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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"You do nothing to attract me"

410 replies

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:43

I have name changed through embarrassment.
I'm sorry this is so long.

Recently my partner has said some awful things to me and I don't know what to do about it .
Backstory is,together 5 and a half years,early 30s,neither of us have children.

We are rarely intimate anymore. When I bring it up he always tells me he's lost his libido and doesn't know why but assures me its nothing to do with me.
He tried antidepressants last year for about 4 weeks and says its probably that and is speaking to his counseller about it.
We then make a plan together of what we can do to bring back the affection and help him (he doesn't even think to kiss me anymore until I ask)
But then weeks go by where he doesn't attempt anything so I'll gently bring it up.. he always cries and gets very upset and ashamed which I understand. I usually end up crying because its horrible seeing him so upset.

I am extremely supportive and never shout at him about it or make him feel bad about it. But when I bring it up he'll cry.. then be silent for hours. So I'll leave him to it for a bit.
I'll try to talk again but lately he snaps now..like when he's had time to sit for an hour..he suddenly changes his tune and now seems annoyed at me like I've done something wrong ...when before he was saying sorry for his libido he doesn't know what it is.

I've constantly asked was it me.. was I not sexy anymore, has he fallen out of love with me..what can I do to help. Has he maybe lost his spark with me and is afraid to say? All times he's said no way,it was nothing to do with me,it's all him and he hates that I feel like this.
So two weeks ago we were talking and he was looking irritated and I was frustrated and wanted to be close to him and I got upset..he then snapped and said to me "Stop fucking crying you look very unattractive when you do" (he cries all the time) I felt so stupid and embarrassed,slept in the spare room and avoided him for days. He eventually apologised ..though its still been worrying me.

Last night I brought the subject up again and said I understand about not having a libido but would still love to kiss and cuddle like we had planned...it eventually turned into him getting very angry where he snapped "Do you want to know the truth??It's you,you do nothing to attract me anymore'' I was so confused I asked was he just saying this to hurt me in the moment as he has form for saying nasty things he later says isn't true. He said "when I come home from work you never have your hair and make up done,the state of you" 😳(lost my job coz of covid)wtf?! For 5 years he's been constantly telling me I dont need make up and I'm so pretty without it, I should try to go out without it etc. And when he said this to me last night...I had my hair and make up done!!!?

I can't get my head around it. I'm so confused.

Was he lying before and it really is me and he's not attracted to me...or is it that he said those things in anger?
Wtf do I do now. Is it over? Because i feel so stupid and embarrassed..I suddenly feel so stupid and ugly.
I asked a hundred times was it me. I bought new silky sexy pyjamas and did my hair before bed this week he didn't even look or comment. I dont understand. How is it now me and not being attractive enough?
This may be trivial to some people but I can't stop crying and I feel so ugly and embarrassed by myself now. It's so heavy on me. I've never felt so badly about myself before, I want to crawl under a rock.

OP posts:
JumperooSue · 06/11/2020 09:46

Oh OP that’s absolute shit, it honestly sounds like mentally he’s checked himself out of the relationship.

I’m rarely on the LTB bus, but you can’t help someone who won’t help themselves and he’s just destroying your self esteem.

I hope you’re okay❤️

Scbchl · 06/11/2020 09:46

Leave him! Why stay in a relationship this hard when you are still young and have no shared responsibilities. This isnt going to get better.

flaviaritt · 06/11/2020 09:47

I bought new silky sexy pyjamas and did my hair before bed this week he didn't even look or comment. I dont understand. How is it now me and not being attractive enough?

Oh, please, please stop. You are not a Barbie doll. You don’t need to preen yourself before bed. He was cruel. If he is no longer attracted to you, silk PJs aren’t going to change his mind. Don’t blame yourself. Just leave the prick, he sounds horrible and you sound worth a lot more than this.

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:48

Thank you so much.
I've asked him this. I've said if the spark is gone or you're not feeling it ..its fine..it happens and we can break up amicably. But he says no way. Maintains he wants to stay in the relationship. Now this.

OP posts:
LEELULUMPKIN · 06/11/2020 09:50

Is he impotent and maybe his embarrassment has caused him to lash out and blame you?

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:50

flaviaritt no I'm certainly not a barbie girl. What I meant was they were new pjs I bought for lockdown. And I happened to have my hair freshly straightened after the shower. My point was...it didn't make sense when he said I never have hair done or try. I didn't purposely do my hair for him..for bed. If you get me.

OP posts:
FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:52

LEELULUMPKIN no. Not impotent. He tried to say he doesn't even wake up with erections any more but he does I sleep beside him. Its always hard. He'll just turn away from me.

