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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

A lucky escape...regular twat or something more sinister?

92 replies

relieved · 20/09/2010 15:43

Hi,

Just looking for some opinions, as involvement with a man has recently finished (got back with his ex). I do of course miss him and feel rubbish at the moment (though I know this will pass...I hope it will), but I do wonder if I will look back and realise that I have had a lucky escape, as I feel that there's something not quite right that I can't put my finger on. I loved him anyway but can't help but wonder if that was the major thing we had in common - I loved him, he loved himself too.

There is lots I do miss about him, but a few characteristics I'm not exactly sorry to see the back of.

  • lack of empathy towards other people - as if it was only his feelings that mattered. He seemed to enjoy inflicting pain on other people, e.g. me.
  • very flirty, which never really bothered me on a serious level, I tended to think of it as an act but if we were in a restaurant and I so much looked at the waiter, he would fly into a rage.
  • in the beginning, he was charming and complimented my figure, but towards the end would insult my appearance - he repeatedly told me I needed my mouth fixing, that I had 'shit tits', that my shoes were horrible (which they weren't, and that really hurt!). I wasn't 'perfect looking' so I didn't deserve him. Reading this, I see how disrespectful he was to me actually, and strange as it sounds either a) it didn't hurt me or b) I didn'y care what he said to me.
  • obsessed with being attractive - on the one hand would moan that he was unattractive, but on the other, would ask if girls he met fancied him and then say to me 'i am very good looking, aren't I?'.
  • obsessed with sex - will openly say to colleagues and mutual friends that he 'needs to have sex'.
-sex that was all about him. In the beginning, I was satisfied, but he soon lost interest in pleasing me, the whole thing revolved around him, him receiving oral sex or him being masturbated by me or himself. He would ask me to pleasure myself, but it seemed he wanted me to do it over him if you see what I mean. It was never 'making love' either, and always, always had to involve me being dressed up. Actual intercourse fairly infrequent.
  • lying about sexual conquests. I know two girls through friends he claimed to have had sex with, and they say they never slept with him.
  • constant need for attention and to have his needs pandered to. Seemed to dislike being on his own actually, and would get very angry if I made plans that didnt involve him.
  • very impulsive. Exciting at first, but quite tiring ultimately. Always seemed to find it difficult to make long term arrangements and would behave without thinking of the implications, e.g. he has backed out of work commitments and burned bridges with clients at work.
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • felt entitled to my money
  • at work, gets jealous of other people's status, though he doesn't work hard himself
  • Prone to arguments with people that criticise him

I probably sound like the woman scorned and I should stress that I did have fun with him, he was very charming and funny to be around when things were good, very clever conversation, cultured, educated etc, we went on loads of dates, so it was never dull. I was completely into him, but there were things he would do or say that I didn't like, and I couldn't see it ending well, yet didn't have the strength to tell him to piss off either. I also really wanted to look after him and love him 'better' as it were.

So should I be weeping into my pillow or breathing a sigh of relief?

OP posts:
relieved · 22/09/2010 11:13

Thanks for your posts.

madonnawhore and fizzfiend thank you for sharing your stories - here's to normal men like chippy.

mathanxiety what I mean is that I haven't made any contact with him, he hasn't made contact with me and no longer has my number. It is complicated by a connection related to work (that's how I know him), but we have avoided one another thus far. He doesn't have reason to drop in frequently.

Your post has made me think grace. I don't feel that I have to beat him, but I am aware of a sense of not letting him beat me, iyswim? I wouldn't say we had ever been sparring partners as such, perhaps an element of playing cat and mouse, and to an extent, playing 'peanuts' (remember that?), neither of us giving in. I am independent and I've always thought he disliked that, but come to think of it, I'm not so sure. Not unattractive and successful career. I wouldn't say I'm feisty (I actually go out of my way to avoid confrontation), but I'm not a doormouse either.

Re: the points about having the last word mathanxiety, that's quite worrying because as far as I am concerned, I have had the last word, and to think I'm not going to be allowed it makes me think I'm not out of the woods yet.

Anniegetyourgun, you are right, it is insulting.

There were some redeeming features (maybe??, but who knows), but right now, I am trying to focus on the negatives to keep me strong. If I focus on what I miss (some aspects of the sex being one of them), that would be too much. So you'll just be getting the bitter bitch act!

OP posts:
fizzfiend · 22/09/2010 15:17

Can I suggest you keep reading articles about sociopaths. It's helping me a little. I sometimes feel (like today) that he has reduced me to a pathetic shadow of my former self. But when I read those articles, I can start to see him as almost non-human. And begin to forgive myself for being so caught up in the whole thing.

I am also trying to forget any nice times we had..that just makes me sentimental. Am focusing on the horrible aspects of his personality to make sure I never go there again. Good luck with your struggle...it's hard even when they are ba**ds!!

