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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

messed it up

62 replies

confusedandsome · 06/08/2012 12:05

just need some perspective on this please. Been seeing man for a year.
Me: Live alone, crap area, bad parking etc. No family in the UK apart from a distant relationship with my mum. Dad dead. Few friends and the good ones I have live abroad. Busy job which involves travelling a lot. Lots of aquaintances. I have an 20 year old son who is living and working in Dubai for a year and we skype etc.
Him: Lives alone, big house, fab job, well off. Estranged from his parents and brother, few friends and they live miles away, has 2 children but its not an easy relationship as they dont help him, eldest one is sullen and can be quite nasty to him. Own business.
So we get together. He developed strong feelings for me very quickly. He quickly wanted to know whether we had a future. Wanted to be financially together. I have 2 houses. My mum and I did a house swap when my son was at Uni. He wanted me to sell the house my mum is in, move her back (even though she didnt want to go) and he and I would pool our finances and live together with me "wanting for nothing"
I did and do love him but I dont want to uproot my mum and financially I do ok. TBH I wasnt sure what I wanted to do. I am starting a course for 2 years in Sept and I was going to see how it panned out before I made such huge financial decisions.
He wants a "normal" life. He wants a "family unit" because he lost it all when he divorced his wife when she had affairs. I didn?t gel very well with his children as they ignored me and never said thanks for presents etc. He never addressed this but expected me to be there with his children nevertheless.
There were some other things that made me think about making this commitment
He would withdraw affection when he wasn?t feeling so good in his own mind
He had fallen out with his neighbours and many of his friends. Many people didn?t include him in things. For instance his friend got engaged yet he found out through another friend and they were very hesitant to talk to him about arrangements etc.
He would not want to speak to me for a week or so if he had a row with his children
Then his mood would change and he would be fantastic again
He told me he knew many nasty people
He said he had shut off his emotions after so many people had taken the piss
He hated me reading my book but wouldn?t say it at the time, only after
He has finished with me saying ?the relationship wont work and I am taking the piss?
I then get upset and he takes me back
He told me at the weekend that a couple of his friends said I was ?extremely rude?. These are friends I have never spoken to.
He said he finds it hard to sleep with me as I breathe loudly
Last night he told me its finally over as I don?t include him in my life, I am not committed and he needs to move on with his life. He said he doesn?t want me there cleaning and being there when he is at home. He said he needs to get rid of the bad stuff in his life and I am one of those things. He said I will never change and he has wasted a year being with me but he will chalk it up to experience. He said I have blown it and this is what I wanted. This was after a conversation where he was telling me I was anti-social and I said out of frustration that maybe he needs to find someone who is more social than me. But I didn?t mean it that way.
I am so upset. I loved him, never criticised him yet I feel this is all my fault as I don?t have much of a life to introduce him to being pretty insular myself. For the majority of the time we had a wonderful time together, he was generous, kind and loving.
How do I move on? I feel very hurt and is this normal to feel like this?

OP posts:
Doha · 06/08/2012 17:33

Give him a week...
He will be back in touch, hoping that you will throw yourself at his feet begging.

In reality ( i hope) you will tell him to fuck off. What a twat.

QuietTiger · 06/08/2012 18:14

He said that financial commitment would "lock me" into him and show him that I was indeed commited. he didnt need my financial assistance (which is true) but it would mean we were a true couple.

This ALONE means you should be running as hard and as fast as you can away from the tosser, quite apart from all the other stuff you have told us.

It may be worth getting some counselling to explore why you feel it is you at fault in this. Please, please tell him to fuck off and then fuck off some more, when he crawls back - twunt "tries" to "forgive you", which he will.

confusedandsome · 06/08/2012 18:56

Quiet tiger and Doha. Thank you. I do need some help. I just feel so bereft. He sent me a text today in reply to one I sent this morning saying that I needed my work things from his house. He text that he was going to Sussex tonight on business and his work is very busy. As for us, he's not bothered and wishes me luck on my course and says I need to move on.
This was after he spent Saturday talking with me about how we can do things together in the future and after he took me away for the weekend and said he really enjoyed it before I blew it.
My head is so upset.

