Do you ever feel that you are constantly on edge because your husband often complains that he is annoyed?
Does your ex or husband get angry with you all the time over the smallest things?
Do you feel like anything you say or do will only serve to irritate your husband?
Are you married to a stinker of a husband who can only find fault with all that you do?
Sometimes a relationship will enter into a period in which, despite your best intentions and efforts, your husband will turn moody and fussy.
It is when he turns his fussiness upon you that things can start going south.
There is usually a good reason for why this is happening and it is not always something you are doing or saying, despite what he might say. Remember, when people are annoyed or irritated, what they say is not always what they really feel.
Sometimes your husband is lashing out, just to rid himself of mounting tension or stress. That does not make it right. And often times, such behavior is selfish and thoughtless. But we all are imperfect and life can throw at us all kinds of little troubles.
So that you know, just because your husband acts like he is annoyed by you all of the time and you find yourself walking on egg shells, it does not necessarily mean you are the one at fault. Often you are not. It is he that is misbehaving.
It may be your husband has blown a gasket and is leaking all kinds of pent-up emotions.
Maybe he is just being a real ass.
If you are in such a predicament in which you feel helpless as to what to do, just remember that your are not the only one out there dealing with these kinds of primal emotions that can bubble up from your guy.
Why Does My Husband Act Like a Spoiled Punk?
So what causes him to treat you this way?
Why can’t he get his crap together?
Why does he continue to behave like he is put out and that you are the center of all his problems?
It is a tough road to travel when you are living with a mean husband who just finds fault with the least little things you might do.
Some men are grumpy when they are tired. Some dudes are fussy when they are hungry. I guess you would call that “grungy”.
Some men whine and moan and fuss at you about all kinds of stupid things only to re-calibrate minutes later.
Either way you cut it, this behavior can become abusive. And that is unacceptable.
So it is very important to establish if whether your husband has been moody and distant lately because of an ache here or worry there; or if this has been an ongoing pattern of behavior and you are becoming his favorite target. If it’s the latter, then that is clearly abuse and it cannot be tolerated.
Depending on where he falls, the way you will want to address this matter will vary.
My Husband Easily Gets Irritated With Me
Take for example those women who are married to a guy who has only recently unraveled? What might you do to preserve the peace without tipping the marriage over into the danger, conflict zone?
If your husband has a hair-trigger temperament, you probably have learned to tread lightly. There is not a good outcome if the marriage atmosphere turns into a battlefield. But in the long run, this is no way to live.
Do you ever feel that despite what you do or say, things were destined to go haywire with him?
Do you ever feel your husband is lying in wait as he readies himself to pounce on you with his latest criticism?
Let’s hear from a few of our clients:
“I really am stuck with a grumpy husband. He is always quoting bible and verse like he is some kind of special person. Frankly, I don’t need him preaching and telling me what to do all the time. What I need is my husband to put away his victim blaming. In his eyes, everybody is out to gem him. I know it sounds stupid because that is exactly what it is. When I don’t play along with his grand conspiracies and wild notions, he gets mad at me – Allison S.
My husband has been moody since we got back from vacation. He picks on things I say and do. It’s like nothing is good enough and I just can’t bring myself to do anything for him because he will complain or easily get annoyed with any ideas I offer up which conflict with his own. I didn’t sign up to live with an eternally crabby husband – Bertha G.
My husband is incredibly negative all the time. It takes very little to irritate him and when I try to pick up his mood by acting cheerful, he get’s upset like my attitude is some kind of affront to him. It’s like he wants to suffer. I really don’t get it. He seems to relish in wallowing in his self-pity and wants to be prickly with me and when he does, I get exasperated because it seems so unfair. Then he gets more irked with my reaction and it all just spins out of control – Vivian K.
So what is really going on with your man?
What has gotten under his skin? Why does he insist that you are at fault for this or that, when you know deep down you are not the cause of his repeated attacks.
After awhile, the whole thing can turn into a real cluster frack.
He behaves like he is annoyed and grumpy and takes it out on you.
This is when things can take a turn for the worst.
Throw it all together and spin and shake it around, you have the makings of a miserable time.
