In a relationship I can't bear to leave, but can't make better.

[sparklyjumper]

I'm sat here again wondering whether I'm depressed, damaged somehow, unable to have a healthy relationship. Or is it him, or both of us?

I'm probably a textbook case, alcoholic, borderline abusive father, first relationship was domestic violence and ended badly, left with a ds who has no contact at all with ex p.

I've been with current boyfriend almost 4 years, I can't say it's been a good relationship but there have been good times. I can't possibly write about everything that's happened as I'd be here all day but we've spent most of the relationship breaking up and getting back together, him breaking up with me and usually me ringing him up crying saying I miss him then him coming over and apologising.

I feel that he's distant, often moody, excludes me from 'his life', I often feel very alone even though I'm supposed to be in a relationship. While he helps out, I don't feel like I can rely on him for any real support. He won't live together, he says he will but he seems to find excuses, avoids the subject when I try to talk. First he said I was rushing things after about a year together, then it was because his work was too far, the house didn't feel like his own, we wern't getting on. I've in the past found he's been on dating sites talking to other women, I was pregnant once and he didn't want anything to do with any of it, wouldn't talk to me for weeks. Most of the time I only really see him on weekends and maybe one during the week yet he's always saying he needs space, doesn't get chance to do the things he wants to do. Once he said he was going to move in for a trial, we'd just got back from holiday and he's stayed for about 2 weeks solid, then one morning I got up and he'd gone, taken all his things while I was still asleep but then a few weeks later he wanted to get back together.

Last Christmas was awful. Last year he said if we got married it would make it easier to move in together as the house would be both of ours, he didn't propose officially, but he took me shopping got me to choose an engagement ring, hinted (or maybe it was just in my head) that there would be some romantic proposal at Christmas, Christmas came and the ring was just wrapped and stuck under the tree with the other presents. He never proposed and it was all just swept over. This resulted in me building up to a big emotional meltdown over Christmas, a huge arguement, and him splitting up with me in the new year.

This Christmas was great, as far as I could tell, we didn't argue, we've done some nice things. But towards the end of the week I've felt that he's been getting fed up with me. The thing is, he will spend the week with me, doing whatever I fancy, I'll ask him if there's anything he needs or wants to do and he'll say no. But then when he goes home it all comes out and he'll say he needs space and how his time off has been ruined as he's done nothing he needed to do.

This morning was horrible, I've just got the impression the last couple of days that he couldn't wait to go, and this morning he starts packing his bags to go back home, he takes everything, it's as though he hates leaving so much as a t shirt incase he doesn't want to come back.

I felt like I had a serious case of the January blues and I can't work out why. Is it my own life I'm unhappy with, going back to work, to big dip after the build up of Christmas. Or is it the nagging feeling that after a week with my boyfriend he's had enough and is going to end it and I will go through weeks of hell, not knowing if it's for good this time, or if he will be back in a few days saying he was wrong.

This feeling makes me snappy, tearful, accusing. 'Why are you taking everything, aren't you coming back at the weekend?' So he stomps off, I've ruined a good week, then the texts come from him, I'm trying to control him, we shouldn't be living in eachothers pockets, would I blame him if he ended it all, he's living for me not for himself.

I feel so unhappy, I feel like I should end it for good but don't think I could bear to as I love him very much. But I'm an insecure wreck and I don't even know whether there's just something wrong with me or whether it's this relationship that's driving me crazy but I don't even know how to begin to make it better.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

Maybe because with your ex, the damage was a lot easier to see, it left bruises and physical pain, whereas this current guy is only damaging you emotionally, which due to the abusive nature of your childhood, you are accustomed to accepting.
May I suggest that you look into something called DBT, it has a concept called mindfulness ( which comes from buddihism) that means totally living in the moment, not thinking about the past or future but focusing solely on the moment that you are in, to the exclusion of everything else.
I have found it a very helpful concept.

