Is this PTSD?

Just had a run in with my ex, who is still living here, hoovering as long as he can.

We were in the kitchen and I started cleaning up his mess. I caught myself and put it back, while saying to myself 'nope, don't do that anymore'. He was irritated and said it would be easier if I would just throw it in the bin instead of putting it back. I said I am trying to teach myself not to do this anymore. I clean up after him a couple of times a day as he just leaves a mess everywhere and I like a clean and tidy home. I usually just do it to avoid conflict, but now he was there himself, able to clean it up.

The thing is, I am not a stay-at-home mum by choice at the moment. He refuses to take care of our child enough for me to go to work. Our kid is high needs and currently unable to attend school by themselves. So as he pays, he expects me to take care of our child and the household. Easy for him, as he is home on long-term sick leave (which I don't believe he needs anymore). I want to use some of our savings to pay for my half, but he is refusing me access to them. My lawyer says I live in financial imprisonment. He is dragging things out, so he doesn't have to leave.

So after I said I didn't want to do that anymore he said 'It's easier if you just put it in the bin and we both clean up after each other'. I replied that I am teaching myself not to do this anymore and one person does a lot more of that then the other. He went to the toilet and when he came back he came to stand close to me and said 'Can you not leave those pans out like that', pointing at some pans I had used for last night's dinner, but hadn't had a chance to clean yet. I said 'that's not the same thing' and he said 'Ha, see double standards'. It's not so much what he says, but the contempt in his eyes, the staring me down and proximity which made me panic. I walked away while breathing deeply, as I knew I had to grey rock, and he went upstairs. As soon as he was gone I started crying. I am still feeling this panic in my body and mind.

So I am wondering is this is a PTSD response? It's just that look in his eyes.......

Posted Jun 23, 2026, 2:23 PM UTC

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