5 Reasons Why Your Husband Is Annoyed With You
1. He is Really Not Upset With You – Sometimes a guy will just start acting out because some outside force is upsetting or stressing him out. Whatever it is that is on his mind, it will usually come pouring out in your presence because after all, the way he is looking at things, you are there and your mere presence reminds him that he alone is suffering. So he drags you into his miserable state.
It is sort of guy thing. At least I have seen it more with men than women. I call it “strike and lash out syndrome”
His reaction to you when he is around you can get rather complicated. When you think about it rationally, it would seem that he would look to you, his wife, for comfort and support.
But he may not be comfortable with that.
His ego may prevent him to reach out to you in that way. Or maybe he is still in the midst of trying to process his feelings about whatever is on his mind and you just happen to be in his way.
If this is the situation you are dealing with, then be patient and don’t snap back at him or react adversely to his negative temperament. In time, he will likely be able to diffuse his own upset feelings. Just give him a little room or wide berth if it calls for that. He will likely notice it and later circle back to express his misgivings for acting badly around you.
Now just because he acts a little snotty around you doesn’t mean he should get a full free pass on his misbehavior. So if an apology is not forthcoming, then ask for one. Otherwise, he might think that it is perfectly fine for him to behave this way the next time.
2. Your Husband Gets Annoyed Easily – Some guys are perfectionists. They can be very anal about things. And if they are trying to figure out something and can’t quite get it figured out, the least little distraction can set him off.
Let’s say you are sitting there enjoying a quiet evening and something happens and he goes into his funk. Perhaps your husband acts somewhat distant and a little disturbed. Maybe you pick up flashes of annoyance in his tone or his movements. He starts shifting around in his chair. Or your husband starts walking around with a tad too much aggression. Something is percolating within him and it’s like he might explode.
Then before you even realize what is happening, something occurs that serves as a flash point causing your husband to become ultra sensitive as annoyance turns to cutting remarks or worse.
Such is the evolution of our emotions as they can quickly take a firm grip on our demeanor.
Your husband or significant other is probably in need of some serious counseling so he can work on what is really driving his behavior. He needs to learn its not you…but him that is at fault.
3. Your Husband Has A Serious Hangup – Perhaps your husband has always been quick to a be annoyed, blaming you and others for his problems or misfortune.
Men with anger or self-image issues are particularly vulnerable often allowing themselves to be easily swept away by their irritable or argumentative mood.
Maybe your marriage has been one in which you have for a long period of time tried your best to hold things together. But managing both your own emotional anxieties, never mind your husband’s, is a tall order. It’s sad, but true, that some husbands are the “glass is half empty” type with little good to say to their wife.
In such a case, the person definitely needs counseling in order to see what he is doing to himself and those around him.
4. A Pre-existing Issue is Still On His Mind – Your husband may be stricken by a matter that is causing him great internal stress. Perhaps it is a work matter. As they say, we should not bring our work home with us. But what if your husband is sort of workaholic and he is up against a deadline? Well, I think you know the answer.
When stress and deadlines start bumping up against each other, we often end up with negative encounters such as mood spikes or a tense home environment. If your husband is already dealing with personal or workplace pressures, he is a prime candidate for misbehaving.
Hence, this is where you might start experiencing a rise of incidents in which your husband becomes testy and critical about things around him, including you.
Sometimes this issue can be flushed out through some honest talk at the right time. Once it is out in the open, the person can come to learn the effect their behavior is having on the relationship.
5. Your Husband May Find Certain Things You Do or Say Annoying – When I tell this to some people, they often get a little upset with me, even testy. But when I coach someone who is reporting to me that her husband complains that he finds her annoying…. to do her justice, I have to work through the possibilities.
And one possibility is that the wife could be doing something that the husband can get annoyed with easily. Sometimes it’s just little things. Sometimes it is something that has been going on for a while.
Some husbands are conditioned not to mention that which they find annoying about their wife. It’s just good manners. We hope, whatever it is they are doing, stops on its own accord. Or we choose to ignore it, until we can’t any more. That is when things can bubble over.
We are all annoying to varying degrees, right? So why not acknowledge it to each other?
If we are in an honest relationship, it usually best to communicate when something bothers you, unless it is some petty thing. Of course, if one makes a big deal about it and the feedback you give to your spouse is received as a crude complaint, then obviously you won’t be advancing the marriage.
But I do believe if a relationship is going to grow, both spouses need to find a common ground to convey things to each other, to help each other.