[sparklyjumper]

That's the thing Maggie, I'll have to be strong.

Usually I imagine, when people break up after a few weeks they start to feel a bit better, whereas for us, this is the point we always end up getting back together. I have tried so hard, I've even changed my number in the past which has resulted in him just coming over. Not to say he'd keep coming round if I told him to get lost, I doubt he'd ever make a huge nuisance of himself. But it's highly likely that there would be texts, calls.

I wish I found it easy I've never had any bloody willpower. I don't understand either why this is so much more difficult than breaking up with my ex.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

I ended it is what happened, I gave up on the idea that he was ever going to be interested in helping with my emotional needs beyond a superficial level.
It's well over a year now and if I think about him, there is no accompanying emotion, nothing at all. In the first place though, it did feel like I was cutting a part of myself off, which did hurt a fuck of a lot but without the fog he was creating in my head, I started to feel better, quite quickly.
I had hoped that he would come running after me but, thankfully, he did not.
Which may mean that when you do it, you will have to be a lot stronger than I had to be as it sounds like he would run after you.
But you can live without him, yes it will hurt but then it will get better, I can promise you that, no ifs, no buts, no maybes!

[bumhead]

Can I just say:

HOW FUCKING DARE HE BLAME ALL HIS SHIT ON YOU!!!

I could kick him in the ballbag on your behalf for the way he is treating you.

Re PMDD you have to TELL the Gp, most don't even know about it, get them to refer you to a Gynae, GPs are like a jack of all trades and a master of none. Your probs might well turn out to just be hormonal.
Stop doubting yourself, maybe a short course of Anti-Ds might help if you are a little depressed.
Stop letting this arsehole run you down.
As for telling you that you're controlling, his behaviour screams controlling. He has you right where he wants you, all confused in your little crate.
Please dump this manipulative little shit. Especially as you have a DC. You don't want your child seeing mummy being treated like this. So it takes a couple of months to get over this creep.
Then you will be FREE!!
Please do this for yourself.
This guy is giving you nothing and you are a worthwhile human being who deserves to be loved properly. This guy is damaged goods and can't give you that.

[sparklyjumper]

Bluebiscuit I completely see what you're saying. I like to put things in to neat little boxes, black and white, my fault or his fault. Me wrong, him perfect. And of course I know really life isn't like that. Don't get me wrong my childhood wasn't horrendous, I've read far worse on here. But things that went on and were doen and said have stayed with me.

[tzella]

Hah, he was rude to your sister on purpose! Don't kid yourself that he wasn't being dismissive and shitty to her by accident. And shy around your family and friends? They are there in force so he's scared of them. He's a scumbag, Sparkly. Surely you realise this? And it won't get any better because it never has before.

Stop being so passive. It's up to you to make your life better!

[sparklyjumper]

Noone knows him well so they can only go on what I tell them but people seem to think he's an overgrown kid. Friends and family who have met him have said they think he's a bit shy, my sister thought he was rude, he can be rude I don't think he realises. She was asking him about his job and he smirked and said 'you wouldn't understand'.

What happened in the end with you and your ex maggie?

I am scared of the hurt of the break up, and I'm also scared I'd be making a mistake. Even though that big part of me know I'm not. There's still that nagging little bit of me that thinks of all the lovely things he does, and the good times we have and dare I say it I could 'wait for him'. Because he says things to me like his sister and her df didn't move in together for 10 years and starts using examples of people he knows who haven't moved in together for years and years. And how we will eventually he just needs to sort a few things out. And I feel like it's all me again. But it's not that I'm even desperate to move in together tomorrow or anything. I'd just like to feel as though we're moving towards something. But when I mention it he's totally disinterested. And I imagine even if we did it wouldn't last.

[AlienRefluxThanksFuckThatsOver]

sparkly love, I could copy and paste the last two thirds of your last but one post, sorry confusing, and hold it up as a complete emotional headfuck right there. This bloke, no matter how 'lovely' his upbringing was, is a controlling, spiteful character, who uses your weakness for him, and your shit previous relationship to yank your strings.