OP posts:
JumperooSue · 06/11/2020 09:52

You’re probably his comfort and he doesn’t want to let that go but he’s just holding you back. You don’t need to try and impress a man that doesn’t absolutely nothing at all to try and impress you. You’re worth so much more than that, he may say he doesn’t want the relationship to end but maybe it’s time you took control and made that hard but necessary decision

Nottherealslimshady · 06/11/2020 09:53

God just leave him. I dont think it's your fault, I think he's gone for that because he wants you to shut up about it. But he's nasty dovyou and you're clearly not happy so leave him.

As for expecting you to be dolled up for him coming home from work, how bloody ridiculous, does he doll himself up for you?

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:54

Thank you JumperooSue I was thinking this too. I asked him why hes keeping me if he doesn't want me. He has opposite answers each time. I'm so confused.

OP posts:
Trying2310 · 06/11/2020 09:55

I'm so sorry you are going through this. You should not be working this hard to please him. You are young with no children therefore your relationship should be fun and relatively stress free. Value yourself and I would be making steps to leave this relationship. What are you getting out of it now? Self esteem issues and a lot of stress. If he wants to stay in the relationship then he needs to make the changes! Don't settle for someone who treats you like shit.

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 09:55

Nottherealslimshady thank you for replying. You are right I think its all to shut me up. I told him this and he tells me I'm paranoid and need to go to counselling.

OP posts:
flaviaritt · 06/11/2020 09:57

Just leave him, he’s a dick.

princesspenny · 06/11/2020 09:58

This sounds a lot like my ex. It's nothing you've done or not done but it will never get better.

I tried to break up with him amicably and similar to you he was saying no way, even said he would kill himself if I left, we could try harder to fix things etc... A year later he finally broke up with me but I'm angry for the time I wasted and wish I'd stuck to my decision in the first place

MiniCooperLover · 06/11/2020 09:59

OP. You need to leave. You have no ties and aren't married, leave! Far better to be alone than with some one treating you like this.

D4rwin · 06/11/2020 09:59

He sounds pathetic to be honest. He's obviously moved away from you emotionally and now is trying to blame you for it. He can't own his own fuck ups. Stay in the spare room, get yourself organised for breaking up calmly. You will have to get thoroughly organised as he's obviously going to be childish about it. Hold your head high, he's being as nasty as he can to compensate for having checked out sometime ago.

ThePickleMan · 06/11/2020 10:00

I never comment on what people should do in their relationships, but for you this is only going to lead to a path of always feeling you’re not good enough. You deserve someone who enjoys being with you all the time and wouldn’t dream of saying such hurtful things. Please leave whilst you have no children or ties. There is a life out there and someone who will appreciate all your worth!

Coffeecak3 · 06/11/2020 10:00

He's crying to get you to back off, it's just emotional manipulation and then when you genuinely cry he is rude.
I've been married over 40 years and my dh has never said I am ugly or unattractive.
He's a pig and you deserve better.

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 10:02

I also keep thinking maybe he snapped because I push the issue and the embarrassment causes him to say mean things to me. To deflect. But then again I'm like 'listen to what hes telling you hes not interested"
Thank you for all your answers
I know I am being unreasonable and its frrustrating and stupid how I'm coming across. Thanks for your honesty.

OP posts:
DisappearingGirl · 06/11/2020 10:02

Oh gosh I rarely say LTB either but he sounds horrible! You have been really kind in supporting him and this is how he treats you. I would honestly leave and not waste any more of your life on this person.

Also, I can't help asking: What does HE do to attract YOU?

flaviaritt · 06/11/2020 10:02

I’ve been with my DH nearly twenty years. I’ve worn all the scruffy dressing gowns. My hair is lockdowntastic. I don’t wear make-up. Does he compliment my appearance constantly? No. He has never commented on it negatively and he never would because it’s mean.

Merrythought · 06/11/2020 10:02

Leave him. He is feeling shame about his loss of libido and lashing out at you, which is unacceptable. You have no kids and IME they make any relationship problems 100x harder, so this won’t get better.
You are perfect and valuable as you are. Do not let him blame his issues on you.

Noitjustwontdo · 06/11/2020 10:02

Sorry you’re going through this. He’s cruel and selfish, I’d leave him sooner rather than later. He’s grinding you down and making you feel like shit, nobody deserves that.

Notashandyta · 06/11/2020 10:05

This is very likely a result of porn

Look it up, many sites to support partners in the exact same position as you are.

So sorry

FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 10:05

Thanks very much. I know people have much bigger problems but I'm in tears. I feel so stupid. Thanks so much for the support. I really thought I was going mad.

OP posts:
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