:49

My husband is the same. He always sees the worst in every situation, every place, every person. He really is a glass half empty person. We can't plan anything ahead just in case.....It's extremely wearing and depressing. Sometimes I say things like, "Well I am going to the party/holiday/day trip/shop etc...even if you are staying at home." That usually motivates him into action. I think his negativity is as much about control as it it apathy.

LucyAnna5 Tue 11-Aug-26 15:50:21

Is it a childhood thing for him - was he let down a lot by his parents?
Has he had or has he got a serious health condition that makes him anxious?
Can you talk to him / tease him about his negativity?
Can you list (in your head) lots of things that you love about him?
Alternatively, B and Q do good deals on patio slabs 😂

Shelflife Tue 11-Aug-26 15:46:24

Sounds like a control issue to me !

AGAA4 Tue 11-Aug-26 15:42:40

I know someone who was fed up with her husband's carping. She bought a plaque and put it in a prominent place. It read "If you don't have anything good to say then say nothing".

butterandjam Tue 11-Aug-26 15:27:21

Buy a large pack of cotton mens hankies. Each time he goes negative, pass him a hankie and say "Boo hoo hoo you poor little baby"

Kobieta Tue 11-Aug-26 14:55:12

Hello, just wondering if anyone has any tips for how to deal with my husband's constant negativity?
We've been married 40 years and he's always been a bit negative.... if I suggested doing something or buying something he would always say "no" immediately, I think it was for fear of agreeing to something and then regretting it.
He wouldn't even discuss baby names until I was 8 months pregnant "in case something happens" and he's a "glass half empty" kind of person, whereas I see no point in worrying about outcomes that I can't change until they actually happen - which they generally don't.
I have noticed his negativity getting worse...... "those plums will go off before we've eaten them" (no they didn't, I made a tart and it was very good) .... we've got far too many tomatoes, we'll never eat them all (tomatoes and plums were a "gift" from a family member who has a large allotment) so I made a tomato sauce which will keep in the fridge for several days if necessary..... not that the tomatoes were over ripe. When he (again) said "we have too many tomatoes" I told him that he didn't need to worry, I'd made a sauce..... now he says that it's a shame to use such delicious tomatoes to make a sauce and the giver would be very upset if he found out. I hasten to add that we had a large tomato salad with fresh tomatoes for lunch.
These are just the latest examples but it's constant "why are we going to see these people, we have nothing in common?" (they are lovely and have become our best friends), "there's no point in doing X or Y as it's going to rain" (it didn't). "Why are we going to the coast in a heatwave?" (Because the car has air conditioning and it will be 5°C cooler there.... and the place we go is not a holiday hotspot so it will be quiet).
I am having to bite my tongue more and more often and I am frankly getting worn down by the non-stop negativity, so would welcome "coping" tips. Or possibly advice about building a new patio......