Now, if your husband is constantly berating you for doing this wrong or that wrong and complaining about you in all sorts of ways; this is not the stuff from which healthy communications emerge. If he is behaving in this manner, it is unacceptable. It can become abusive or is indeed abusive in its form. One should have zero tolerance for all forms of abuse.
If you are facing such a hostile and negative home environment, where it seems nothing you do or say pleases your husband, then another course of action is necessary. If relationship counseling doesn’t get things on the right track, then getting some distance and separation may be the correct course of action.
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When Should I Get Worried About My Husband Acting Moody?
The quick and easy answer is usually not until you are seeing an established trend, coupled with bouts of abusive outbursts.
In most cases, when men and women have their moments and occasions of moodiness and irritability, they come and go without inflaming things to a point of chaos.
Now, if your husband’s upset feelings have been going on for a good spell, then obviously that is not conducive to a happy marriage. If this is happening with regularity, then you want to take time to specifically talk to your husband about what you are seeing from your end of the relationship.
It is possible, he is knee-deep into some matter that has him all twisted up and has lost perspective as to how he is being perceived. It is best to work toward discussing his behavior without placing blame. Ask him what you can do to help him with whatever he is going through. Show him understanding. Let kindness rule, unless abuse has reared its ugly head.
Of course, I am assuming that the problem that is driving his annoyance and reactionary behavior is external to the relationship. If that is the case, the two of you should be able to work through this bad patch. Help him see how he is being perceived and direct him to better confront his own emotions.
Is Your Husband Reluctant To Talk About Why He Is On Edge?
Some guys will struggle with talking about what is bending them out of shape. They just don’t want to open up and sometimes will just hole up. Usually, you won’t have a lot of success with these types by trying to pry out of them what is going on in their head.
You are better off encouraging your man to do something physical which often can help him displace his testy emotions. Once he get it out, things can sometimes improve fairly rapidly.
Some men will go into a denial phase, expressing that they have no idea what you are talking about. “I have not been snapping at you“, he might say in a defensive tone. “You are just imagining this.”
If you husband takes this approach, don’t pay heed to his denials. Don’t fall into that game of arguing with him about it. The truth is your comments about how he is coming off probably hit home and he will re-calibrate his behavior accordingly.
It does pay to remind yourself that even if your husband suffers an extended bout of moodiness, it does not necessarily portend something terrible is going to happen. Most often, nothing bad comes of it.
If his behavior does not improve, as mentioned earlier, offer some matter of the fact feedback, maybe even laced with some humor, without any ratcheting the tension.
“Sweetheart, you realize you are pretty edgy these days, to the point where I feel like you are going to snap my head off.”
Whatever his outbursts or negative acts might be, don’t assume he doesn’t love you. Often, it is his way of expelling the tension he holds within.
Unfortunately, some men are not good at drawing the line and act irresponsibly by saying mean or ugly things to their wives which they come to later regret.
This is not right and is unacceptable.
When it occurs with frequency, such as your husband either takes relish saying or doing abusive things or just habitually surrenders to his worst instincts and behavior, this is where dysfunction start taking hold of the marriage.
This is where you draw the line.
Advise your husband you have no tolerance for such times when his mood swings turn into abuse and engulf you. Get up and go somewhere. Make it real for him by expressing you don’t wish to be around him when he acts this way.
It is up to your husband now to behave like an adult and show you the respect you deserve. Don’t enable him by remaining in an environment in which he has poisoned. It is not healthy for you to stay there, so don’t.
For those of you who are married to men who can’t seem to manage the inner demons and choose to double up on their verbal abuse, I encourage to read some of the other relevant articles on this topic which you can find throughout my website.
Help
I know why my husband is moody and I know what I need to do to fix it. However how do I when he plucks every pedal of happiness and beauty from me. If he would just enjoy happiness and beauty with me instead of needing to be the center of it all. He doesn’t try to enjoy the children or the grandchildren and gets upset that I do.
