AITA For wanting to leave my mentally ill husband whose now just my roommate

NTA

Im a 51/f with my husband 57/m of 15 years. He moved into our spare bedroom 3 years ago and we have only had sex 3 times in the past 3 years. Our relationship started 30 years ago and I knew I would marry him someday the moment I saw him for the first time. He presented very well, seemed like he had high emotional intelligence and hia self awareness impressed me. He moved into my house in August of 2011 and I immediately saw all kinds of red flags and quickly realized he was someone entirely else. And not in a good way. He had flashes of rage that shocked me, horribly low self esteem and self loatong and he was the most negative person id ever met in my life. Im a very clean and neat person qnd bathe damn near obsessively while he is not. The first 2 weeks living with me he didnt bathe. I should have ended it right then and there. Not to mention he first told me when he moved in that he would not be celebrating holidays and that he wasn't the guy to ever buy me gifts. He has disappeared for nights at a time, ghosting me, gaslighting me and goes out of his way to tell me I am pretty much worthless and that I am sick and need help. I have a Bachelor degree, a bunch of certifications and some Master degree work for 2 programs. While he never completed his associate degree and hasnt completed anything he starts. He finally admitted to having bipolar and is addicted to Nyquil sleeping pills for at least 5 years now. I won $60,000 from a bad car accident and put $15,000 down on the home we live in now. I tell him all the time that I am his protégé and creation and now Im struggling with low self esteem, I look haggard and exhausted and feel sad alot. We cant sell the house from the previous seller hiding damages and illegal work done so I feel trapped. Im barely employable atp and I allowed him to destroy my credit twice now. I feel like I will never get out of this. What should I do?

Posted Aug 13, 2026, 4:58 PM UTC

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