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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was I wrong in this argument?

132 replies

Robin42 · 15/03/2020 12:34

OH and I have just had a massive argument and I am really upset and crying. He thinks I am wrong. I think he is being horrible.

I have been suffering with my mental health badly for the past few years. I feel really low about my appearance and how I look and feel quite ugly most days. My partner does compliment me and say nice things but not daily or anything like that. Yesterday I wore makeup for the first time in ages and he said a few times how pretty I looked. Perhaps I should have taken this as a compliment, but it just made me sad because it made me feel like "why don't you compliment me without makeup? I'm not good enough without makeup". I said to him is it because I've got make up on? Is that why I look nice? And he said i dunno...yeah. this really hurt my feelings because it makes me feel like well i obviously need make up to look attractive :( I said this to him and he said well why do you wear make up, because you like the way it looks, so why cant I?

All I wanted was some reassurance that I am just as pretty without makeup :(

I felt really upset and I went quiet and I needed some time to ground my emotions. He got annoyed at me for being upset so I said I was going to get ready for bed. I didnt want a confrontation. I just wanted it all to go away.

I went to bed and straight away in the morning he jumps down my throat how I am rude for going to bed and not saying goodnight and for fuck sake all I did was say you were pretty. I just sit there on the sofa with tears rolling down my face and he says that there I go again playing the victim, and that the way I treat him is unacceptable and he isnt having it and that he deserves an apology. I feel so bullied and attacked that I feel too scared to even say what my feelings and emotions are because he is so angry that I feel he would use anything against me. I feel powerless and defeated. I say sorry and he says I dont mean it. I'm really upset and I just feel he doesnt understand me at all. All I wanted was some reassurance and I felt his compliment was a little back handed. We have just moved in together and now I feel like I have made a huge mistake.

I had to go to my old house today to clean it ready for handing the keys back and take some furniture to the skip. He promised to help me but refused to come because I didnt apologise and because I wasmt talking. But I coyldnt talk to him because he was being so hostile. :(

I have messaged him asking him to come and help because I cant carry the furniture on my ow and he said I should have thought about that before being so rude and that he isnt helping. I've asked friends but noone is free at such last minute. I'm sat here crying in my empty old house and with old bookcases and stuff upstairs that I cant carry down :(

OP posts:
Wineislifex · 15/03/2020 14:28

He gave you a compliment and you twisted it and played the victim and are now upset he’s pissed off with you 🙄

You sound very draining and hard work! If you want to salvage a relationship suck it up and apologise.

Nomorepies · 15/03/2020 14:28

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

Thinkingabout1t · 15/03/2020 14:33

You were wrong to start with, but he is unkind leaving you to move heavr furniture alone.

Were you renting? Is it too late to ask your landlord to renew the lease? You do need to tackle your self-pity (sorry to be harsh), and perhaps need to make some progress with counselling, such as CBT, before moving in with OH.

I hope you can get to grips with your issues and enjoy life. I think OH may be having second thoughts about living with someone so demanding. So do talk it through.

NoSauce · 15/03/2020 14:35

What happened to the female partner?

KarmaStar · 15/03/2020 14:36

Sorry but I agree op,unless there is more to this,then you behaved very childishly and it might be a good idea to take the advice offered by pp.
Essentially,take a good look at your behaviour towards him,see it from a third party's point of view of it helps you to see that he was trying to be nice and you shot him down then gave him the silent treatment.
Seek help for your mental health issues but don't use them to demand everyone dances to your tune.
And apologise to your bf if you still have one.

Ortega · 15/03/2020 14:36

Unless you haven't mentioned a BPD/EUPD diagnosis, in which case this sort of gaslighting fuckery is absolutely normal, you probably need to make a GP appointment, as nobody can be expected to put up with that sort of twisting of words on a daily basis.

Just to point out, if it was either of these conditions, it's still gas lighting, which us abuse.

Those of us who have mental health problems still have a responsibility. If we cant be in a relationship without abusing someone. We shouldn't be in a relationship

PieceOfMaria · 15/03/2020 14:48

I can totally see his point of view.

So can I. It's really draining living with someone who needs endless reassurance and turns every innocent comment into something to pick apart and over-analyse and cause a row over. The poor bloke can't do right for doing wrong. If you are not getting some sort ot counselling or CBT or something then get some, or risk losing him.

Louise91417 · 15/03/2020 14:50

How would you have felt if he hadnt complimented you on your make up..Hmm think you dp is a poor sod that cant do right...your being way oversensitive..have a word with yourself..

BreatheAndFocus · 15/03/2020 14:57

I’m sorry you have anxiety. I hope you’re getting support with that. But I voted YABU because you took a compliment that your partner gave you as something bad. If you’re always going to turn good things into bad things, you’ll never be satisfied eg

“That’s a nice dress”.
“What??! So you’re saying all my other dresses are horrible, eh?? Eh??

Work on your confidence and then you won’t need so much approval from others, and will be able to take a compliment for what it actually is rather than twist it into something bad.

Nannewnannew · 15/03/2020 15:00

Crikeys, no wonder some men say they can’t understand how women’s minds work. I don’t think I can either with this one.