SolidGoldBrass · 22/09/2010 17:08

I just knew this bloke would be good looking. It's the only reaosn people like him get away with it. If al sociopaths looked like Nick Griffin or something they'd be a bit less dangerous.
My best advice to you is to summon up a picture of this man in your head at his most undignified. Puking on himself while sat on the loo, for instance. Or hungover, sprawled on the sofa all unwashed and unshaven, scratching his bollocks and sniffing his fingers.
Because good looking sociopaths are often charismatic, and the one thing that most threatens beauty and charisma is indignity, ridicule, repulsiveness - if you can envisage this man looking yucky and stupid it will work much better than giving yourself Awful Warnings about him.

Mervynne · 22/09/2010 17:28

So what happens to the sociopaths who do look like Nick Griffin? Genuine question!

fizzfiend · 22/09/2010 17:29

SGB - my sociopath looks like a hippo with a hangover, but he still managed to work his magic. Am now picturing his flat bum and hairy nose and feeling weirdly better. I know, I know...what was I thinking?!! I know this post was not about me...but you're helping anyway..thx

relieved · 22/09/2010 17:34

fizzfiend that has been immensely helpful. I don't feel a shadow of my former self regarding all of this, and I feel like I've done well on that front but I do just miss him (why oh why??) and reading things like that eases it slightly. Good luck with your struggle too.

Tell me about it SGB, a very close friend of mine (who is also friends with him) also swears his looks are the only reason he gets away with what he does. Thank you for your advice. It's the pathetic image that puts me off the most, so I'll try and keep that in mind.

I can feel myself moving through stages of heartbreak at the moment - shock and anger done. Just feel sad but I know that it is just a feeling and that it will pass.

OP posts:
SolidGoldBrass · 22/09/2010 17:36

Mervynner - people see through them a lot quicker on the whole.

relieved · 22/09/2010 17:36

fizzfiend I'm glad a post on here has made you feel better :)

I also like to remind myself he won't always have his looks and that one day he will have to adjust to no longer being beautiful. mwah-ha-ha-ha!

OP posts:
Janos · 22/09/2010 17:37

relieved you may not feel it at the moment but yes, you had a lucky escape.

In a few months you will look back and thank god you didn't get more deeply involved with this guy.

Enjoying inflicting pain(!)and making rude comments about your appearance are massive red flags.

relieved · 22/09/2010 17:39

janos thank you. Just to be clear, I'm talking about emotional pain. (the physical pain was always consensual, without giving too much info)...

OP posts:
Janos · 22/09/2010 18:00

Yes, I thought it might be relieved.

I've been involved with one of these 'types' too. He was also good looking. As SGB says, that's how they get away with it.

mumonthenet · 22/09/2010 22:29

relieved, I wonder if you can find the chapter from "Why does he do that - Inside the Mind of the Angry and Controlling Man" by Lundy Bancroft....where he gives some of the early warning signs...

The list in your first post is replicated in the list in this book!!!

I have the book somewhere. Will try to post the list if I find it.

fizzfiend · 22/09/2010 22:33

relieved...no I'm not a shadow of my former self really but in my down moments I feel full of despair and crapness. Then I bounce back. You are so kind....yes this thread has helped me too. Hope it's helped you too. Amazing isn't it how we fall for these men when there must be at least 20 lovely men in the world...lol!

relieved · 23/09/2010 09:00

I've not heard of that book, will have to look into it mumonthenet

Tell me about it fizzfiend! I hope the down moments become fewer and further between. My sensible head where I've had a lucky escape is in the driving seat today (yesterday was pretty crappy, my heart was taking charge).

I am also thinking that I was brought up by a narc as well, after doing that reading. So, the childhood realisations are dawning on me too. Maybe I'm just overanalysing things though.

OP posts:
chilipepper27 · 23/09/2010 23:03

thank god you got away from him before it got even worse , i had an ex just like this and once i had gotten over him all i felt was extreme relief, relief of not having to antcipate his moods, not having to put up with insults , sarcasm and 'funfighting' which left me with bruises, never ever speak to this man again , he is toxic you will never fix this man and the abuse would have only gotten worse, when i got over my ex i took time to be single to examine why i thought i couldnt function without a man even a horrible one , its sounds cheesy but once i loved myself and was a happy independent woman i met and fell in love with my dh who treats me as i expect to be treat like a princess

relieved · 24/09/2010 11:21

aaawwww nice to hear a happy ending chilipepper

OP posts:
chilipepper27 · 24/09/2010 14:06

i hope you get your happy ending too, there is nothing like the feeling of knowing you wil never stand for that crap again , its nto easy but soo worth it when you get there, when your sad or feeling down think of all the things he wouldnt let you do then do them knowing you only have yourself to please,
you will get over him in time and when your happy in yourself you wont ever want a man to spoil that and you wont give people like him the time of day leaving you to be happy with someone who deserves you x

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