My Husband Starts Fights and Then Blames Me (DO THIS NOW)

It can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening when you feel like your partner constantly starts arguments and then turns around and blames you for them. This pattern of behavior can leave you feeling manipulated, disrespected, and like you’re always on the defensive. If your husband tends to pick fights and then fault you, it’s important to understand why this happens before deciding how to address it.

Sometimes this tendency comes from deeper insecurities or a lack of emotional intelligence on your husband’s part. Other times, it may even stem from an unhealthy need to control you or wear you down. Regardless of the root causes, his actions are unacceptable and the pattern needs to be broken. You deserve to feel heard, understood, and treated as an equal partner in your marriage.

Common Explanations for the Blame Game in Relationships

There are a few possible explanations for why your husband initiates arguments and then pins the blame on you:

• Learned behavior from his upbringing – If he grew up in a household where fights were common and blame was unfairly assigned, he may be mirroring those dysfunctional patterns. This doesn’t excuse his actions, but understanding their origin can help you approach the issue from a place of empathy.
• Insecurity – Your husband may start fights because he feels threatened or insecure about the relationship. Blaming you shifts responsibility and provides a temporary feeling of control or power.
• Immature conflict resolution skills – Some people simply never learned how to have healthy disagreements, share feelings constructively, or compromise. Your husband may lack the communication and problem-solving abilities that strong relationships require.
• Manipulation or control issues – While less common, some partners blame others as a means of manipulation, domination, or purposely making their spouse feel “crazy.” It’s a tactic used by emotional abusers.

How to Stop the Cycle of Provoked Fights and Misplaced Blame

Regardless of what motivates your husband’s detrimental pattern, it’s essential for your relationship that you break this cycle. Here are some tips on responding productively:

• Have a calm discussion when you’re both relaxed. Rather than wait for the next fight, choose a peaceful time to share your feelings about the pattern. Use lots of “I” statements to avoid putting him on the defensive.
• Suggest counseling. A skilled couples counselor can help you two communicate in healthier ways, identify core issues, and break negative interaction patterns. Don’t frame therapy as an ultimatum, but explain its benefits.
• Enforce strong boundaries. Make it clear his blaming you is unacceptable and you won’t tolerate disrespect or unnecessary conflict. Walk away if arguments escalate and revisit the issue later when cooler heads prevail.
• Lead by example with positive communication. Model clear, thoughtful communication focused on resolution. Suggest compromises, validate his feelings, and use non-accusatory language. This can influence him to interact more productively.
• Don’t accept undue blame. Correct unfair allegations calmly and stick to the facts. Decline to take responsibility for provocations or offenses you didn’t commit. Over time, he’ll realize blaming you won’t work.
• Seek support. Turn to trusted friends and relatives to vent, process your feelings, and gain strength. Their empathy and perspective can bolster you in standing firm against mistreatment.
• Consider counseling for yourself. Even if your husband declines therapy, individual counseling can help you build self-esteem, set boundaries, and decide how to move forward. You deserve support.
• Leave if the situation becomes emotionally abusive. While you want to avoid giving up easily on your marriage, you should never endure emotional abuse. Seek help from domestic violence resources if needed.

Tips for Handling Emotionally Charged Conversations

When tensions are high, it’s easy for spouses to let emotions hijack an argument and exacerbate the situation. Thoughtfully navigating heated discussions can make all the difference. Here are some tips to handle emotionally-driven fights productively:

Stay Grounded in the Present

• Don’t dredge up old arguments or hurts from the past. Stick to the current issue at hand.
• Avoid making generalizations like “you always” or “you never.” Focus just on what’s happening right now.
• Don’t speculate about motives or the future. You can’t read your spouse’s mind, so don’t assume the worst.

Watch Your Delivery

• Keep your volume and tone of voice neutral. Yelling or sarcasm will put your partner on the defensive.
• Avoid criticism, name-calling, or put-downs. This will only incite anger and shut down communication.
• Use “I feel…” statements to share your perspective without accusation.

Find Common Ground

• Look for areas of shared understanding and goals. You likely both want resolution.
• Don’t insist on “winning” or being right. Prioritize reaching a compromise.
• Validate any points your partner makes that you agree with. This builds goodwill.
• Admit when your husband’s feelings make sense from his perspective. You don’t have to agree to show you grasp where he’s coming from.