Sounds so familiar, any advice for me handling grumpy negative husband
Darlene I know how you feel. When our daughter (1st born) was born and I was breastfeeding, my husband literally threw a fit that I wasn’t giving him enough of my time, love, attention or affection. As our daughter approached 2yrs old, my husband threw a fit that I was too close with our daughter; that I should be her Mom and not her friend. Now our daughter is 12 and hates me, and so does my husband; I wish I would have just gone to college and never gotten married or had children. If I were a braver person I’d just go ahead and send it, because everyone acts like I’m the only issue/problem and they’d all be better off and happier without me…
This article is only relevant for people who are neurotypical and has a relationship with someone who hasn’t got a personality disorder
If the person is on the spectrum or has a personality then none of this advice is useful. The best thing is to part ways as you cannot cure a personality disorder and they tend to get worse with age. People with personality disorders should not be in the dating pool and certainly not getting married and having children. Narcissism for example is a devastating condition that usually leads to either severe mental cruelty, coersive control, adultery and a very nasty bitter divorce. Children from these marriages have the scars for the rest of their lives (I am such a child – daughter of a Narcissist). If a man constantly puts you down — leave straight away and don’t look back. They will never love you because they are incapable. They are damaged goods and still trying to get their own parents attention (usually the mother). Again if you are married to a person with a personality
I swear my husband has a cycle. It’s always third week of month that he’s just terrible. He goes from loving to hateful for 3-5 days.
Bullshit article. No woman deserves to be abused. This is emotional abuse. Sad to read articles like this in 2020. This isn’t the 50’s. Re-examine your own self and needs. You count!
Sex. Do it. It’s the key to men.
Sex. There all fixed.
Why should he get sex when he’s being a dick? She can’t have sex when he’s not treating her right.
this article condones abuse. If someone consistently treats another with disregard and is mean, that is emotional abuse. Get counseling, develop support networks and develop an escape plan. As a survivor of domestic violence and abuse and as a nurse, i will say this; Leave. Life gets better. Life doesn’t have to be a cycle of being trapped in anxiety that is triggered by walking on eggshells. You do not have to live in constant fear you are going to trigger a mood episode/ brooding yelling. You do not have to live in fear that if you ‘ do the wrong thing’ you will get punished or hit. Your husband’s moods are not your problem. If he is unhappy, depressed, stonewalling, or emotionally stoic; run. It is one thing when someone goes through depression, tearful, sad, or irritable. They must take ownership of their behavior and get help. If someone is unwilling to change, or will not go to therapy or take medications, or change the way they treat you, then leave and do not look back. NO one deserves this. It will destroy you if you stay. Chronic prolonged abuse can cause complex PTSD. It doesn’t have to be physical abuse either. Do not allow someone to treat you the way you wouldn’t want your daughter or best friend to be treated. Give yourself the same advice you would give them. Life is too short my friend.
I agree with your observations. I agree consistent emotional abuse should never be tolerated and it is appropriate to draw the line and leave. I said as much in the article. I cover a lot of different types of situations in the article ranging in severity and circumstance. But in no way do I want it to appear I condone consistent emotional abuse. If you don’t mind pointing to where in the article you read that to give you that impression I would be much appreciative.
Again thank you very much for your heartfelt observations.
Thank you! I was just reading this as my husband has just informed me that it’s over and he wrote a list of everything I do wrong that I need to change. He said he doesn’t ask much of me yet he constantly tells me everything I am doing wrong. If he’s not telling me – I always feel like I’m doing the wrong thing and he often walks in the room, looks at me and rolls his eyes. I am so on edge that it is ruining my life and I feel like I’m suffering from depression but then when he’s not around I feel fine, so I think he is the cause of me feeling like this. He is not supportive of me, not interested in anything I have to say, blatantly ignores our children when they try to speak to him and even told my 11 year old to shut up when she was trying to join in on the conversation he was having with me. I say that because he talks to me and never wants to listen to what I have to say unless I am reafirming what he is saying. I feel trapped and have been suffering years of emotional abuse from him and he believes I’m in the wrong. He tells me I never listen to him as he quite obviously is ignoring everything I have to say unless it is about him.
I have been in physically abusive relationships in the past and it is easy to identify the abuse but the emotional abuse isn’t and I am always questioning myself if it is abuse. I am an adult though and I don’t deserve to be spoken to the way he speaks to me. I don’t have to do exactly what he wants me to. I don’t have to be interested in only what he is. I don’t have to be constantly judged or feel like I am doing something he doesn’t like. I don’t do that to him.
There are so many articles on this site which condone abuse. I’m reading through some of these with my jaw on the floor. It’s such a pity that some young wives believe it.
