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Partner makes me feel insecure & I dread going out

86 replies

MeganBoo · 09/09/2026 18:40

Hi all, I feel so insecure in myself/relationship that I don’t want to go out anymore. Bit of a long one but really in need of support.

I’m 25 and really really struggling to not hate myself and feel insecure. My partner honestly never compliments me even if we’re going out, I’ve dressed up and made an effort I get not one single compliment. On top of this my partner has made it clear that I’m not his usual type and constantly gets at me to do things to change my appearance such as wear more makeup and have my hair straight as he says things like I look like a ‘witch’ with my curly hair.

I’m struggling when it comes to going out with my partner as I always notice him staring at women who are his type/are attractive. I understand everyone glances at people of the opposite sex who are attractive and there’s nothing wrong with appreciating someone’s beauty, but my partner will obviously stare at them/check them out till they’re no longer in view and even if the woman sees him staring at her he’ll still keep looking. It makes me look at these woman and wish I was more like them and it makes me feel really stupid and embarrassed as they’ll see that he’s with me yet he’ll still stare at them like he’s never seen a woman in his life and in my opinion it makes him look like he’s available and interested in them.

I thought the issue was only when I go out with my partner but it’s now gotten worse. I went out by myself today to do some shopping and I wanted to hide and go home. There were a lot of attractive girls around, many of whom were my partners type, and all I could think is why can’t I be like them, I’m not good enough etc. I don’t really get along with girls as in my experience they’re rather bitchy and when I was out today some girls gave me dirty looks when I was walking past them almost as if I’m below them. I’m now back home and have got straight into bed under the covers, I honestly don’t want to go out again any time soon and want to stay home.

I’ve always been somewhat insecure as I’m underweight, have absolutely no figure and I’m rubbish at doing my makeup, I look like a clown when I try to do it. But I feel it’s now got really out of control and it’s going to take over my life. I feel like leaving my relationship as I feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way. I’m about to go on a massive spending spree and buy clothes that I like but also that I think my partner would like me in as I feel like I need to do better. I also have a hair appointment on Friday to get my hair professionally dyed and straightened which honestly I’m excited about but it’s all because my partner keeps nagging about my curly hair.

I suffer with mental health and struggle to get out the house as it is due to anxiety etc so me going out by myself today was something I was hoping to feel proud about but instead I feel self conscious. I’m seriously considering getting cosmetic work done to make myself look better, I have so much going on and feel really under pressure to look a certain way. Feel like I could cry right now, just needed to get this out my system😔

OP posts:
DreamingOfGeneHunt · 09/09/2026 18:45

I reckon you would feel massively better if you got rid of the deeply unpleasant partner.

daisyydaisyy · 09/09/2026 18:46

I think you’d be so so so much happier if you just dumped the fucker

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 09/09/2026 18:47

Your ‘partner’ is a cunt

Instructions · 09/09/2026 18:48

He sounds awful

Leave him, op, find someone worth your time, this pathetic man certainly isn't

Cotopaxi · 09/09/2026 18:52

The only reason you feel insecure is him. He is doing and saying really nasty personal things to make you feel awful about yourself, and it's working.

Please leave this horrible man. You shouldn't have to put up with this level of contempt from anyone, least of all from the person who's supposed to love you.

TheChosenTwo · 09/09/2026 18:53

i suspect your life would DRASTICALLY improve if you got rid of that sorry excuse for a partner.
I feel for you, you’re really going through it. Comparing yourself to others is very unhelpful, there will always be someone younger, prettier, funnier etc than you - that’s just life. You’ve nothing to gain from pitching yourself against others.
Focus on yourself and think really hard about the source of this unhappiness as it will be the key to unlocking a much happier and more positive future for yourself - and you deserve it as much as anyone else. 💐

maudelovesharold · 09/09/2026 18:55

The one thing you should do immediately to feel better about yourself is to get rid of the heavy burden which is dragging you down - your partner.

tryingtobesogood · 09/09/2026 18:57

Why partner if ex partner shaped?

malloryknox123 · 09/09/2026 18:58

Changing your hair is not going to make your horrible BF be any less mean to you. He’ll just find something else to pick on, because he is feeding off your vulnerability

Bestfootforward11 · 09/09/2026 18:59

The issue is your partner. I am double your age and have been married for over 15 years. Even now my DH gives me some kind of compliment every single day that makes me feel great. He builds me up and helps boost my confidence. Your partner is actively pulling you down. You don’t need to change anything other than get rid of this person. Sending you lots of hugs, you are so young and lovely and I am angry this idiot is treating you like this.

thetinsoldier · 09/09/2026 19:03

Your partner makes you feel insecure. Read that over again. What would you say if a friend told you this?

he’s a nasty fucker, negging you.

dump him. You’ll feel much better!

And come on, not all women are bitches. What a silly and unhelpful way to think. Women can be your friends, your allies, your support when you need them, like now.

