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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend comment made me uncomfortable

78 replies

TheCoral · 01/04/2024 22:31

I'm not entirely sure if this is the right spot to post this, but I could really use some input. I've been doing some searching online, but I haven't found much that's been helpful. Lately, my boyfriend has been saying selfish things that make me feel uncomfortable. We've been together for over four years now, and although we live together, our shift work often mean we barely see each other.

A few months back, my mom was diagnosed with a form of MS. It's been tough, no doubt, but we're managing as best we can. However, her diagnosis has meant my boyfriend and I have been spending less time together. I've tried my best to communicate how I'm feeling and the stress I'm under.
One thing that's been bothering me is how he responds when I share my feelings. For example, when I mention that my mom is having a particularly tough day and I'm feeling sad for her, he'll often jump in with something like, "Yeah, I get it. I felt the same way when -insert something sad that happened to him-." At first, it didn't really bother me, but as it kept happening, it started to grate on my nerves. It feels like he's not really listening, just waiting for his turn to talk.

Last week, it all came to a head. He did it again, and I couldn't hold back my frustration. I asked him if he could just listen sometimes without making it about him. Well, he didn't take it well. He got defensive and snapped at me, saying he thinks about me all the time and that he's doing his best. When I tried to explain that he was doing it again, making it about himself, he said something about how I must think he's self-obsessed and dramatically said he wants to drive his car into the wall.

It's not the first time he's said something like that during an argument, and it's really starting to worry me. A few years ago, during another argument, he said something similar when I called him out on his selfish behaviour. I don't think he'd EVER actually hurt himself, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

OP posts:
DanielGault · 02/04/2024 21:13

muckcook · 02/04/2024 21:09

I'm not sure I see what others are seeing? I also have a tendency to relate someone's story to a similar one of my own. I do this as a way to connect and show empathy and understanding for their situation. A lot of people do this and it doesn't mean they are selfish. I never do it to turn the convo back to myself, I'm just trying to find the common ground

I also have a tendency to say silly things like I want to die when my emotions get on top of me. I don't mean it and I don't use it as a threat or way to control anyone. It's my absolute breaking point and sign of being utterly overwhelming with the situation.

I'm sorry about your mum. It seems like life right now is rubbish for both of you and you aren't existing as a couple anymore. I'd cut him some slack and recognise that you're not the only one suffering and he may well be overwhelmed with stuff and shift work and not seeing his partner very often and when he does the conversation is very serious and down ( understandable given your mums diagnoses) but sounds like you both could do with time to clear your heads

It's really not a 'silly thing' to say something like that tbh. It's abusive. You need help if that's your go to tbh.

muckcook · 02/04/2024 21:16

@DanielGault abusive to who?

TheCoral · 02/04/2024 21:18

I'm trying to relate @muckcook, would you say to someone 'what you said makes me want to die' or 'I'm having a bad day, I want to die'?

OP posts:
DanielGault · 02/04/2024 21:19

The 'i want to die' part.

dimllaishebiaith · 02/04/2024 21:21

I also have a tendency to say silly things like I want to die when my emotions get on top of me. I don't mean it and I don't use it as a threat or way to control anyone. It's my absolute breaking point and sign of being utterly overwhelming with the situation.

Its not silly. Its extreme. And you need to start seeking medical help before you reach the point of being so overwhelmed that you start saying you are suicidal to someone who then has to deal with that.

My cousins ex used to do it to her, and it nearly destroyed her dealing with it whilst he refused to take/stick to treatment. Now hes off doing it to some other woman whilst my cousin is picking herself up from the mental health problems he left her with. Except shes being responsible and getting treatment rather than putting it on others.

Bumblebeeinatree · 02/04/2024 21:26

He may be doing his best, men are not wired the same way. Empathy may not be his best thing. But if you feel it's bad do what you need to do for you.

Looolaa · 02/04/2024 21:49

From your OP, and updates he does seem rather selfish. There is a way of showing empathy and lending your own perspective through sharing your own stories without completely hijacking the conversation and centring yourself . There’s a subtle difference and from everything you say it sounds like he does the latter.

At the risk of doing it myself lol I have a friend like this. Recently, I told her an issue at work I was dealing with that day and she said she knows how I feel , brushed it aside and then brought up a totally unrelated situation she’d had the previous week and went into great detail on it including sending me a string of screenshots. She has a pattern of doing that. I was talking about feeling down with the same person one day then she threw in how she’d been feeling suicidal. I was actually fuming because I’d been her unpaid therapist for years listening to her replay childhood trauma day in and day out because her partner “ doesn’t listen”, so for her to derail the conversation when I was struggling seemed very calculating. It was like competitive suffering !

Your partner‘s threat was even worse though, if you listen to what he’s really saying he is saying he feels like losing his mind and this can lead to loss of control.

Major red flag!

What if he decides to drive into said wall one day when you’re in the car with him? And if it is just an empty threat then he’s still absolutely vile and manipulative. He removed the topic of the conversation from you and your mum, and the problem of him not being there for you to how you are going to push him over the edge. Imagine making someone you love feel like that?

The only thing I’d ask is have you been there for him as well in the past? Because from his point of view if he’s never had emotional support from you he may feel it’s one-sided. It still wouldn’t excuse the suicide threat though! He’s shown himself to be incapable of proving emotional support, unless this is something you’d be okay with in a life partner I’d suggest you seriously consider your future with him. I know women like this who get absolutely nothing from their partner in terms of emotional support and it only gets worse once they have kids or if they get sick etc.