Mine too! It’s always the week leading up to my period. Which, at the moment, is the third week of every month. It’s been like this for 14 years and I am so done. I’ve started recording the abusive talk so that when I leave, he will know exactly why I am leaving. I will push for counselling first. If I didn’t have kids, I would just walk.
Maybe he’s annoyed with you because you have pulled the bait and switch on him, you know not doing the stuff that made him want to be with you in the first place. ( barely any sex or stopped doing exciting things in the bedroom, not being fit or trying to maintain your appearance, not being interesting anymore).
Maybe he’s annoyed and irritated by you because you’re always on social media or on your phone doing something while he was trying to spend time with you and you never bothered to even make eye contact one single time.
Maybe he’s annoyed with you because you leave all the disciplining up to him and then you get to be the good/fun parent.
Maybe he’s annoyed and irritated by you because you’ve decided to become a feminist and started trying to apply what you’ve seen and heard from talking heads on tv or blogs that go well beyond reasonable liberalism.
He’s probably annoyed by you because he talked to you about things that have annoyed him, but you but you still keep doing them, or let them fall on deaf ears.
Your guy may just be a grumpy bastard but chances are the stresses of life and you are giving him a big reason to be one, half the time he’s biting his tongue and letting his anger fester deep within, until finally one day he simply doesn’t care.
Should you take abuse from the guy, of course not but are you being abusive or manipulative? Don’t act like he became a moody p.o.s because life was a bowl of peaches being with you and you are so perfect over there.
If you where to leave the guy your with, what changes would you make to find another mate, because chances are you’d need to make some … how about doing those now.
Hi,
I agree with Steve, thanks for your comment. It helped me look at my relationship and yes, a lot of it applies to me 🙂
I’ve brought it to my husband’s attention and now he says we need to sit back and rethink our marriage.. Because he feels setback that I would bring it to his attention! He said he doesn’t know if I am making it out to be that way or if he’s actually acting that way !
I really want my marriage to work …. but I feel he’s not being accountable for his harshness to me. I think I definitely bruised his ego. What should I do now ?
Steve, you sound like my husband, exactly. The only thing you didn’t add in there that he says is that the Bible says the man is the head of the household and the woman is subservient to him and should do wife things that make him happy. Everyone he knows says he is the correct and sane one and that I am a bad wife and insane. That is what he says a lot to me. I am sane; however, I am weary and sick of him berating and insulting me. I am sick of feeling like I can’t make one decision without first knowing what he would decide, to prevent an argument and more yelling and insults. Not one day or road trip goes on without issues.
A, you read him to a T. I bet he is a verbal abuser who got onto this site after finding out his wife was reaching out. He sounds exactly like my husband too. Totally different accusations, but same tone. Same type of put down.
Seems to me most bible thumpers are of this belief of superiority! It’s about time people realize that the Bible is a made-up story to keep the sheep in line. Put the fear of “god” in them and you can control them. It’s a crock of crap and has been allowed to brainwash and control people for far too long. Religion is the culprit in your relationship and until he sees that you are stuck in your situation, controlled and subservient. It’s sickening
Maybe some of your “reasons”, if you want to call them that might be true, or maybe not. Relationships are a two-way street and as much as “he” may be annoyed with “her” he is obviously annoying her. Since you do not know their personal situation, maybe you should word your comments a bit differently. It’s obvious that you have some resentment or irritation built up possibly in your own relationship.
If you are merely trying to help by showing the opposite side of the coin, say so because your comments sound defensive and belittling.
Your article hit me hard. My husband and I have been together for a decade. He’s very toxic which in return makes me react in a toxic way toward him. It’s a very distructive cycle. My father had recently passed away. And my husband was not there for me at all. My husband’s here physically. But instead of supporting me during this time, he’s been very selfish and continuing his negative behavior toward me. No emotional support whatsoever and has only made this difficult time for me so much worse. No one sees or hears the version of him that I experience, and it’s so tough to find a trustworthy ear to listen. This is the worst pain I’ve dealt with in my life and have no one to turn to.