Fantasiaa · 15/03/2020 15:04

I don’t want to add on to the piling on so just wanted to say I hope you are doing well.

TealWater · 15/03/2020 15:19

" but not daily or anything like that."

Most normal relationships don't have or need the partner to compliment them every single day! No one does that! So what you are saying is that you have a normal relationship.

This whole thing is like the old never ask your OH if you 'look fat in this?'

He is WITH you! So he must see something in you, beauty and gentleness. Shouldn't that be enough for you? It would be for any other woman. Why do you want him to compliment you all the time? I wouldn't, it would seem fake to me. A genuine heartfelt compliment every now and then is worth so much more than saying every day because you expect it. You do seem like hard work and almost as if you are setting your OH up to fail. If he said nothing about you with the make up on you'd accuse him of not noticing. Your poor guy can't do right for wrong when it comes to you, I feel sorry for him because you sound highly strung and exhausting. No one in a relationship needs to be complimented every day. That is just not normal. If he compliments you every now and then, that is more than enough for most people. What you are asking is simply not reasonable.

Your other half sounds, to be honest, to be at the end of his tether with you. His hostility towards you isn't nice, but I can guess that you exhaust him and wear him down with your constant neediness. Some people do have a limit they can take before they snap. It seems he's had enough with your need for compliments and validation every single day.

I would move back into your place, if it hasn't officially been taken over, you still can reclaim it now. Work on yourself. I think you could do with intensive therapy and perhaps anti-depressants. You have a lot of emotional issues and unresolved problems - I just don't think you are in the headspace to be in a relationship right now, or at least, to be living together. You are exhausting the poor guy to the extent he probably dreads every talk with you because he thinks you are setting traps for him all the time, and tests that he could never pass, that NO man could ever pass. If you truly love him and see a future with him, you will concentrate on getting serious intensive help and get well. Because you are going to drive him away if you don't.

CSIblonde · 15/03/2020 15:45

You're self sabotaging. Even a compliment is turned into a negative. You say he does give compliments & you put on makeup which isn't your norm, so previous compliments must have been when you were make up free. Make up just emphasises & flatters your appearance done right, it doesn't hide it. You need a lot of counselling as this has all blown up out of all proportion: from a compliment! If things as small as this set off a huge hoo ha, living together is going to be miserable for both of you. Buy 'CBT for Dummies' & especially concentrate on 'challenging negative thoughts' & catastrophising. It's eye opening, trust me & you can't carry on like this, it's no way to live. Take care.

MrsDesireeCarthorse · 15/03/2020 16:00

I don't believe you about being scared etc. The tears, the storming off and your behaviour in the first place are a total contradiction to that idea. He has had enough, pretending the next day that nothing happened is also too much for him, and you might find he's not coming back. MH issues are not something everyone can handle in a partner. I wouldn't be able to live with this kind of behaviour in anyone.

crispysausagerolls · 15/03/2020 16:00

OP is never coming back

WestCountryLady · 15/03/2020 16:08

If this was my dh he would be genuinely confused and wouldn't understand what he'd possibly said or done to have caused upset.

I think what's important is whatever he did say was meant as a compliment with no intention of upsetting you regardless of how you received it.

chuck7 · 15/03/2020 16:19

YABU.. You say you've had these issues for years. I don't think you realise, while you're all wrapped up in your own thoughts, just how hard it is for someone living with someone with MH issues. I feel sorry for him.

Bluntness100 · 15/03/2020 16:25

This is obviously down to your mental health issues. MY husband compliments me, I don’t then think I looked bad without make up or hair done, Nice clothes and need validation I look just as good without or feel the compliment is back handed. That’s normal. Your reaction was not.

On this I’m with him op, I think you need seek help for whatever mental health issues you’re suffering from. 💐

Namechange4nowt45 · 15/03/2020 16:35

Oh op this man is bullying you, you are vulnerable and he can see it.

Ohtherewearethen · 15/03/2020 16:36

This level of 'poor me' attention seeking is exhausting. I think your boyfriend has had enough and is letting you know your patterns of behaviour are not acceptable. Poor guy can't do right for doing wrong.
If you are so frightened around him why have you moved in with him?

EmeraldShamrock · 15/03/2020 16:38

dear I think your depression making this huge, My DP often tells me I look well when I make an effort, he doesn't when I'm in joggers cleaning. Likewise if he is suited and booted smelling good for work I'll compliment, slobbing about in shorts on a Sunday doesn't change how I feel about him. I think your emotions are to raw, your insecurities are very deep.
I agree with others it is not the right time for you to have a relationship. The relationship will be controlling and painful.

AdelaideK · 15/03/2020 16:41

He can't win here.

AdelaideK · 15/03/2020 16:44

I thought your partner was female?

BlueJava · 15/03/2020 16:53

Really sorry OP but you do sound hard work. The OH can't seem to get anything right but is obviously trying and complimenting you. The argument then got blown out of proportion too.

damnthatanxiety · 15/03/2020 16:54

Is he always this hostile and volatile when the two of you argue?