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.

Am I going crazy? Little scenarios that my bf makes me feel like I’m going crazy

168 replies

Confusedlady600 · 05/02/2026 08:31

My boyfriend and I have been absolutely fine and happy for a year and a half.

He cheated on me last November by kissing someone else. It broke me. When I found out he completely tried to turn it around on me accused me of possibly speaking to another guy. There has been times he seems very jealous but then he back tracks on it. So if I go out with friends he messages me through out the evening and then has before asked me if I pulled!? He’s also been funny with me about my male gardener who he says in the past and before his cheating he thinks I fancy or I flirt with him, there isn’t we just get on.

I don’t need relationship advice I think I know what I need to do (leave) I just need advice on whether I’m going crazy or not or this is actually how I am seeing it.

So for example….
My boyfriend was working yesterday and I was off for the day. Yesterday the gardener came at 9am for his regular maintenance in garden, I said hi made him a tea and then went to my friends house for a coffee at 9.30 and was there until 12, she doesn’t have good signal in her area, so couldn’t message bf in that time. I went home briefly, I messaged my bf in reply to his message asking how my day was at 12.20 and then I accidentally (and it really was an accident) left my phone at home while I quickly went to Costa to get myself some lunch (I don’t do this often just a treat as I was off for the day) When I got home I had a few messages from bf so I called him. He was fine but a little off with me, he then mentioned he had been in the area of the house in the afternoon but couldn’t let me know because I hadn’t responded to his messages, it was a random statement. He then questioned me about the gardener and it felt a bit off but then he changed the subject so I assumed he accepted what I had said. Later on I messaged him and said do you believe me about the gardener situation and he replied saying
“No I don't believe you but it's fine xxxxx
All morning I didn't hear from you from when he got to yours that’s suspicious xxxxx”
I replied saying I was at my friends house in the morning and didn’t have signal and then I went to Costa and left my phone at home. He said
“You were definitely shady today xxxxx you never forget your phone.”
I replied saying I did forget my phone. And I wasn’t being shady.
He said “It’s fine just be honest xxxxxxx I wont be bothered xxxxxx”
I replied saying I was being honest and then I sent him my driving app map as it shows where I’ve been in the day so showed that I had been at my friends in the morning. And I showed messages from someone I had bumped into at Costa as well.
Then out of no where he then says “I was only joking with you. I believe you. Just messing with you”

Now little things like this happen often where he back tracks but I don’t believe he was actually joking in this moment. I think he fully was trying to get me to admit something and didn’t believe me. And then when I provided proof he then backtracked so he didn’t look jealous!? Am I reading into this? Or was he actually joking!?

It’s little things like this happening often that are starting to make me feel a bit crazy. I know it’s only a small scenario but it’s often things like this happen and it makes me feel horrible being accused of things I haven’t done.

OP posts:
Shedmistress · 05/02/2026 08:34

What advice are you looking for exactly? Which bit is it that you think is you 'going crazy'?

BlackCatDiscoClub · 05/02/2026 08:34

No thats not ok. Best case, he's projecting his guilt. Worst case, he is horribly jealous and insecure and is already making you feel like you're jumping through hoops, this can only get worse. Eventually you'll be thinking about everything you do and say, to make sure nothing can be read into. Its mental anguish and you dont need that.

Partyatno10 · 05/02/2026 08:34

Honestly red flags everywhere. Dump him. He's a cheat and insecure and it won't get better. You'll end up treading on egg shells if you stay with him.

maslinpan · 05/02/2026 08:34

You need to get rid of this jealous manipulative scumbag.

Confusedlady600 · 05/02/2026 08:35

Shedmistress · 05/02/2026 08:34

What advice are you looking for exactly? Which bit is it that you think is you 'going crazy'?

When he does things like this, is he actually joking!? Or is he just being controlling and jealous and then backtracking when I’ve provided proof of where I’ve been.

OP posts:
NotnowMildrid · 05/02/2026 08:36

He’s projecting because he’s a dodgy cheating insecure twat.

Owly11 · 05/02/2026 08:36

Oh dear he sounds like a total tool and no you are not going crazy. This is jealous, controlling, coercive and stalking behaviour. Get out, but take care as you do so because it's going to ramp up at the moment of your departure.

Bettyfromlondon · 05/02/2026 08:36

To be honest, it was exhausting just reading about his nonsense. I can't imagine actually living with it.
Run!

maybethisyear · 05/02/2026 08:36

A year and a half? No children?
Run

maybethisyear · 05/02/2026 08:37

Bettyfromlondon · 05/02/2026 08:36

To be honest, it was exhausting just reading about his nonsense. I can't imagine actually living with it.
Run!

