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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu - just had an argument with bf

322 replies

Tinkofhousepan · 11/02/2018 05:40

Hi all, this is quite personal (and it's gonna be really long as ive got a lot to get off my chest so Sorry in advance), but I really need some impartial advice. I'm really confused and I genuinely don't know where to go from here or even if i should try to fix this. I am posting this in AIBU instead of relationships because people tend to give blunter answers - and that is what I need!

Been with BF for a while, we don't live together, but I stay at his every other night (he lives on his own, I am with parents saving for the seemingly impossible to obtain mortgage - this is relevant).

I have to commute for about 45 mins each way to work, whereas he works locally to where we both live, practically in the town centre and 5 mins walk from the pub. He goes to the pub every afternoon after he finishes work at 4. I work weird shift patterns so some weeks I finish at 5 and others I could finish as late as 8pm if we are running to time, sometimes we can still be there at gone 9 if something takes longer than expected or if we have a walk in emergency that can't wait.

On my early days when I get to our hometown at around 6 he is fine, and he genuinely is the loveliest most caring partner that I've ever had and I just want to be around him all the time because he makes me genuinely happy and I am in love with him, and I feel his love back.

He cooks for me, gets me tea/hot water bottles without me asking for them (just because I look like I need one), runs me baths, doesn't pester me for sex if he can see I've had a bad/stressful day or if I'm just exhausted. But our sex life is great, he has really embraced some of my more wacky desires and does it really well!

He texts me throughout the day taking a genuine interest in how its going, tells me several times a day that he loves/misses me. He is so attentive and makes me feel really special and loved throughout my work day - all great.

The problem is on my late weeks where he could end up being in the pub from 4pm - 9pm, and when I meet up with him he is obviously pretty drunk but still ok to be around, if a little belligerent and opinionated.

It's when I'm not going home with him on those occasions he goes really paranoid and starts a row over nothing. He will accuse me of getting up to no good and says he 'knows what I'm up to' but will not elaborate any further.

The other day i text him to ask if he was still in the pub so I could see him briefly and get a cuddle and a kiss on the way home, and he accused me of checking up on him to find out his wherabouts so I could meet someone else without worrying about bumping into him Confused. I have never done this so I don't know where he got that idea from.

He gets quite hurtful and once he has this idea in his head, nothing will change his mind, not even if i take a picture of me sat in the living room or on my bed.

This happens on a fairly regular basis (3 times this week, latest one being tonight) literally over an non issue!

Tonight's was he was out with the boys, it got to midnight, I asked if he was coming over and he went all funny and passive aggressive saying that I had said I would stay at his tonight and calling me a liar etc.

When I relayed the conversation that we had had yesterday about where I was staying tonight and that he was welcome to stay over, and in the morning I'd make him a hangover breakfast feed the cats and then we would go to his for a 'fun' day (parents are away this weekend so have to be here to feed the cats -which he knows!!!!).

He started again accusing me of lying to him, and insisting that I had said nothing of the sort yesterday. He blew his top and went super cold on me when I screen shot and sent him the conversation where it showed i had said that i was home tonight and him saying that he remembered and that he might come over if he wasnt too drunk.

It sent him into a spin of him then asking me questions about my evening , what did i do? (ate fajhitas, had a bath and some wine and was chilling in bed watching the hobbit when this all kicked off) which pub did i go to? (Didn't go to any pub) who did I meet up with? (The freaking tooth fairy came round and we did a ouija board obviously) which are his way of trying to trip me up and catch me in a lie, so he can feel vindicated that he was justified in starting this whole pointless argument when he sobers up tomorrow.

It's really draining, and I am not happy for this behaviour to continue. The next day he is full of apologies etc, but I am now quite frankly fed up of this.

He is lovely in so many ways, but I can't help feeling that this is just something he does, and won't change or even try to change, and I don't want to deal with that any more.

What should I do?

Thanks for reading, it felt good just writing it all down.

OP posts:
ManchesterGin · 11/02/2018 11:39

No rush to read it. I wouldn’t answer the phone. You have the right to be in control of this situation.

Whocansay · 11/02/2018 11:40

He may come to your home. It may be a good idea to go out.

Remember that you don't need his permission to end the relationship.

MiddleClassProblem · 11/02/2018 11:44

Just coming back to say you’ve done the right thing.

Even in his sober state he thinks you’re a liar and dishonest. You’re not and definitely don’t deserve to be treated like one.

I promised you not all men are bad but date yourself for a little bit. Learn your self worth x

kaytee87 · 11/02/2018 11:50

Op I think you should go out with a friend for the day, maybe get them to read the message.

iloveredwine · 11/02/2018 11:51

can you see if one of your friends can come over in case he turns up? you have done the right thing.💐

frieda909 · 11/02/2018 11:51

Late to the thread but really hope you’re ok Tink.

This behaviour is a form of gaslighting, undoubtedly. Even though you’ve done nothing wrong and you know you’ve done nothing wrong really, they do such a convincing wounded-puppy act that the onus ends up being on you to ‘prove’ yourself. Which is hard to do, because how exactly are you supposed to ‘prove’ that you didn’t do whatever it is that they say you did? So you end up running around screenshotting messages and digging out filter packets hoping to placate him, when actually you’d be well within your rights to just tell him to sod off and that you don’t have to prove a damn thing.

That message about how he’s experienced so much dishonesty but he’s still trying to trust you etc is absolutely textbook gaslighting.

I’m so glad you’ve sent that message and I really hope he isn’t giving you a hard time right now!