OP posts:
Busybusybust · 06/08/2012 19:19

Wow! He's quite a piece of work! I can guarantee that if you ignore him for a few days he will get in touch and be all lovey-dovey again.

Do Not Be taken it.

Run like the wind n the opposite direction.

tallwivglasses · 06/08/2012 19:22

You were conned love. You 'blew' it by not giving him your money or being his blow up doll puppet.

Come on, we all have the odd dodgy neighbour, family member we don't get on with...we've all met one or two nasty people - but so many? Really? It takes a certain type of person to 'see' people in that way - nobody's that unlucky.

You sound lovely actually and I'm sure you'll meet new people connected to your course - this is a new start for you. Can you talk to anyone in real life? Your son?

Am I the only one who thinks that if you go running back begging forgiveness and agreeing to his financial plans he'd welcome you with open arms (til next time...)?

You Have Done Nothing Wrong. He's a clever con-man who will die lonely. Trust me.

confusedandsome · 06/08/2012 19:26

I know this is going to sound Strange but why do I feel I destroyed this relationship? I'm irrationally thinking that he will very quickly get hooked up with someone else prettier, slimmer or nicer than me and I could have been that person and been happy with him.
When we were together it was like I,was the only person in his life. He would change his plans to see me..I would be the priority over his friends etc. I didn't do that for him and he would comment on that, saying I out my friends over him. It got to the stage where I didn't plan to see my friends. He told me he wasn't getting any younger therefore wanted to settle down.

OP posts:
doinmummy · 06/08/2012 19:43

OMG this is a carbon copy of my very very destructive relationship.

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Repeat after me NOT YOUR FAULT.

I cant express how lucky , truly truly lucky you are to be rid of this man.

He has already done quite a good job on you by making you feel it's your fault.

This is how these men operate.

I have an awful feeling you will go back to him, because again, this is the pattern that these things take.

My ExP was the same....did everything for me, bought me little gifts,was so thoughtful, built his whole world around me.I thoght I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Then he started to do odd little things, like cry and say I'd upset him, although could never say how. Bit by bit his behaviour got more and more bizarre and irrational. Accusing me of being late home when I hadn't given a time that I'd be home.

Then one night he punched me in the face......

Doha · 06/08/2012 19:44

He was being charming attentive Mr Right when he saw the £££££ signs.
You didn't dance to his tune so he has shown his true colours.

Put it down to a very lucky escape and pity the next female he latches onto.

MNsFavouriteManHater · 06/08/2012 19:52

You have effectively wriggled off the hook of a very skilled emotional abuser

Once he had you firmly tied to him, your life would have become a misery, believe me

Go get some help with that self esteem, take this abusive prick down off that pedestal you have him on and do not agree to see him again under any circumstances

doinmummy · 06/08/2012 20:09

You sound lovely OP. I bet you are attractive, intelligent , fun , great company etc .

This man would have stripped you of all your lovely qualities.

Build your self esteem up. You will find a nice 'normal' chap who wont abuse you emotionally.

ImperialBlether · 06/08/2012 20:18

OP, I think over the last year he has really done a job on you.

You are so lucky - in later years (if you keep away from him) you won't be able to believe what you were doing.

My advice is twofold:

a) never see him again on your own. If you have to get things from his house, go with a friend - preferably one who is not easily flattered or scared by him.

b) get yourself counselling asap. He has really, really done a number on you and you need professional help to sort through what is real and what you were led to believe was real.

Thank god you and he aren't together now. Really, it's marvellous.

JustFabulous · 06/08/2012 20:25

You so did not mess things up. He did and thank God he did before you did "lock yourself in" with him.

fayster · 06/08/2012 20:39

OP, please do read these posts and listen to what the wise ladies here are saying. The only thing you did to contribute to the end of this relationship was being too strong for him to break.

Yes, he probably will pick up with someone else quite quickly, someone weaker and more vulnerable than you.

I was dumped by an emotionally abusive partner last year, and for weeks I asked myself what I could have done differently to make it work. Then I started to read this board, and see all of his controlling behaviours for what they are. It was a real eye opener for me and I think the (simple but powerful) lesson I learnt was this:

people don't speak to or treat someone they love like that

What this man feels for you isn't love.