Quite

MrsPositivity1 · 05/02/2026 08:37

Gosh it must be exhausting dealing with that. I think you know you need to move on

Owly11 · 05/02/2026 08:37

Confusedlady600 · 05/02/2026 08:35

When he does things like this, is he actually joking!? Or is he just being controlling and jealous and then backtracking when I’ve provided proof of where I’ve been.

No he is not joking he is just covering his tracks.

Spendthrifting · 05/02/2026 08:37

Confusedlady600 · 05/02/2026 08:35

When he does things like this, is he actually joking!? Or is he just being controlling and jealous and then backtracking when I’ve provided proof of where I’ve been.

There is absolutely no way he is joking. I’m really sorry that you are even questioning this. It takes time to heal after this sort of relationship.

Chickadiddy · 05/02/2026 08:37

Run.
And don't look back.

Tinatubby73 · 05/02/2026 08:38

You sound like your walking on eggshells tbh.he sounds to me very jealous and controlling by messaging you all the time,and believe me it will only get much worse!!run for the hills while you still can!!!!

BarMonaco · 05/02/2026 08:39

What a way to live. Glad you are ending it

BitOutOfPractice · 05/02/2026 08:39

The day my DP questions me minutely about my whereabouts to the extent that I feel I need to provide proof, is the day we split up.

This is controlling behaviour op. It’ll get worse.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 05/02/2026 08:39

Yanbu to leave. I couldn't live like this. If I said I was at a friend's, my husband would ask 'oh how is friend' and that would be the end of it.

Why are you playing along though? Justifying where you've been with maps and phone records, asking of he believes you etc. If there was any future for this relationship you'd need to be telling him where you went, and if he doesn't believe you at your word the first time without question/ being off then he can leave

Lastly what does he mean that he doesn't believe you but 'it's fine' and 'he wouldn't be bothered'...is he really saying he doesn't care if you cheat? I think what's happening here is he cheats and judges you by his own standards of behaviour

HowAmYa · 05/02/2026 08:40

It’s telling that even though you’ve written all the above you’re actually questioning your own sanity. This is gaslighting and manipulation.

You shouldn’t ever have to provide proof of your actions or have to ask him if he believes you about things. Trust is there or it isn’t. And it’s not.

You took him back after he cheated but he knew exactly what he did there. Please for your own sanity, leave this guy because you are otherwise in for a lifetime of questioning yourself, treading on eggshells while he justifies being a cheating twat on not trusting you (which in itself is fucking bonkers).

MJxJones · 05/02/2026 08:40

He's cheating on you. All the men I've known who've acted like this have been cheatering. Stop justifying yourself and sending him "proof" of where you've been. You cant prove a neagtive and only one person in this relationship is a known cheater and its not you.

And you already confirmed you know you need to dump him.

TheBlueKoala · 05/02/2026 08:41

Sounds like middle school relationship but since you have a gardener I take it you are adults. Life is too short to put up with immature, cheating twats.

NeedSleepNowww · 05/02/2026 08:42

Those who are the most jealous and possessive are usually that way because they’re the ones who are unfaithful and cheat so assume everyone else is the same.

Leave.

Lougle · 05/02/2026 08:42

I've been married almost 24 years. Never, ever, has my husband questioned my 'true' whereabouts. I don't go out very often (children with SN) but if I do, he says 'Don't hurry back, will you? Make sure you get lunch if you want to.'

You sound fairly young, and free of commitments. This is a good time to decide what you want your future to look like. Do you want to be justifying why you took 1½ hours to do a shopping run instead of an hour? 2 hours at the soft play. Do you want to explain why you are back late because you decided you'd run out of milk and the road you usually take is shut?

Don't do it. If he doesn't trust you now, he won't trust you later. If you aren't sure you can trust him now, it won't get better once you have children, etc.

Defiantly41 · 05/02/2026 08:43

No, no, no, no …. He is not joking. He is definitely controlling and training you to do what he wants (making sure you are anxious about not having signal, making sure you always have your phone on you) and very possibly projecting. Either way, this is only going to get worse, once he has trained up in this, he will move on to other things, until your life becomes unrecognisable.

They will never admit to being jealous or insecure, and always say they are joking, maintaining their facade as a good guy is super important to them. Until you are fully in their control, then the mask slips.

dizzydizzydizzy · 05/02/2026 08:44

You're not going crazy. Follow your instincts and leave.

Swipe left for the next trending thread