YOU NEED TO LEAVE HIM That;s all there is to it.

[bluebiscuit]

Op, this relationship is not good. It has not got a long term future having been so bad at such an early stage. Be brave - end it for good and then focus on sorting out your issues. I actually don't think your issues are very serious - a lot of the relationship issues are caused by him and you need to set them aside from the issues that are actually yours and could affect you in the future. The issues from this relationship will cease if you stop the relationship.

Your main issue is thinking that stuff is due to you because of your background - it isn't - you are ok and the problem is that you think things are your fault. Also you haven't quite found the strength to break free from this whiney twat.

[tzella]

Sparkly You feel awful in this relationship and awful out of it. The difference is that being out of it will get better but continuing is a relentless slog of crap.

Organise some counselling and just see if it helps. Might be depression, might be PMDD, might be residual stuff from your relationships. But the only way you can find out is to try.

You're really scared of being upset after a break-up. But how can that be worse than staying in the relationship?

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

You are not and never will be responsible for another adults persons happiness or lack of it.
That is his responsibility. He can whinge all he wants about you keeping him in a 'cage' but quite frankly, unless you were really doing so litrally, that is bullshit. He is an adult, if he wishes to go somewhere or do something then that is up to him to make sure that happens, rather than sitting there sending out psychic thought beams and getting shirty when you fail to pick up on them.
You are addicted to him and like any drug, the only way to get off it is cold turkey, though having the support of a counsellor while you do so would be a good thing.
What do your friends think of him?
I do know what you are going through, I wrote this when I was going through similar:

Better than heroin
When you are there
But unlike that brown powder
You could at least pretend to care
Not in that sloppy childish manner
That responds to mine
When I begin to grumble, beg and whine
Don't stop pretending that you're really mine
And I'll keep pretending everythings fine
Keep up the lying
The samurai face
Gone is the day that we connected
For you it's a haze
For me it's a knife
Twisting and turning
Causing me strife

[sparklyjumper]

Posted twice because it was so long. Regarding the PMS and seeing the GP.

I really don't know if there's something wrong with me or if it's external factors because I've always had some kind of drama in my life.

My mum and dad were crap yes, dad drank too much, put me down, shouted all the time, spoke to my mum like a piece of shit yes it's taken it's toll. I know that's not my fault but I wonder if my relationship problems are because of that. I find it hard to accept my boyfriend could be in the wrong because I'm the one who came from 'that' background. Even though I know some of the things he does are far from right either and not just in terms of our relationship.

My ex was crap and I know that no matter what I am I couldn't possibly have caused him to do some of the things he did because he was really violent physically, verbally and sexually.

Boyfriend isn't like any of that, he just disinterested and whiney.

I have researched PMDD, and at the time it seemed to fit, but the GP didn't mention that and I didn't want to appear to be self diagnosing. What I do know is the week my period finishes I'd find it impossible to even shed a tear no matter what was going on. I know it's been a lot better for a long time now but things like diet, how much sleep I've been having and what's going on in my personal life seem to have a huge effect on how I feel. If my boyfriend and I are getting on well for a few months I feel happy, it's when all the drama starts my mood dips and I start to self doubt.

In general I don't think I'm depressed, certainly not badly, I've always held down a job, I get enjoyment out of lots of things, but this relationship has made it more difficult to feel happy because I'm constantly on edge, it's made it more difficult for me to see a future because I feel as though I've wasted my best years. But I don't know if the relationships done that to me or I've ruined the relationship iyswim? Because according to him, if I was different we could be really happy and have it all. And because I've had crap in the past I automatically think well it must be me. I'm sure you see what I mean it's a vicious circle.

[Viviennemary]

I think the first thing would be to start building up things in your life that don't include him. Because at the moment he seems to be 100% of your life. This is easier said than done. But the point is when he ends it you feel as if you are left with nothing. So you beg him to come back and then the whole cycle starts again. It doesn't sound as if he will make you happy in the long term.