TheCoral · 02/04/2024 22:17

@Looolaa Yes, many times and he mentions it often that he's grateful for that. I think he may have mentioned it the other night during the argument....."you're always there for me and yet I'm selfish"

OP posts:
muckcook · 02/04/2024 22:23

DanielGault · 02/04/2024 21:19

The 'i want to die' part.

I asked who I was being abusive to?

Looolaa · 02/04/2024 22:26

@TheCoral Then it’s a really bad sign that he can’t be there for you during your time of need when he knows you’ve been there for him.

IMO this man is a “taker” and he sees you purely as a “giver”, so he can’t deal with the idea of giving to you . Each time he redirects the conversation to himself it’s very deliberate and purposeful.

From experience all you will ever receive from a person like that is empty thank yous, with no actual reciprocation. It is utterly draining and thankless!

muckcook · 02/04/2024 22:27

TheCoral · 02/04/2024 21:18

I'm trying to relate @muckcook, would you say to someone 'what you said makes me want to die' or 'I'm having a bad day, I want to die'?

I've said this maybe twice in my whole life and it was at absolute breaking point and I now know that's a sign of absolute desperation. I actually have very little control in the words coming out of my mouth. They just do.
I never aim it at a specific person, but I have said ' I want to die' over and over in the presence of another person.

This person knows I don't mean it and would never act on it. I can't really describe it but it's almost like a reflex that I have no control over and it's just blurts out. What I guess I really mean instead of die is that I want this feeling to end

Americano75 · 02/04/2024 22:30

GOD, I can't stand people like this. He sounds like a massive pain in the arse and the suicide bullshit? Fucking grim.

ChimneySweepLiverpool · 02/04/2024 22:30

I think your main issue is probably due to what he said, rather than his lack of empathy really? Some people are just less empathetic and I think it's easy to think your post is about that but it's actually about his stupid 'threat'. Hopefully he has apologised and said he'll never say it again? His reaction may be telling if he'll do it again or not

ChimneySweepLiverpool · 02/04/2024 22:32

@muckcook That sounds tough but I hope you can see that might be something OP and others would find stressful and might be a red flag in a partner?

Hankunamatata · 02/04/2024 22:35

The drama lama response would be rd flag for me

I was going to say some people try to empathise by trying to compare a person's situation sad to one of their own experiences to try and show they understand. As someone who is likely ND iv had to train myself to not do this as people see it as self centred rather than me trying to empathise and be sympathetic

DrJoanAllenby · 02/04/2024 22:35

He's emotionally immature.

Hand him the car keys.

ChimneySweepLiverpool · 02/04/2024 23:24

Maybe I'm also emotionally immature as your comment maybe me laugh @DrJoanAllenby 😅

canyouletthedogoutplease · 03/04/2024 11:56

This is the third time he said thrown a suicide comment into an argument in four years.

How many times have you threatened suicide during an argument in the same time period, let me guess, zero?

How many times have you recently kicked and broken a table at the house of a family member recently, during an argument? I'm guessing zero, again.

You feel he's selfish, his behaviour worries you and makes you feel uncomfortable. That is enough for you to decide you're not buying what he's selling and take your business elsewhere. We are so conditioned as women to be chosen, it's nuts, it's so hardwired. If you don't like it, you can leave, you don't need any other reason, or any armchair diagnosis. He's not for you. Walk and move on. It will be your table next time.

TheCoral · 03/04/2024 17:28

Yes, it's not about the empathy as that is his hard wiring and that's the term he uses for it - wiring. I can't change that side of him and I either accept it or move on.

I just felt uncomfortable about him saying he'd want to drive his car into the wall. Obviously anyone can leave whenever they want but I want to be sure it's a good reason to throw us away. Making him feel that way enough that he needed to say it made me really sad for us both

OP posts:
canyouletthedogoutplease · 03/04/2024 18:01

Obviously anyone can leave whenever they want but I want to be sure it's a good reason to throw us away.

It might feel easier if you are able to reframe it and instead of you throwing the relationship away, you are positively choosing not to remain with someone who's behaviour, including repeated threats of suicide and breaking furniture, makes you feel uncomfortable. Or, stay if this is how you want to spend your life, because this is what's on the table. Only you can decide if it's good enough for you.

BirthdayRainbow · 03/04/2024 20:50

He doesn't want to throw you away as a couple. He wants to control you into shutting the fuck up.

TheCoral · 03/04/2024 22:17

I brought it up and he apologised, but shut it down pretty quickly. Seems to find being with me incredibly stressful and I'm not sure why, I'm kind to him but I like to communicate and it seems 'too much'

OP posts:
DanielGault · 03/04/2024 22:20

TheCoral · 03/04/2024 22:17

I brought it up and he apologised, but shut it down pretty quickly. Seems to find being with me incredibly stressful and I'm not sure why, I'm kind to him but I like to communicate and it seems 'too much'

It doesn't sound like you're getting too much from the relationship. All on his terms etc.

Bridgertonned · 03/04/2024 23:01

Just to link in with what @muckcook was saying - not to justify it but just a bit of solidarity really - I also used to bring up similar anecdotes, genuinely thinking I was being supportive and showing I could relate. It wasn't until I read somewhere that it's perceived otherwise, many years later I was diagnosed with autism and found out it's quite common with people with autism

Key difference though is I cared when I found it out, and do my best to recognize it and respond differently. Don't always manage it - I'm still autistic after all - but the difference between someone reacting in a certain way because of ND, or childhood trauma or any other reason, and someone reacting abusively (even if cause is rooted in said issues)- the former will care about the upset they've caused and want to rectify it, the latter won't.

DanielGault · 04/04/2024 00:39

Personally, I'm frustrated by the incorrect use of capital letters. Here's all my money 🤑