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 11/02/2018 11:51

If you haven't read the message yet, how about playing the clairvoyant?

You have now noticed how he manipulates you. So, what manipulative shite do you expect to see in that text? Anger, accusations, poor me, I wuv you sooo much, what do you expect?

FizzyGreenWater · 11/02/2018 11:52

You have the right to be in control of this situation.

That sums it up so well.

Just as he would have the right to leave the relationship at any time, so do you.

He has the right to ask questions. I am sure you will ultimately feel happier if you answer them, as you would presumably want answers in his position.

BUT - he does not have any right to demand responses, to demand to meet, to demand that you comply in any way with what he wants you to do. You are a free agent.

Your life is your business. If he hadn't been so awful to you, you'd still want to share it with him - but you no longer do, and that's his fault.

Mummyontherun86 · 11/02/2018 11:54

In wine, truth.
That’s his true self- jealous and aggressive. Break it off before you have more invested.

SundaysFunday · 11/02/2018 11:55

You have the right to be in control of this situation

^ this with bells on

JaneEyre70 · 11/02/2018 12:00

He's not going to let you walk away lovey without a fight, so be prepared for that. He's going to try every manipulative trick in the book, and he sounds very practised in using them already. Just stand firm, don't be swayed and don't over engage with him. If you aren't ready to talk to him, send him a text saying you know you have to talk, and will do when you are good and ready, and not before. He needs to respect your boundaries here.

notacooldad · 11/02/2018 12:00

Respect yourself and don't put up with this shit.
Dump him and have a happy life.

okeydokeygirl · 11/02/2018 12:01

Just read the thread from the beginning. I agree that you have done the right thing in ending it. It sounds like an abusive relationship made worse by alcoholism. He needs to sort himself out. You do not need to be part of that. Please stay strong whatever his reply says. Can you get a friend to come over and support you today? And please don't meet with him or go to his place by yourself to get any things you have left there. Flowers

okeydokeygirl · 11/02/2018 12:04

I don't think you do need to engage in a conversation with him at all. If you feel you need to explain properly then maybe write him a letter and maybe even include some details of where he can get support. Your prime aim now is to protect yourself and keep yourself safe.

Uhuhhoney · 11/02/2018 12:05

Ah he sounds like my delightful ex.

He's got a real problem with drinking. It's like he had a personality change when he had a drink. I used to call it "the black mist"; he would call me a slut, say I was sleeping with his best mate, call me every name under the sun, etc when he had had a drink. He also used to say things like "can you shut up crying so I can go back to the bar". He'd also like to "dump" me when he was drunk only for him to beg for me back when he was sober. He did this for months until out of the blue he said to me "Ya know what if you stay with me the next thing i'll do is hit you". About 3 weeks later he smacked me over the face when we were having sex and I was very drunk (and did not consent).

When he was sober he was great. Attentive, interested in my life, encouraging, loving.

It took me a while to realise that his drunk self clouded everything. I told him numerous times about his behaviour but he chose the drink.

Your BF sounds similar. It's not worth losing your mental health over. Give him an ultimatum

CuriousaboutSamphire · 11/02/2018 12:09

RunRabbit has something there. You could play Poor Me Bingo with his texts.

It would amuse you rather than make you feel guilty whenever you get a match. And you know he is going to use all the standard tricks... if not many of the No So Viperish Vipers will be able to provide suggestions Smile

Orlandointhewilderness · 11/02/2018 12:09

Thinking of you op

waterrat · 11/02/2018 12:13

blimey OP, haven't rtft but don't have kids with this man. Don't spend your life with him.

Spinsterf · 11/02/2018 12:14

Congratulations on dumping this wanker. You are still very young, and the fact that you are recognising now that you deserve much better bodes well for your future. I wasted ten years of my life with a dickhead like this - ok when sober, but a nasty aggressive drunk. If I had had mumsnet to help me see past the gaslighting I would have ended it a lot sooner.

Tinkofhousepan · 11/02/2018 12:18

It is a message saying how sorry he is, how he didn't mean it, he was drunk etc. That what we have is special and to not throw it away over a stupid drunken mistake.

OP posts:
DistanceCall · 11/02/2018 12:20

As other PPs have said, alcohol doesn't turn you into anything other than what you are. It lowers your inhibitions.

This man is controlling when drunk and when sober. You've just dodged a bullet, Tink. This is the worst part.

What you had wan't special. It was controlling and humiliating and painful. Be strong. We're here for you.

AnotherPlaceAnotherTime · 11/02/2018 12:20

But it’s not a drunken mistake is it? It’s a sustained pattern of behaviour which is escalating.

I know how difficult it is to let go of someone you love and that awful, overwhelming feeling of panic when you do it.

It will pass. You will get stronger and you will (if you want to) find someone who deserves you and makes you happy.

TealStar · 11/02/2018 12:20

Tink of course he said that.

But it isn’t just one drunken incident is it?

kaitlinktm · 11/02/2018 12:21

Trouble is, the "drunken mistakes" are (and will continue to be) every other day.

FizzyGreenWater · 11/02/2018 12:21

This happens on a fairly regular basis (3 times this week, latest one being tonight) literally over an non issue!

So no, not a drunken mistake at all - just the way he is.

'What you said last night wasn't a drunken mistake. It's yet another example of the treatment you dish out on a regular basis, pretty much whenever you've been drinking. That's not a 'mistake' - it's the way you are. It is always the same. I have had enough of it, and I don't want to continue in this relationship any more. Please don't contact me again.'

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