[sparklyjumper]

bumhead I do want to leave this relationship I really do. I'm just terrified of that all consuming grief I feel when we split up, it doesn't pass quickly for me believe me I've tried. We split up for 4 weeks once and it was hell. Yes I have days when I'm ok and feel really positive, but then I have days when I struggle just keep a smile for ds sake and go to bed sobbing and wake up feeling an all consuming sense of loss. I know I would get over it eventually but I think it woudl be a matter of months rather than weeks. Sometimes in a way I wish he would just meet someone else and put me out of my misery, even though that would make me feel awful I would have no choice then but to get a grip and get on. While I'm like this even though that 75% of me believes what people here are saying, that other part of me thinks of all the nice things he does for me, and all the nice things he can say and makes me wonder does he just need to grow up a bit, do I just need to sort myself out a bit.

He says I'm controlling, I don't feel as though I am, I certainly don't set out to be. But then I wonder am I, but not in the obvious way, but in the sense that he's pretty feeble and I end up organising most things. Using this for an example, he doesn't want to split up but he's giving me the silent treatment because I annoyed him the day before he went home and probably because he'd got a bit sick of the sight of me. He's doing the old he wants space, then he made a snide comment about he'll be busy the next couple of days fixing his sisters light at her house as he wasn't let out of his cage over Christmas. I'm thinking back to the week, yes we spent the week together but that wasn't my choice, he didn't once say he needed or wanted to do anything.

We were busy the days before Xmas, we went to a hotel and then did our food shopping the next day. Xmas eve he took ds out to get me a little present from ds which turned into a big present and I was thrilled. Boxing day we spent the day with his family and we've just been pottering about the rest of the week, doing all sorts, we went to a splash pool, pub for dinner, all the things you don't always get chance to do. Everyday I've asked him what do you want to do today and not once has he said actually I want to go home now. The last couple of days I was feeling a bit like I'll be glad when you go back to work but I wasn't going to ask him to leave. I knew he wanted to do the brakes on his car but he said he couldn't be bothered he'd do it one weekend. Now he blames me for all the things he hasn't done and says I've kept him in a cage? Then he brings up my ex who he knows physically and sexually assaulted me and asks me what my relationship was like with him and says because if it was worse than this it must have been awful. But then he's saying he doesn't want to break up he really does love me but he feels he puts all the effort in and I'm not very nice to him. I'm making him unhappy.

[tzella]

Thanks for kind wishes There's a thread 'I'm packing up his stuff!...'

Sparkly Oh, crap GPs annoy me so. I think the best way to get what you need is to make an appointment and say "I had a difficult upbringing and believe counselling will be beneficial for me. Could you refer me to someone?" That's all you should need to say. Don't bother trying to explain it to the GP - they are not really qualified to help - that's why they default to meds. Their job is to refer you to someone who is qualified.

Then I think you'll have to wait a while for the referral to come through (which is a shame but that's often the way it works). Then you see a counselor and see whether you like them and think they can help. If you don't think they can you ask for another one!

Seems like you just know your DP has to go. Make 2013 about you

[bumhead]

Sparkly have you looked into PMDD?
I have this, it's the severe form of PMS (the one where women can end up suicidal etc).
Just with you having said that you went to your GP about bad PMS. It isn't the cause of your problems, your DB is, but for you, if you have this and get treated it will make your life so much better.

[bumhead]

Tzella I hope it went ok for you. Good on you for doing what needed to be done.

Sparkly I think probably people might be wasting their time telling you to dump this guy because you won't do that. So then you need to decide to put up with his shit. He has you right where he wants you and loves playing games with your head. He sounds fucked up. You need to work on your self esteem.

