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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Overbearing and suffocating boyfriend

112 replies

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 19:48

So my partner and I have been together a year. We both have kids, we don't live together. I knew that he had ADHD from early on... I'm mentioning this for info, not sure if it has any relevance, and I don't want to be offensive to anyone reading, but I'm wondering if autism also.

I find him overwhelming. He has said before he's obsessed with me, I told him that made me uncomfortable as it's not healthy to feel like that. He agrees with everything I do and say, seems to have no opinion. Always talking, texting, wanting very in depth conversations about our relationship, which I'm not always in the mood for after a long day at work and my 2 children to see to. Hyper fixated on me like I'm perfect. I'll tell him I like my alone time and need to chill tonight and I might be on the quiet side for the evening, at which point he'll go completely silent for 24-36 hours. There's no in the middle.

Then, he needs to settle that in his mind... Why I need alone time or quiet time. He always wants to understand how I'm feeling, point out how worried he is about me if I need a quiet night, when I don't think I'm being unreasonable. I can't give him everything, every second he needs attention.

Once I snapped at him one morning. It happens between couples, right? All I said, not shouting, when he was talking and talking at me, was 'can I just drink my coffee and have 5 bloody minutes peace?!'. He went totally quiet, and was quiet for 2 hours. We had to have another chat about how, one again, he was worried about me, how hard it was for him to see me like that as if there is something dreadfully wrong with me.

It's exhausting, like multiple times a week. He stresses that he needs to understand me and the situation again and again, to know what's going on in my mind. Which I in turn find intrusive at points and he doesn't give up wanting to know about how I feel, constantly.

Another thing, if I go out with a friend for a drink, he likes me to check in. When I didn't once about 6m into our relationship, I finally got to his messages about 10pm. He was frantic, he told me he almost reached out to my other friends to try to get hold of me, he even considered calling police. I told him that was unreasonable, that I'm a grown women and he isn't my dad.

I don't know what to do. I tried to talk to him about it more than once, his face just goes blank and he says he doesn't understand. I'm suffocated but I do love him.

Sorry for the essay. Thought, opinions and advise welcome.

OP posts:
FOJN · 25/01/2025 19:55

You've had multiple conversations about the problem. He is either incapable of understanding, doesn't want to understand or is doing it as a form of control and it's in his interest to pretend he doesn't understand.

He is behaving as if you rather than him are the problem. It will not get any better. You need to end the relationship but I would plan it carefully. I do not think he will respond well and that could put you in danger.

If you decide to continue the relationship then this is your life now.

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:01

FOJN · 25/01/2025 19:55

You've had multiple conversations about the problem. He is either incapable of understanding, doesn't want to understand or is doing it as a form of control and it's in his interest to pretend he doesn't understand.

He is behaving as if you rather than him are the problem. It will not get any better. You need to end the relationship but I would plan it carefully. I do not think he will respond well and that could put you in danger.

If you decide to continue the relationship then this is your life now.

This is the thing, I think he is incapable of understanding, I dont believe for a second it comes from a bad place. So I'm wondering if it's something more.

He has 2 children and he is a wonderful father, very caring and doting. Same with his friends and family. I've never seen him snappy with anyone, not even when the little ones are playing up. He is super positive and doesn't say nasty things to or about anyone. I'm mentioning this as I don't think he's an AH and hiding it, this is just the way he is.

OP posts:
tsmainsqueeze · 25/01/2025 20:01

I picked you are being unreasonable - by staying with him , he sounds like a total nightmare ,i couldn't cope with his behaviour.
I also think he could become dangerous.

Donttellempike · 25/01/2025 20:02

He’s not going to change. Dump him or this is your life.

FOJN · 25/01/2025 20:03

Do his intentions make the behaviour easier to tolerate?

If he's incapable of understanding he's incapable of changing the behaviour.

Emonade · 25/01/2025 20:04

my dp is very similar, also ADHD and I suspect autistic (I am also autistic) it is the only thing in our relationship that causes issues cos he is wonderful but I find it so overwhelming. We’ve been together four years now and it’s nowhere near as bad as it was and we have got to the point where I can say leave it/I need some time on my own etc

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:05

tsmainsqueeze · 25/01/2025 20:01

I picked you are being unreasonable - by staying with him , he sounds like a total nightmare ,i couldn't cope with his behaviour.
I also think he could become dangerous.

I can see why you'd say that and I appreciate the reply. Not trying to defend myself but I did just realise I've not pointed out his good points... His nature also makes him supportive. He's there for my family on times of need. He's great with my children. He's hands on too, whether it's cleaning, cooking, fixing stuff. Lots of shared interests.

OP posts:
Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 25/01/2025 20:05

Did his ex cheat? Is he afraid you have /will go 'off' him?