So much of what you've written I could have written about me. Please be strong and stay away from this man. I wish someone had sat down with me and told me what was going on after a year, rather than realising it after 6. You sound amazing, and you have such a great life ahead of you, and best of all, you don't need him 'helping' you to achieve it!

RecklessRat · 06/08/2012 21:32

OP you're feeling "destroyed" because with all of his actions and his words he was undermining you, stealing your self confidence, chipping away at your self esteem and making you doubt yourself. Trying to isolate you and mke you dependant on him.

That's why it wouldn't surprise me if he reappears in a day or two, when your feeling really low and missing him, to see if you're ready to "include him in your life".

You must stay strong and keep away from him. I do sense from your posts that you're a strong person at heart, but you've had some bad experiences in the last few years.

Steer clear of dating for a while and focus on you for a bit. You deserve it.

Anniegetyourgun · 06/08/2012 22:12

You love the person he appeared to be in the beginning. But really, the evidence is there: he is not really that person. He could be a nice man with a nasty family who won't see him, that does happen; but it's not just the family, it's the friends or lack of, and falling out with so many neighbours (again, anyone could have one or two bad neighbours but so many?) It's his moodiness, taking it out on you when something has upset him. The fact he let his kids treat you badly without saying anything. That story about you being rude to his friends when you can't possibly have been. He's so plausible, you can't help but believe him when he tells you he loves you, or that something is your fault; and yet, when he's not there looking all sincere, sounding all authoritative, you realise the story doesn't add up. And indeed it doesn't.

You know what, I'd put money on the story of his divorce as being wholly or mainly untrue as well. It's a standard line from the Abuser's Handbook, that they are untrusting because someone else, probably their previous wife/girlfriend, Did Them Wrong. My guess is she either threw him out or, if there's any truth in the affair story at all, ran off with someone who treated her more kindly. Still, we'll probably never know the whole story about that.

confusedandsome · 07/08/2012 00:12

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm definitely staying away from dating until my inner self is functioning normally.
I really need to work on myself. I have been sucked in by the attention i got fro him. Saying I'm attractive, look nice etc made me feel safe. But then the nastiness would set in. One time he asked me to leave the weekend his friends visited. Just like,that. When I was driving home he text to say he hated the way he was treating me. He then appeared to hack into my deleted texts and asked about a day out I had planned with a friend. He couldn't only known that by hacking my texts. Later he said his daughter had read my messages. Rubbish. The dates didn't tally.
One time he text me to say he hated me. This was after he had dumped me. He said I had pushed him back to being the hard person he used to be. His daugheter then text to say he was talking about me and acting strange. He then later said he knew his daughter had sent the texts. Wtf.
Worryingly he hated his ex and he wanted to do her harm. She now lives with someone else and has done for ten years.
He was obsessed with couples operating as a team against the world and he thought that's what we should do.
It will take a while but I'll get there.

OP posts:
solidgoldbrass · 07/08/2012 01:44

He also targeted you because you are isolated, BTW - you say your dad's dead and most of your friends live abroad. He would have been looking for a woman without good friends/relatives in close contact who would have said to her 'What a tosser!'.

QuietTiger · 07/08/2012 05:35

He sounds a right piece of work. You are best shot of him. Lucky, lucky escape.

Cut off ALL contact. Not only will it drive him nuts Grin, but it will give you the space you need. Do not engage with him. if he then starts pestering you, tell him that he made his feelings perfectly clear and not to contact you again.

He is a twat of the highest order.