Jessica, I’m so sorry for the loss of your father and the lack of caring, understanding and support from your husband on top of that loss. You are not alone. The day my mother died, when I finally got home after meeting my sisters at the nursing home she was in to take care of things, I walked into the house exhausted and emotionally drained. He gave me a hug and I asked if he could turn the radio off (he was listening to a talk show, and he’s losing his hearing some so it was up fairly loud). He replied that he was listening to it, even sounding annoyed that I asked. I went into the bedroom (the only room with a door in our small ranch), closed the door and cried, alone. Side note; I had lost my dad three years earlier and both of his parents are still living. Maybe he just didn’t get it? But it broke a piece of my heart.
Again, I’m so sorry you’re not getting the support and love from your husband around losing your father.
If your husband starts taking crap out on you when you know you have not done anything to cause it. Leave and take a break from each other. Sometimes it can help! He could be sneaking around taking street drugs and knows you will leave if you find out. When you really love each other both of you should be able to sit down and talk about what is bothering you. He or she could be seeing another person secretly and confused of who he really loves and wants to be with. Life is too short wasting a lot of time waiting around for someone to get their shit together. Its a choice in life so each individual can make their own decisions what is best for them.
This article is useless. People who act like this have mental issues usually from childhood and never get help or even see themself as a problem. They’re manipulators, selfish, liars and will never truely be able to love anyone more than themselves. Get out! Get away! Do not waste your time & energy on people like this. You cannot change them. And don’t believe a word they tell you. They don’t love you, no one treats another person like this when they truly love you. Just leave & get on with your life. You will be so much more happier without this type of toxic person in your life.
I stopped reading after item 5 above because of your clear bias aginst men. I’m male yet what you describe and what I was looking for help with, relating to my female parner’s attitude. is described quite well BUT you seem to think it is only men that act like this.
Women do too … or at least my female partner does.
We all get irritated but it’s how we react to that irritation that is important. I am sick to the back teeth of feeling that it is my bad handling of situations where she has launched into attack mode, although I’m sure I could do better. I just wish I knew what I could do to improve things.
All I seem to be able to do is listen to her shouting louder and louder at me. Gentle, compassionate discussion seems to be impossible.
You are doing more harm than good by genderizing of the issue.
Try reading the book “Love and Respect”. You may be surprised.
My husband gets angry (loud and verbally aggressive) with me for answering him in a way he doesn’t want me to. I find I’m frightened everyday that I will say something that will set him off. I feel demeaned.
Saw this title, and saw it really does fall in line with my relationship. Because this article hits home a little too close. And it was the title that caught my attention first, I thought I could share an example of my one of my experiences.
I find it annoying when my husband complains that WE never talk. So, I’ll turn everything off, shut everything down, and wait for him to say something. Initially, I didn’t mind. But to be fair and honest, the more often this subject/argument comes up, the more aggression and irritation come from me from my facial expressions and body language.
Better yet, when I DO attempt to strike up a conversation, I sometimes try to switch up the subject(s), like grasping for straws. My intentions were to find a subject we both can engage in together, and hold interest. His facial expressions are what cues me in to switch gears. For him, this makes him dizzy, like data overload, and it’s overwhelming. For me…I’m just avoiding that famous and antique conversation everyone may have experienced at least once.
Me: “Okay then, let’s talk. What do you want to talk about?”
Another party: “I don’t know, what do you want to talk about?”
Me: “You brought this up, so, what do you want to talk about?”
and on………and on……….
While I’m trying to carry the conversation I also have to figure out what is not boring him to death.
He usually snaps at me and says: “You are so “F’g” annoying, shut the hell up,” and/or “Stop talking! You’re getting on my damn nerves!!!!
My default answer to this is: “Okay look, you said you wanted to talk. Since you can’t come up with a conversation you’d like to talk about, I did, but everything I come up with is either boring or annoying the hell out of you. But you REALLY need to make up your mind!!! It’s been (number) of years, and I still don’t know how to talk and shut the hell up at the same time.”
His default response is getting angry or putting on his headphones to ignore me. The “pot calling the kettle black” type of person tries giving me advice to leave because he’s either not interested in me. Or going through the motions of twisting things to make it my fault. But honestly, my round 2 being in a marriage, completely turns me off/away from ever trying again. Because it’s just too damn hard and I’m too damn tired to want to try again.
Hey I with a partner who is grumpy and shouts at me for little peti things he has shouted at me loads of times with us having a house mate here as well and she is just living in her bedroom don’t help she doesn’t like me here and wants me to leave