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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being an arse or is this controlling!?

462 replies

Dancehalldarling · 20/05/2024 07:19

I’m in a lesbian relationship just so we’re clear on genders.

My girlfriend is so overly attentive that it’s really really starting to grate on me but I don’t know if I’m just being a bit of a cow.

examples:

  • driving in my car I turn my air con up 2 degrees from the coldest. She leans forward and says are you cold with a concerned look and goes to adjust the air con again. There’s always just that little extra of whatever so she’s done something to help. I said no leave it. She then said do you want to turn the aircon off? I said no I’m fine. She said do you want my jacket? GAH!!!!
  • out shopping (regularly) she will INSIST on carrying my bags. When I say no she relentlessly asks me to give them to her and it gets so annoying. Sometimes I want to carry my own bags! If I put them down for example to Pay she will pick them up and not give me them back.
  • at the cinema she asks if I’m cold, I say no, I’m quite fine, she’ll take her coat off and put it over me.
  • constantly paws at me and I mean CONSTANTLY has to be holding hands whether it’s driving, walking, sitting on the sofa, at dinner. It’s not just holding hands she holds my hand with one hand and caresses my arms and hands with her other hand. If she’s not doing this she’s stroking my hair or rubbing my head/neck/shoulders/tickling my arm or face.
  • If I’ve asked her to do a task for example could you please grab my keys while I look for my phone, she’ll grab the keys (along with everything else I’m carrying) and then as soon as I mention I’m going to grab my phone she’ll put down what she has and start frantically joining me in looking for my phone. This is a small example but what I’m trying to say is if she’s doing something and notices I’m on a different task she will drop what she’s doing and join me 100%. Cleaning, getting dressed, whatever.
  • always asks if I’ve ate, what I’ve ate, when I’ve ate. Sometimes I lie and say yes when I actually haven’t because I can’t be arsed with “why?” “I’ll Uber you food now what do you want?” “You need to eat” “make sure you eat please”
  • we don’t live together but if she hears I’m doing something like painting a room she insists on coming round and doing it for me, tells me to just sit down and rest. Sometimes I just want to get things done?
  • has to see me every day and kind of sulks if she doesn’t. Which is a real PITA sometimes as I have DC and don’t live overly close to her (D.C. not officially met her yet) So often I’m going out my way to call in before or after work, after school run, when DC are with their dad. Every day! This week she has sulked because she’s “hardly seen me” when I’ve seen her every day just not for as long.
  • she doesn’t like any of my friends and thinks I’m too good for them. She’s not a fan of me going out with them which is very rare. My best friend doesn’t like her for a separate reason but this also plays on my mind.

I’ve gotten irritated a few times and told her I’m not made of bloody glass and can she please stop treating me like an infant. She gets the hump and says she’s just trying to care for me. But I find it really suffocating and a bit controlling! AIBU?

OP posts:
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Weezypopsy · 22/08/2024 23:00

OP, how are you doing now?

Fountofwisdom · 03/08/2024 08:43

Utterly controlling, smothering and possessive behaviour, which will only get worse. It sounds like the relationship is fairly recent? So the fact that you are already hugely irritated (understandably) by these behaviours should be ringing a big klaxon. She’s jealous of your friends and you can be damn sure she’ll be jealous of your DC too, which is worse.

You haven’t actually said one positive thing about why you are with her! Which begs the question: why are you? Run for the hills while you can, because that bunny boiler is only getting started. Seriously, do yourself a favour and get rid.

Hatecleaninglovecleanhouse · 03/08/2024 08:31

Ha, are you the girlfriend?

Sti · 02/08/2024 11:32

She just cares about you a lot. I would love that attention

Idontanswerveryoften · 27/05/2024 16:50

She is clearly a narcissist

and she is “love bombing” you.

its very dangerous, especially since you have kids. Narcissistic people are difficult to get rid of and they ruin lives. Read about love bombing and read about people’s horror stories of where a relationship with a narcissist goes. You may need help to get away from her, she seems to really want you for whatever reason. I wouldn’t believe about her abusive childhood, they get you with guilt. She will probably make it very difficult for you to get away. There is a lot of advise online how to deal with a narcissist if you need support separating from her, don’t feel
like there is something wrong with you, they are like parasites, very pervasive and persistent, and will make you think you are crazy (it’s already started hence why you are writing this post!)

good luck!

Tessiebear2023 · 27/05/2024 13:12

lifesrichpageant · 27/05/2024 06:17

Severe attachment issues here. She needs help and you need to get out!

Exactly right, she is has disordered attachment as a result of the family issues that OP mentions. This has resulted in a personality disorder; probably a form of co-depependent DPD, and if she also has unstable emotions, fear of abandonment, and lack of self-image, she could even have BPD.

The upshot is that unless she gets counselling and treatment this relationship WILL get worse, not better. The more she smothers you, the more you'll pull away, and she wont be able to stop. She'll feel wronged and abandoned, opening up all the trauma of her past, and you'll feel like shit. The sad thing about personality disorders is that the sufferer is unable to help their actions, they cannot see their behaviour objectively, it's just hard-wired into them. Sadly, it will be easier to help her as a friend than as her partner.

lifesrichpageant · 27/05/2024 06:17

Severe attachment issues here. She needs help and you need to get out!

grinandslothit · 27/05/2024 05:48

Yes she's being way over the top. I think it's worth having one serious chat about it.

MelodyFinch · 27/05/2024 05:05

Empty Hannah, this behaviour doesn’t stay static. It follows a well documented pattern. You eventually find that you have no self esteem or courage to leave. Then the first blow is struck. Get out while you still can.