DippyDoohdah · 07/08/2012 06:09

Has anyone yet suggested you go on Amazon and buy Lundy bancroft book "why does he do that?; inside the minds of angry and controlling men". My advice, buy it, then every line you read that resonates with your experience of this man, underline it in red pen.you will be amazed how much is underlined and it will be there, in black and white, all the sound evidence and vindication you need that this is no way your fault.do it, please, it really will set you free.x

confusedandsome · 07/08/2012 06:31

Thank you. I've looked for the book and ordered it. I need all the help I can get at the moment.
I've woken up early. Feel upset. He is going through my mind. It was the inconsistency of everything that upset me. He didn't want to see me for a week as he was in a bad mood, then when he calmed down he said he wanted to see me all the time. I work away with work a fair bit. He told me he hated it when I just disappeared for a couple of days. I kept in constant contact but he felt I just took off at a whim. It was work!
Once he decided we had finished due to my commitment issues. He then sent me a text saying he thought our time together was fun and I was amazing. This was after he knew I was upset. A few hours after he text to say if I wanted sex I just needed to text him.
He frequently would tell me he has cut off his emotions, that he didn't care. apparently women had frequently told him he would end up lonely when he finished with them. He said I got the closest to him but I was the one who blew it. He would always tell me he would,be absolutely fine if I wasn't around and I found that upsetting.
He didn't love me. He has some serious issues.
I find it helps so much to come on here and thank you for the support I have so much appreciated it.
I'm seeing a girl from work tonight for coffee and maybe supper so I'm looking forward to that. And I'm off to,Germany for work on Thursday for the weekend.
I'll be ok. Thank you.

OP posts:
confusedandsome · 07/08/2012 06:33

Thank you. I've looked for the book and ordered it. I need all the help I can get at the moment.
I've woken up early. Feel upset. He is going through my mind. It was the inconsistency of everything that upset me. He didn't want to see me for a week as he was in a bad mood, then when he calmed down he said he wanted to see me all the time. I work away with work a fair bit. He told me he hated it when I just disappeared for a couple of days. I kept in constant contact but he felt I just took off at a whim. It was work!
Once he decided we had finished due to my commitment issues. He then sent me a text saying he thought our time together was fun and I was amazing. This was after he knew I was upset. A few hours after he text to say if I wanted sex I just needed to text him.
He frequently would tell me he has cut off his emotions, that he didn't care. apparently women had frequently told him he would end up lonely when he finished with them. He said I got the closest to him but I was the one who blew it. He would always tell me he would,be absolutely fine if I wasn't around and I found that upsetting.
He didn't love me. He has some serious issues.
I find it helps so much to come on here and thank you for the support I have so much appreciated it.
I'm seeing a girl from work tonight for coffee and maybe supper so I'm looking forward to that. And I'm off to,Germany for work on Thursday for the weekend.
I'll be ok. Thank you.

OP posts:
RecklessRat · 07/08/2012 06:42

The more I hear the worse he sounds (if such a thing were possible!).

Try and spend as much time with friends as possible - can you confide in your friend from work this evening? It would help to talk.

And wok is always a good distraction, Germany will be a great opportunity to get away.

Hope you have a good day confused. Another day when you're away from this awful awful man, (a cause for celebration!) try and remember you are now FREE of him and the misery he's caused and is causing you. With time, you will feel better.

RecklessRat · 07/08/2012 06:45

Work, not wok.

Though rustling up a chow mein always makes me feel better!

confusedandsome · 07/08/2012 07:15

I like a chow mien too! I probably won't talk to my friend tonight but I'm skyping my friend in the Middle East over the weekend and I can talk to her.
Bits of information keep filtering into my mind, coupled with my own torment of how I could have been better. I asked him over the weekend why his relationships didn't work out and he said it as because financially they were not in a good place and he was so there was the imbalance.
It's the being helpful part I grapple with. We went away with his friends for the weekend once. Apparently these are people who would wait for him to arrive and start the party. In my opinion that weekend they treated him like he was a peripheral friend. They certainly didn't wait for him to start the entertainment. They even discussed what to do on a stag night. Meantime he kept saying about things he could do as the second best man, organising this and that. Yet I felt they weren't really that interested. He is always the joker but it was obvious to me their friendship had changed.
I know I ramble but its like the floodgates have opened. Thanks x

OP posts:
RecklessRat · 07/08/2012 07:59

You could not have "been better" confused. Please stop tormenting yourself with those thoughts, though it will be hard as this is how he's been conditioning you to think.

Ramble away to your hearts content. Better out than in and all that! Getting things into the open is great for finding a new perspective.

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