Jeska7 · 09/09/2026 19:07

I agree with the others. He’s horrible - looking or staring at other women whilst with you, criticising your appearance, never saying anything nice. You won’t believe it if your self esteem is low but you REALLY do deserve better!! Can you go to your GP about your anxiety and try to get some counselling. Can you read some self-help books to try to get you to change the way you think of yourself? Do you have friends or family you can speak to about how you feel and about your partner? Can you make a conscious effort to say (out loud if possible) “I’m not going to think like that” every time you think badly of yourself? You deserve so much more. Please don’t spend loads of time and money buying outfits and changing your hair just because one person thinks you should! If you want to fit yourself then ok but not because of him. He’s probably unlikely to even notice or comment in it anyway. Look after yourself. Don’t be so harsh with yourself.

teaandtoastwouldbenice · 09/09/2026 19:08

Your mental health will improve if you get rid of that horrible man

MeganBoo · 09/09/2026 19:11

@thetinsoldier Thats why I said ‘in my experience’ as i personally don’t have female friends and have struggled to get along with them as the ones I’ve encountered have been two faced and bitchy, but that’s just my experience, I wasn’t trying to say all women are bitchy :’)

OP posts:
PashaMinaMio · 09/09/2026 19:12

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 09/09/2026 18:45

I reckon you would feel massively better if you got rid of the deeply unpleasant partner.

This sums it up. ^^.
Go and get your make up done by a professional. Ask for a make up
lesson. I’ve done that a few times and love the different looks I’m given.
I think if you ditch the unpleasant bloke in your life you’ll feel so much better…. In the long run.

Boobiesonthebeach · 09/09/2026 19:12

You're with a vile man who has chosen you as his partner precisely because you are mentally vulnerable and he can therefore bully you into submission. No amount of sexy clothes and hair straightening is going to stop him doing this. The goal posts will just move and you will still not be good enough for him in some other way. He's a horrible, pathetic, inadequate, incel sounding specimen, which you must throw back into the swamp he came from if you want to get your head straight.

I doubt very much indeed that random stranger women are giving you filthy looks and judging you. This is your partner's voice inside your head. You have let him get to you and undermine any confidence you may have had. Go and spend your money on therapy to pinpoint why you are so down on yourself, instead of on clothes and hair products to appease a pig man.

cariadlet · 09/09/2026 19:13

He sounds absolutely vile. I agree that you need to dump him.

It's not so much the lack of compliments - everyone is different. Some people like giving and receiving compliments. Others aren't bothered.

What stands out is that he is deliberately undermining your self confidence with his nasty comments. He should be loving you for who you are, not comparing you unfavourably to other women.

BryceQuinlan · 09/09/2026 19:13

This man will destroy you.

whippersnapper55 · 09/09/2026 19:21

Honestly, the only thing you need to change about yourself is the shitty man you're with! And get some therapy for your low self-esteem. I highly doubt other women are giving you dirty looks when you're out shopping, I suspect it's all in your head.

SilenceInside · 09/09/2026 19:26

When your self esteem is this low, you will perceive people looking at you with a neutral or curious expression as "dirty looks" because that's what you're expecting. Especially if you think that all other women are bitches.

Your "partner" is horrible. In a normal relationship your partner should be your biggest fan and think you're the bees knees just as you are. Constantly getting at you, nagging, being unkind about your appearance in order to get you to chance is just downright horrible, controlling and not what a decent boyfriend or partner does.

You won't look like a clown with make up on. You don't even need to wear make up to be acceptable. I never do and no one cares.

Kick this nasty man out of your life and get some therapy or counselling to work on your self esteem. You are worth more.

leggingsbotoxmatcha · 09/09/2026 19:42

You are 25! You are young, OP! Kick this one to the curb and run for your life.

You deserve to feel beautiful and adored (by yourself AND your partner).

He doesn’t sound like a prince, so why are you settling?

You are perfect as you are; only change things if YOU want to.

The plan is:

Dump this guy
Get some therapy
Try and find some GOOD girlfriends

Oh and btw, if he’s ogling at other women in front of your face it doesn’t make it “seem” like he’s available to them. He WOULD be available to them and they can probably sense that.

PrancingPanda · 09/09/2026 19:47

He is chipping away at your confidence and self-esteem.
Break up and try therapy. You will be much better off and happier.
And curly hair is fab! Keep the hair, get rid of him

RemindMeIn15Minutes · 09/09/2026 19:56

“I feel like leaving my relationship as I feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way.”

Yes, you should do just that. This guy is wrecking your self-esteem.

Feelinglow2026 · 09/09/2026 19:59

You're 25. Can you picture another 60 years of this?

Comeonbabylightmyaga · 09/09/2026 20:04

Are you having any help with your poor mental health?

I would cancel the hairdresser, ditch the idiot and go to counselling.

These feelings won’t go just because you dye your hair or wear clothes that he likes. I’ve been there, done that. You can choose to stay unhappy by staying with him or you can choose to change your life, not to be like other girls but to be more you.

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