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:07

Sorry you've experienced similar. Do you think any therapy or working with an ADHD specialist would help? I'm not sure whether to suggest it, have you tried with your partner?

OP posts:
LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:09

Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 25/01/2025 20:05

Did his ex cheat? Is he afraid you have /will go 'off' him?

His ex, his only ex (of 20 years), did leave him, yes. He probably is. But I've told him if him suffocating me that will make me leave

OP posts:
Emonade · 25/01/2025 20:11

I haven’t but I think it’s a good idea. I think the thing that’s helped us is just talking about how it impacts me and sort of making a plan on how we manage it but it is still hard sometimes, particularly as I love my own space! He’s exactly the same though it sounds as your partner, he is so hands on and helpful and fun and he’s an amazing dad to our nine month old.

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:15

I'm the same, and really independent so I probably struggle with it more. Good to know it can improve. I will try to think about how to make a plan, for myself and with him. Thank you x

OP posts:
HomeCookingWannabe · 25/01/2025 20:17

I'd be straight out of there, even reading it made me feel suffocated. But it's not really about us. The fact you wrote this post means you probably already know the answer

aCatCalledFawkes · 25/01/2025 20:18

I've just finished with my boyfriend who has ADHD which I also now think is poorly managed. I found him completely overwhelming. It culminated with him walking out of his job of 5 months in and all of a sudden I'm the only person keeping going. Leaving his job was car crash as he refused to negotiate and instead demand money he was never going to get. When we split up he accused me of finding someone else and then put a hard block on me after I tried to explain how I felt etc...

TheSilentSister · 25/01/2025 20:30

I had one like this. Got together before lockdown and then he 'temporarily' moved in for the duration. Was fun to start with, good company. But it began to feel like groundhog day. I had no space. When I mentioned it, all I got was but I love you.
Lockdown over and he moved out but still wanted to see me every night. I said no, every other was fine. He said if you loved me you'd want to be with me all the time!
I felt stifled, controlled. He just couldn't understand that I wanted my own space.
It ended for other reasons and it was such a relief. Tbh, it put me off relationships.

Walk away now. You are not compatible.

Notgonnalieaboutthis · 25/01/2025 20:32

I once dated a man with (diagnosed and medicated) ADHD. Never again.

arcticpandas · 25/01/2025 20:38

He sounds like an intense teenager tbh. Adults need their own space. Try to talk to him and explain this to him calmly. If he doesn't want to change I would call it quits..

Mrsttcno1 · 25/01/2025 20:40

No matter what positives there are I really couldn’t be arsed with this. Life can be hard enough as it is without having to psychoanalyse my need for 5 minutes peace to drink a coffee in the morning or have the police looking for me because I haven’t replied to a text message while out with friends.

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:45

TheSilentSister · 25/01/2025 20:30

I had one like this. Got together before lockdown and then he 'temporarily' moved in for the duration. Was fun to start with, good company. But it began to feel like groundhog day. I had no space. When I mentioned it, all I got was but I love you.
Lockdown over and he moved out but still wanted to see me every night. I said no, every other was fine. He said if you loved me you'd want to be with me all the time!
I felt stifled, controlled. He just couldn't understand that I wanted my own space.
It ended for other reasons and it was such a relief. Tbh, it put me off relationships.

Walk away now. You are not compatible.

Wow. Yeah that's it... 'but I love you'. Like I love you but chill!

OP posts:
kiwiane · 25/01/2025 20:47

He sounds really disturbing - break up with him and involve the police if there’s any stalking behaviour.

LetsGoToTheHills · 25/01/2025 20:47

My partner has ADHD (recently diagnosed) and we have done a lot of reading to try and understand it together. I try and frame things as symptoms rather than him so I can address them without him feeling under attack. It neutralises somewhat, if that makes sense. But I have also demanded that he try and understand my neurotypical mind the way I make the effort with his. It has to be reciprocated for me. These two things have really helped us.

Snowmanscarf · 25/01/2025 20:49

He may have his good points, but you find him suffocating. You gave the ick.

R053 · 25/01/2025 20:50

I don’t think this relationship is healthy for you. Imagine what he’ll be like if you move in together?

LoveSandbanks · 25/01/2025 20:54

I have ADHD and am not remotely like this. Its not ADHD, he's just a pain in the butt.

mumda · 25/01/2025 20:58

LaaLaaLady · 25/01/2025 20:01

This is the thing, I think he is incapable of understanding, I dont believe for a second it comes from a bad place. So I'm wondering if it's something more.

He has 2 children and he is a wonderful father, very caring and doting. Same with his friends and family. I've never seen him snappy with anyone, not even when the little ones are playing up. He is super positive and doesn't say nasty things to or about anyone. I'm mentioning this as I don't think he's an AH and hiding it, this is just the way he is.

Bin him.

You can't reason with him. So dump and move on.