Disagreements, arguments, and occasional hurt feelings are part of most marriages, and many couples grow accustomed to navigating some level of conflict. Over time, this can blind people to behavior that goes far beyond what’s acceptable.
On r/Relationship_Advice, one woman described how her husband ignored not just her comfort but also her deepest fear. Living with severe claustrophobia, she said he deliberately trapped her in a closet, laughing while she begged to be released.
His "joke" left her deeply shaken, forcing her to reevaluate their entire marriage.
This woman has been living with a bad case of claustrophobia
Image credits: Impactphotography / Envato (not the actual photo)
But for some reason, her husband finds it amusing
Image credits: throwra-021
Phobias aren't funny
Image credits: s_kawee / Envato (not the actual photo)
Little is known about what causes people to develop a fear of confined spaces. However, it usually emerges during childhood or in teenage years, and traumatic events — such as being stuck in a crowded space for an extended period of time, being locked in a small space as punishment, or experiencing heavy turbulence when flying — can also play a part.
The Redditor didn't provide the specifics about her condition, but she did highlight that it's severe. Triggers in such cases may include:
Other places that can trigger claustrophobia include public restrooms, car washes, revolving doors, store dressing rooms, caves or crawl spaces, and tunnels.
As you can imagine, with such limitations, even normal routines can feel unpredictable and exhausting.
The woman revealed more about her predicament in the comments
People thought her husband's actions were a clear sign that she needed to leave him
Eventually, that's exactly what she decided to do
Image credits: Pablo Merchán Montes / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: throwra-021
How to identify emotional abuse
Attitudes and behaviors that may signal emotional abuse include:
According to a paper from 2023, being exposed to coercive control can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. So the woman definitely needs to prioritize her own well-being.