Regulate Your Emotions

• Take deep breaths and pause before reacting if flooding emotions. Count to 10 or excuse yourself briefly.
• Label any emotions you feel arising, such as anger, hurt, or fear. This helps calm the amygdala’s threat response.
• Speak more slowly and quietly if you’re feeling agitated. This prevents combativeness.

When to Press Pause

• Suggest tabling the discussion for a specified time if things get overly heated and unproductive.
• Decline to argue late at night if exhaustion makes emotions harder to contain.
• Learn your spouse’s triggers and avoid them when tensions are high. Don’t intentionally provoke.
• If an argument starts escalating uncontrollably, temporarily walk away to cool off before continuing.

With practice, you and your husband can get better at engaging in constructive conflict instead of destructive fights. Counseling provides great guidance in developing healthier communication styles tailored to your unique dynamic.

Finding Healthier Ways to Resolve Conflict in Your Marriage

Frequent arguing and blaming indicate some major issues in how you and your husband manage conflict. To break this harmful cycle, implementing alternative methods of handling disagreements is essential. Here are some healthier, more productive approaches to try:

Seek Compromise

Rather than insisting on getting your way, identify solutions where each of you gets some of what you want. Compromise requires both partners to be flexible and willing to meet in the middle when possible.

Use Non-Defensive Communication

Don’t react emotionally or jump to rebuttals. Pause, validate, ask clarifying questions, and use “I” statements to share your perspective without accusation. The goal is understanding.

Establish Guidelines for Fair Fighting

Agree on rules for disagreeing respectfully, like taking turns speaking uninterrupted, not insulting, and sticking to the topic at hand. Also set a time-out process for cooling down.

Express Appreciation Alongside Complaints

Sandwich criticism between positive statements about your partner or relationship. Don’t only focus on the negative. This reduces defensiveness.

Schedule Regular Check-Ins

Don’t let problems fester. Set weekly or monthly times to touch base about any relationship tensions arising so they don’t erupt into huge fights.

Write It Out

Keep a shared journal where you each summarize an argument from your perspective afterward. This allows you both to process emotions and feel heard.

Talk to a Mediator

Seeking the guidance of an unbiased couple’s counselor or faith leader provides a safe space to be vulnerable, find solutions, and rebuild trust.

Work as a Team

Approach issues as you and your husband together versus you against him. Maintain an “us versus the problem” attitude.

Lead by Example

Model the kindness, respect and communication you want to see from your spouse. Positive behavior tends to beget more of the same.

With some concerted effort, it’s possible to cultivate a much healthier dynamic around conflict resolution. This requires both spouses committing to change and being willing to implement constructive new strategies step-by-step.

When to Seek Outside Help

If you’ve tried multiple approaches to improve how you and your husband handle disagreements but continue to clash, it may be time to seek some outside assistance. Counseling, marriage education classes, or support groups can provide you with the tools and unbiased guidance often needed to get a relationship back on track.

Signs It’s Time for Couples Counseling

• Frequent heated arguments with no resolution
• One partner blaming, belittling or manipulating the other
• Increased emotional distance or isolation from each other
• Intense feelings of anger, resentment or dissatisfaction
• Domestic violence or abuse of any kind
• Substance abuse issues
• One spouse repeatedly threatens divorce
• Major trust violations like infidelity

Benefits of Working with a Couples Counselor

• Gain new communication and conflict resolution skills
• Improve understanding of each other’s perspectives
• Overcome impasses on specific issues
• Build intimacy and reconnect emotionally
• Work through traumatic events or affairs
• Manage mental health issues like depression or anxiety
• Transition through major life changes together
• Decide if separation or divorce is warranted

Other Sources of Support to Consider

• Talk to your religious or spiritual leader for guidance based on your faith values.
• Seek advice and support from happily married friends or relatives you admire.
• Read self-help books or complete online marriage education courses together.
• Join a support group in your community or online for your specific issues.
• Participate in marriage retreats and workshops through your church or local organizations.

You have many options for accessing the tools and knowledge needed to foster a healthier, happier marriage. While it requires effort from both you and your husband, it is possible to end the blame game and create relationship patterns that nurture, not hurt. With some vulnerability, commitment and assistance, you can resolve conflict in ways that strengthen your bond. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help.