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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:
wildraisins · 07/11/2020 22:02

OP any updates? Hope you’re alright.

NotSurprisedReally · 07/11/2020 22:57

Op have you ever looked at the dead bedrooms forum on Reddit? There are many people in similar situations to you. I was in one myself. In my case, it didn't get better. You can still be utterly codependent on someone without feeling that spark anymore. It seems that's what your relationship has become like. As much as you love your partner, you need to love yourself. Let him go and let it be your choice.

SandyY2K · 08/11/2020 00:21

@wildraisins

You're not a moderator.

It's a public forum and I am not in breach of MN posting guidelines.

Embolio · 08/11/2020 00:28

This sounds like my ex. Honestly - its over,whatever the reason. LTB - you'll look back in 6 months and thank yourself

PurpleFlower1983 · 08/11/2020 00:38

Leave him! My abusive ex used to do shit like this!

greyinganddecaying · 08/11/2020 01:12

My ex behaved in a very similar way. It turned out that he no longer loved me but didn't know how to handle breaking up (we owned a house together in a very expensive area), so decided to carry on in the relationship treating me like dirt on his shoe.

In the end I challenged him. Said it was clear he didn't love me or even like me, based on his behaviour & we needed to sit down & make a plan for sorting out all the practicalities so we could both move on.

Within 18 months he was having a baby with his new girlfriend.

Seriously op, you have one life, please don't waste any more of it in a dead end relationship.

DontCryForMeNextdoorNeighbour · 08/11/2020 23:37

he sent me a link this morning to an article about ''what to do when you're not sexually attracted to your partner anymore"

OP whether this was a Freudian slip or intentional, he is telling you right here that he is no longer sexually attracted to you.

You can try to find the reason through,say, couples counselling (eg fallen out of love, got the ick, gay, affair, porn etc) - but ultimately I doubt the attraction can come back. Note: this has nothing to do with you and how attractive you are!! It has to do with what's in his head.
So please, prepare to end this relationship and move on to find someone who is sexually attracted to you and who makes you happy.

BeaMends · 09/11/2020 18:18

he sent me a link this morning to an article about "what to do when you're not sexually attracted to your partner any more"

Send it back and say you already read it ages ago.

RuthTopp · 16/11/2020 08:54

Hi op how are you ?

Flittingaboutagain · 16/11/2020 09:15

Hi OP

I hope you're OK. I agree with lots of PP. He gives confusing and changeable answers each time this comes up because he feels increasingly backed into a corner. He may not even be aware of this but it seems he doesn't see you as his partner anymore, he sees you as this familiar and safe presence in his life he doesn't want to lose. He is probably confused by feeling scared when he imagines breaking up but deep down it is what he wants.

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