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:
researchers3 · 18/07/2026 09:27

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

Maybe you should remind him of this.

MerryUmberHedgehog · 18/07/2026 09:28

Buy him a dummy and a massive nappy as he is behaving like a big baby.

Cailin66 · 18/07/2026 09:35

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

Did he ask for that because you couldn’t do a BJ?

Cyclebabble · 18/07/2026 09:38

I have had this. Alongside a number of other things with hindsight I see it as controlling behaviour. In effect for me it was saying you cannot spend time watching TV on your own and you must spend time with me. Equally facing pressure to stay up when you are tired and want to go to bed is the same thing.

Elieza · 18/07/2026 09:38

if he hasn’t already gone, he needs to see the gp about his symptoms. They are ongoing by the sound of it and sudden dizzy attacks could be due to something serious like blood pressure or heart issues that needs treatment.

if nothing shows up it could be dairy related. Some schools of thought (including my nhs dietician) believe there is a link between phlegm in the inner ear and nasal passages as a reaction to dairy. Not in everyone though. But i’d suggest he quit dairy (especially cheese) for two to three weeks if he wants to see if it’s diet related. But i’d see the gp first and then mention this only if nothing else shows up on tests.

if he’s manipulative yet womt seek medical help i’d suggest hes not a keeper. You dont need some anxious man baby who refuses to see the gp. My ex was bipolar. I’d never go through that shite again. He needs to take responsibility for his health and well-being and seek help.

if he’s genuinely scared of his symptoms i understand that as i was scared, but i’d not expect someone to check on me at night as theyd presume i was sleeping. If i went to bed during the day i’d say “ i'm not feeling well can you check on me in 40mins please to see if i need anything, you know i do that for you” Nobody’s a mind reader.

He sounds needs. Do you ‘need’ him as if he won’t change and expects you to mummy him hes not for you?? Do NOT have sex with him while you are weighing up your options as you cannot risk pregnancy to him.

Baking07 · 18/07/2026 09:41

OP, he sounds like a selfish, needy, petulant, controlling arsehole.
Is this loser really all you think you deserve to be with?

IStillHearTheWaves · 18/07/2026 09:53

Manchild.

JustAboutHangingInThere · 18/07/2026 09:56

You should probably be asking yourself what are you getting out of this relationship, and answer yourself honestly. Is this the situation you want to be in in 10 years time…questioning yourself, self doubt, looking after a man child.

Robogob · 18/07/2026 09:58

I could not live with that. No way.

shhblackbag · 18/07/2026 10:00

Once I had tonsillitis and he asked for a hand job

My god. Consider whether you're unreasonable staying with this prince of selfishness.

Blueyblueyblue · 18/07/2026 10:02

If he really needed you, he should have called. You’re not a mind reader.

LightningTree · 18/07/2026 10:04

Sorry OP, this is toddler behaviour. You’re his partner not his Mummy. Time to start looking for someone more mature.

Aluna · 18/07/2026 10:04

I don’t know where women find these specimens on here. Throw him back.

UnctuousUnicorns · 18/07/2026 10:11

As the saying goes, "Ain't nobody got no time for that shit".

Spacedsunshine1 · 18/07/2026 10:16

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 what????
LTB

anonymoususer9876 · 18/07/2026 10:19

What support is he getting for his anxiety? Has he seen GP? In therapy? On meds?

If he is not taking responsibility for his health then move on before he emotionally damages you. Your wellbeing matters.

If he is taking responsibility then it is perfectly OK to point out how the things he says and does make you feel. If he doesn’t want to consider your emotions, again, move on.

MrsBlobby64 · 18/07/2026 10:22

Ugh he sounds like a catch… not! Dump & move on…

MimiGC · 18/07/2026 10:30

A GP might be able to help with his anxiety, but I highly doubt will be able to help change your boyfriend’s selfish nature ie putting his sexual desires over your wellbeing when you are ill, berating you for not being a mind reader.
Presumably he has some redeeming features, but you seriously need to consider whether these outweigh the unreasonable, horrible sides to him you have reported here.

MsPavlichenko · 18/07/2026 10:33

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

His being moody to punish you for not doing what he thought you should is classic controlling behaviour. You’re now second guessing yourself.

It doesn’t need to be direct orders, what you’re experiencing is exactly how coercive control begins. And continues.

Bonkers1966 · 18/07/2026 10:33

Perhaps he thinks you are his mother replacement? Seems a tad immature.

BauhausOfEliott · 18/07/2026 11:06

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

He is controlling.

He’s expecting you to read his mind about what he wants and pander to him. He is expecting you to drop everything for him. If he feels a bit unwell and wants a lie down, he is expecting you to follow him like a puppy regardless of how you felt and whether you wanted to spend the evening lying down in a darkened room. And then when you didn’t do what he wanted he punished you by kicking off.

Control isn’t always what you think it is. It’s not always about issuing orders or withholding money or physical violence and threats or being hyper-picky and perfectionist about things. This man absolutely is controlling.

MandemChickenShop · 18/07/2026 11:26

he is a total tool. get rid

New posts on this thread. Refresh page