Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
FeelingUglyandStupid · 06/11/2020 18:08

We dont have any children.

Some really good points here..I'm
Still getting through reading them all but again thank you x

OP posts:
Jux · 06/11/2020 18:16

Your first step to feeling better about yourself could be changing your nickname to NOTFeelingUglyandStupid, or simply replace 'feeling' with 'not'

wildraisins · 06/11/2020 18:18

@LonelyFromCorona

It sounds like he has MH issues. Posters on here should remember to be kind. Don't forget about Caroline
Whether or not he has mental health issues, it isn't OP's responsibility to help him or deal with his "stuff". The fact is that he is being emotionally abusive - regardless of whether that stems from his mental health issues. That's not OK.

He needs to look after himself by getting professional help for his mental health and accepting that he is not in the right place for a relationship. OP can look after herself by getting out and not pandering to him or being his carer. That's a professional's job, not hers.

1FootInTheRave · 06/11/2020 18:18

I think you need to gather up any remaining self respect and leave asap.

Life is too short and too precious to feel as you do.

You can't fix everyone and sometimes your own wellbeing must come first.

Jux · 06/11/2020 18:28

oh, and what does he do to attract you? Clearly nothing much.

Storminafeecup · 07/11/2020 10:01

I understand that you want to keep communication open and have been asking him about your sexual relationship and his libido alot. If you think about how terrible you feel about his comments about not being attractive it is possible that he feels the same embarrassed and hurt way when discussing his libido ( and for many men, his manhood)
I think leave it to calm down a bit, don't mention things again and give him some space.
Being questioned about sex when you don't want to have it is very unsexy! I wonder if that's partly what he meant by not finding you attractive.

I had similar situation with my first serious relationship. I pushed for answers, it pushed him away.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 07/11/2020 10:07

@wildraisins

Also people who are speculating about whether he is gay and the above person suggesting he is into young girls??! There is nowhere near enough information on this thread to discuss those things, adn the OP isn't asking you to speculate on that either.

Stop normalising man not interested in sex = must be gay/paedophile.

That's such a ridiculously simplistic view.

Agree.

It’s not accurate and not constructive.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 07/11/2020 10:10

@FeelingUglyandStupid Flowers

This relationship is not a good one. It’s time to leave it behind.

user1470132907 · 07/11/2020 10:19

It could be depression talking, but only he can seek help for that. It could be porn m or impotence and linked embarrassment, but again only he can seek help. Or he could have mentally checked out but be too pathetic to leave/likes his creature comforts. Whatever the cause, it’s nothing you’ve done and nothing you can fix. Unless the relationship it good in other ways that make it worth staying in the hope he’ll get his act together, I would end it (and be prepared for confusing begging from him...).

thecatsabsentcojones · 07/11/2020 10:20

My sister had this with her last relationship, he had zero libido, blamed it on her and it turned out the substances he was taking had been the cause. It was absolutely nothing to do with her, it was his problem, but he was ashamed so took it out on her.

She’s now without him and is in the early days of a relationship with someone nice.

Get out, there is nothing you can do, it’s his problem, not yours. There are blokes out there who will be all too happy to be in your bed.

veraismyspiritanimal · 07/11/2020 10:33

You deserve better go and get it

motherrunner · 07/11/2020 10:43

This sounds like my story 16 years ago. My then husband said he was depressed, wasn’t interested in sex etc. We had been together 6 years, no kids but married and had a house. I remember trying to wear lingerie and him just saying ‘I’m tired’. I then found out he had sex with someone else. I thought my world was over.

Fast forward 16 years and I’m remarried with 2 DC. I used to straighten my hair all the time for my ex but tbh I can’t remember the last time I brushed my hair now - DH loves my curls. I could be slobbing in my pjs and he would still try and initiate sex if in the mood.

It’s a cliche, but it’s him, not you.

Please don’t waste any more time in this relationship. You deserve to feel happy and desired.

2020nymph · 07/11/2020 11:42

This.

FeelingUglyandStupid · 07/11/2020 11:42

I understand that you want to keep communication open and have been asking him about your sexual relationship and his libido alot. If you think about how terrible you feel about his comments about not being attractive it is possible that he feels the same embarrassed and hurt way when discussing his libido ( and for many men, his manhood)

Well I only brought it up because a few weeks ago he told me we need to get closer and I can bring it up and talk about it because we're in it together. he said he will bring it up too and it has to be a subject we can speak about. So he promised me we could speak about it. Then freaked out and was horrible to me when I did. Now come on...what was I to do there ? He told me I could.

OP posts:
FeelingUglyandStupid · 07/11/2020 11:45

Being questioned about sex when you don't want to have it is very unsexy!

No I have never 'questioned him' about sex. Ive been extremely supportive. He had made a plan and said this is how we will get through..I said great and went with it. I brought it up because he told me I could...but then went nuts on me. I cant win here.

OP posts:
gypsywater · 07/11/2020 11:47

OP there will be tonnes of men out there who want to have sex with you, cut this disrespectful and gas lighting joker loose and go get yourself one! This relationship will erode all self esteem you have.

Newmumatlast · 07/11/2020 11:47

whether or not he said it just to hurt you, leave now. This is damaging to you and you deserve more.

Newmumatlast · 07/11/2020 11:48

@2020nymph

This.
Another vote for this. 100%
FeelingUglyandStupid · 07/11/2020 11:58

He said he only said those things to hurt me and didn't mean it. Doesn't want to break up.. but at the same time he sent me a link this morning to an article about ''what to do when you're not sexually attracted to your partner anymore ". He sent other ones too about grief and bereavement and loss of libido in men. This has made me feel pig ugly again and more confused. Can someone please explain how if it's his libido...then how can I suddenly be more attractive to him ?? Surely of its your libido...nobody will get you going. I'm so confused

OP posts:
gypsywater · 07/11/2020 11:59

Partners shouldn't really be trying to hurt each other....

gypsywater · 07/11/2020 11:59

Please leave him.

FeelingUglyandStupid · 07/11/2020 12:01

How am I trying to hurt him?

OP posts:
gypsywater · 07/11/2020 12:03

No, he is trying to hurt you. By saying things he "doesnt mean".

FeelingUglyandStupid · 07/11/2020 12:04

Forgive me. I'm a bit slow this morning my eyes are swollen and sore from crying. Sorry.

OP posts:
Capamile · 07/11/2020 12:14

He sounds depressed but there is no need to hurt your feelings. It’s emotionally abusive.
Sort whatever finances you have together and find a way out. Nobody should drag anyone else down.

Swipe left for the next trending thread