You're 29 and have all the time in the world to find someone decent but you're allowing this prick to treat you like shit. I had a boyfriend like yours once. I dumped him in the end because I got sick of his bullshit. You need to either ditch or decide you're happy chasing the carrot he is dangling.

He isn't going to give you what you want or need in life.
He is just not that into you.
As someone else said 'dating sites, really?'
Messaging people he knows under a different name?
He sounds fucked up.
Oh and the engagement ring under the tree and no proposal? That's just plain nasty.
Get rid of him and I guarantee that your problems will disappear.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

I don't know about the heavy weight feeling, it sounds like depression to me but was not the way that I experienced depression.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

'sometimes I think it's me that's the problem because of my messed up background' was the thing that really stuck out.
That is an unhealthy attitude to yourself, as you are internalising problems that come from an external source.
To me that suggests that you think if you changed, you could fix the way he treats you.
I do think you need to make changes within yourself but not for his or anyone elses benefit, but for your own benefit. Because you deserve stability and peace of mind.

[sparklyjumper]

Thanks Maggie, I will look into Mind, I am a bit sceptical about seeing my GP. I've been twice, once years ago and he just asked me to fill in a multiple choice sheet and told me there's nothing wrong with me. I then went about 2 years ago as at the time I was having an awful time with my periods but getting really low, snappy and anxious around that time more so than I think is normal but it may have been worse because it was around the time this relationship started showing cracks. I was offered anti depressants to take for just a week out of the month. This was after a 3 minute conversation and was not what I wanted or felt I needed. I don't think I'm depressed in what I understand of depression, I more feel as though I'm carrying a heavy weight around with me a lot of the time.

You said you think I have a lot of internal attitudes to how the world works can I ask in what way you mean I'm interested to know what you're seeing from my posts that perhaps I'm not?

[tribpot]

Totally agree with Maggie (and indeed with suburbophobe). Your issues don't necessarily relate to him but being with him sure won't help them get any better.

Please put yourself first and seek both peace and counselling. Your family background is more than enough reason to ask for help in redefining the nature of your closest relationships.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

Sparkly, you need therapy, you have a lot of internal attitudes, both to yourself abs to how the world works that need to be changed before you should even contemplate being in a relationship.
Where you start is by going to your GP or Mind ( the charity) and saying that due to an abusive childhood you are having trouble functioning properly in some areas of your life.
As to the current relationship, I am exhausted just reading about it, I can only imagine how draining it is for you. You are looking to him to fufil emotional needs, but he's not going to.
You need to learn to self-nurture and one of the first things to do in order to start doing that, is to cut this guy out of your life permanently.
You can and will survive doing so and O'd be very surprised if you didn't see a vast improvement over the longer term.
Good luck xx

[suburbophobe]

It's 2013.

Dump the shite and move on.

[sparklyjumper]

I know of course I can't hold him responsible for me staying in the relationship that's down to me.

I feel as though I've never and can never be consistently happy. As though I was never supposed to be. And being too afraid to move on and take control has been the story of my life. Is it normal to go through such ups and downs in life?

When I lived st home with my parents I was utterly miserable, a lot of my childhood was miserable sometimes I still have nightmares that I'm back at home with my dad being an ogre and the constant atmosphere. I was always treated as though I was the problem and even blamed for my parents arguing when I was probably as young as 8-9. Then I went on to have a violent relationship which was volatile. Sometimes I think it must be me that's the problem because I'm the one with the messed up background whereas he's the one from the nice family with no baggage. Yet the dynamics of this relationship are completely different to when I was with my ex.

I've thought about counselling but wouldn't even know where to start, and don't know if it's counselling I need or just to be on my own for a good while and heal almost.

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

OK, he's a dickhead rather than just a misguided wimp who doesn't want to be the villain. But the remedy is still the same: bin and move on. You have to take some responsibility for your own misery here - you are not tied to this stupid man by having children with him, nor are you financially dependent on him. It won't be difficult in practical terms to dump him. But carrying on hoping he will change is completely pointless.