StormingNorman · 26/05/2024 17:02

Smothering is her love language. Unless she can pull back, you may just not be compatible.

yellowsmileyface · 26/05/2024 16:28

EmptyHannah · 26/05/2024 11:40

He is 33, I don't know. I have 2 kids, one of them is his. I met him at work and he just got more and more controlling. I have everything I want and he provides everything including house staff (nanny, cleaner etc). I accept his controlingness when he's around e.g. wearing the clothes he wants me to wear but when he's at work I do what I want... although I got used to asking him permission to go out

Does this arrangement make you happy?

DoubleeDenim · 26/05/2024 16:19

EmptyHannah · 26/05/2024 11:40

He is 33, I don't know. I have 2 kids, one of them is his. I met him at work and he just got more and more controlling. I have everything I want and he provides everything including house staff (nanny, cleaner etc). I accept his controlingness when he's around e.g. wearing the clothes he wants me to wear but when he's at work I do what I want... although I got used to asking him permission to go out

😳😡

I think you will leave him at some point

Start making a record of earnings and assets now. Should you ever need them.

Thelnebriati · 26/05/2024 12:48

You don't suddenly gain an adult brain on your 25th birthday because thats not how maturity works - its a developmental stage that describes potential, and you have handed your potential to another person.

EmptyHannah · 26/05/2024 11:40

yellowsmileyface · 26/05/2024 09:55

How old is your husband? Why did he marry a woman he doesn't consider to have an adult brain yet?

He is 33, I don't know. I have 2 kids, one of them is his. I met him at work and he just got more and more controlling. I have everything I want and he provides everything including house staff (nanny, cleaner etc). I accept his controlingness when he's around e.g. wearing the clothes he wants me to wear but when he's at work I do what I want... although I got used to asking him permission to go out

yellowsmileyface · 26/05/2024 09:55

EmptyHannah · 25/05/2024 20:50

Wow I feel like I could have written this exact post. My husband is exactly the same. He treats me like I'm his child and he says its because I don't have an adult brain yet and maybe when I'm 25 (I'm 24 now) he'll let me have more responsibility

How old is your husband? Why did he marry a woman he doesn't consider to have an adult brain yet?

Marieb19 · 26/05/2024 09:45

Run!

pinkyredrose · 26/05/2024 09:42

EmptyHannah · 25/05/2024 20:50

Wow I feel like I could have written this exact post. My husband is exactly the same. He treats me like I'm his child and he says its because I don't have an adult brain yet and maybe when I'm 25 (I'm 24 now) he'll let me have more responsibility

How old is your husband?

Littlejellyuk · 26/05/2024 08:22

Red flags here. On another note, my best friend and family loved my boyfriend. He is now my husband. He regularly says go and see your pals, while he and our 5 year old have a lad and dad afternoon either playing games or going swimming, and he never smothers me, only wants me to have fun. 😀
Yet it sounds like she wants to be needed maybe? Some people want to feel like they're needed, and cut you off from others, so that they are the focus of your life. Run. She will be jealous of you DC next.

Stephenra · 26/05/2024 01:17

Suffocating

OneWildBiscuit · 26/05/2024 00:04

DisabledDemon · 25/05/2024 20:58

He'll 'let' you have more responsibility? 🚩🚩🚩

Jesus wept!

DoubleeDenim · 25/05/2024 23:18

EmptyHannah · 25/05/2024 20:50

Wow I feel like I could have written this exact post. My husband is exactly the same. He treats me like I'm his child and he says its because I don't have an adult brain yet and maybe when I'm 25 (I'm 24 now) he'll let me have more responsibility

vom

Why are you with him?

Aleca · 25/05/2024 22:47

I’m also in a lesbian relationship and can relate to some of what you say. Strongly suggest you doing let her move in with you and trust your instincts. I have history of being with partners who are over controlling and it’s so destructive and destabilising. Good luck

Missmousie · 25/05/2024 22:47

It seems very much as if she is treating you as a possession, a treasured possession no doubt, but something she owns .nevertheless . This is not a reasonable nor healthy situation for two people to be in and it appears that she is rapidly succeeding in achieving the very thing she purportedly wishes to avoid at all costs , namely losing you.
As a previous responder has suggested this seems more like a parent/ child relationship than an adult one , with you cast in the role of the child ( and you're not are you ?).
This is a suffocating relationship to be in which is ultimately unhealthy for both of you - and I think you realise that otherwise you wouldn't be posting here.
You come across as an intelligent, sensible and successful individual who is more than capable of deciding if you're cold , need to eat or carry your own shopping , have your own friends without Mummy's approval ! Please do yourself a favour and get out now before it's too late for both of you. I appreciate that you do not wish to hurt her because of her abusive history but she will inevitably though unintentionally, hurt you.

Tessiebear2023 · 25/05/2024 21:50

queenparrot · 22/05/2024 09:01

Based on what you've written here, I have diagnosed her with BPD - waif variant. Some of it is so recognizable to me from similar personalities I've encountered over the years. The poor woman, but it is not behaviour I could bear, especially the flicking of the eyes to see your reaction every few seconds as you watch a movie, or tv. Super needy, disguising her need as care and concern for you, and smothering and infantilising you in the process.

It's classic co-dependency, it can be part of BPD, but it can exist as a personality disorder of its own.

Tessiebear2023 · 25/05/2024 21:34

Sounds like codependent personality disorder. Get some advice/support before you talk to her about it.

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