Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner mad at me for not going up to bed with him

97 replies

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:01

Last night, my boyfriend and I were in the living room, I was watching TV and he was on his laptop at the table. He got up and said “I’m going for a lie down, I don’t feel great again” and I said okay no problem. He does have anxiety so when he says he isn’t feeling great I know he will be feeling dizzy as he gets vertigo with it and needs to go and lie down in a dark room. About 45 minutes or so later, he came downstairs clearly in a mood. I had to repeatedly ask what was wrong with him before he told me that he was upset that I didn’t come upstairs to comfort him or make sure he was okay. I just left him to go to bed knowing he didn’t feel great. I told him that I thought that’s what he would want, to go and have a lie down by himself and wait for the dizziness to pass. I didn’t do it out of not caring, I just thought that me going with him wouldn’t be helpful. This isn’t the first time he’s dealt with this, if it was the first time then I’d be more concerned and have gone up to check on him and ask what he needs. But we know that it’s anxiety, it’s happened many times before. So I thought he was just going upstairs to sleep it off or wait for it to pass. He is calling me cold and saying i don’t care, but I didn’t know that that’s what he wanted from me. If he was unwell or had a virus or something, I would have been more attentive, but I used to have anxiety in the past and know that in that situation I would’ve wanted to be left alone. How was I supposed to know that he wanted me to go with him?

I am now feeling guilty and questioning myself. Am I in the wrong? Whenever he has anxiety, I always do my best and try to get him to calm him down or get him anything he needs like water etc. but he chose to take himself away so I assumed he wanted to be alone!

OP posts:
TheFormerMrsTruelove · 16/07/2026 20:05

How does he react when you’re ill?

I’m asking to work out if it’s his expectation that one partner fusses over the other when they’re ill, or he’s just behaving like a big baby wanting someone to tuck him in and soothe his brow with a cold flannel.

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:13

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 16/07/2026 20:05

How does he react when you’re ill?

I’m asking to work out if it’s his expectation that one partner fusses over the other when they’re ill, or he’s just behaving like a big baby wanting someone to tuck him in and soothe his brow with a cold flannel.

Once I had tonsillitis and he asked for a hand job. But usually I just stay in bed when I’m ill, I don’t really need him to come and get into bed with me. He will fetch me things if I ask

OP posts:
MrsTomRipley · 16/07/2026 20:14

Well he sounds charming

ColinOfficeTrolley · 16/07/2026 20:14

I have a grip you can pass on to him.

BauhausOfEliott · 16/07/2026 20:16

He’s a manipulative, controlling cunt.

Cherrysoup · 16/07/2026 20:16

Tell him to use his words next time. He’s acting like a big baby, so treat him like one. You don’t need to go with him when he needs a lie down!

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/07/2026 20:17

Expecting a partner to be psychic when you don't have the standards for yourself (handjob boy) reads like control.

Is he controlling?

DollydaydreamTheThird · 16/07/2026 20:20

Jesus OP. Do you really want to spend your life with an anxious moody fucker who expects you to wank him off when you're ill? Raise your standards girl.

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:21

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/07/2026 20:17

Expecting a partner to be psychic when you don't have the standards for yourself (handjob boy) reads like control.

Is he controlling?

No, I don’t think he’s controlling. He’s definitely not the best though, I feel like it’s one thing after another lately

OP posts:
MiaKulper · 16/07/2026 20:23

Bin him. He sounds like hard work.

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/07/2026 20:26

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:21

No, I don’t think he’s controlling. He’s definitely not the best though, I feel like it’s one thing after another lately

It's never just one thing when someone posts.

What else?

Gengha · 16/07/2026 20:31

BauhausOfEliott · 16/07/2026 20:16

He’s a manipulative, controlling cunt.

This

what a pain in the arse

Anywherebuthere · 16/07/2026 20:34

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:13

Once I had tonsillitis and he asked for a hand job. But usually I just stay in bed when I’m ill, I don’t really need him to come and get into bed with me. He will fetch me things if I ask

I was about to say he sounds needy and childish. But this is worse.

Why are you still with him?

Loulou4022 · 16/07/2026 20:38

He needs to put his big boy pants on and use his big boy words and ask if he wants something! DH has fibro and will occasionally go for a lie down due to pain and fatigue. Sometimes he’ll ask me to go too as he wants a cuddle or to rest his arm over me. I have substantial hips and booty and I know he can find it comfy to hook his arm over me as it takes the pressure off his chest.
You’re not a bloody mind reader!!

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 16/07/2026 20:41

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:13

Once I had tonsillitis and he asked for a hand job. But usually I just stay in bed when I’m ill, I don’t really need him to come and get into bed with me. He will fetch me things if I ask

There are so many responses to that, I don’t even know where to start.

What is there that’s positive about him?

If he’s still having his tantrum, I’d warn him to think very carefully about his next move because a bunch of strangers on the internet are trying to convince you to leave him.

outerspacepotato · 16/07/2026 20:44

How old is he, 10?

Stay mad, motherfucker.

Unpaidworkmakestheeconomytick · 16/07/2026 20:59

Did he stop developing at 5?

Bananalanacake · 16/07/2026 21:09

Wouldn't life be so much easier if you didn't live together.

Mrstawnyowl · 16/07/2026 21:15

A high maintenance big baby. It’s not an attractive trait.

Larrythecatforpm · 16/07/2026 21:17

God he sounds dramatic.

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 21:17

Thank you, I was sure I wasn’t being unreasonable but then I started second guessing myself and feeling guilty

OP posts:
ChirpaChirpaCheepCheepChirp · 16/07/2026 21:22

Sorry, I had to read this a few times to make sure you were talking about an adult and not a five year old child.

PandorasMailbox · 16/07/2026 21:29

Throw that one back. He sounds exhausting.

Pinkflamingo10 · 16/07/2026 21:36

Meetthenewmans · 16/07/2026 20:13

Once I had tonsillitis and he asked for a hand job. But usually I just stay in bed when I’m ill, I don’t really need him to come and get into bed with me. He will fetch me things if I ask

He asked for a wtaf ???!!!
this is outrageous
definitely time to leave
no one needs a selfish over-dramatic anxious man-baby in their lives

Tablesandchairs23 · 18/07/2026 04:19

What a big baby. He sounds awful. Put him in the bin and move on.