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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

Can I do anything to stop feeling so bad?

16 replies

stella47 · 25/04/2014 14:02

Hello, I don't post often, but I do find the comments on other people's threads really helpful, and helped me a lot when end my relationship recently ended. I would really appreciate your perspective on why I feel so bad now, and what I should do, if anything.

I was with my partner for about three years. We met via online dating, and it was initially a long distance relationship.

He moved in with me - I had some misgivings beforehand, he persuaded me to try it for three months. He stayed for a year then got his own place. I'd go over after work and stay over a few times a week. I was away one weekend a month, doing a diploma course, staying with my sister. The relationship improved but there were still some difficulties. To cut a long story short, we split up about six weeks ago. This was kind of initiated by him but I agreed it was a good idea, as I think we were emotionally incompatible. We were both sad, and thought we could stay friends. We had a little communication since and met once for coffee, which was OK.

Three weeks later I had a phone call from him late one night. He was very angry, saying that he had just been back onto the dating site that we had both used to meet (OK Cupid) and had seen that I had last been logged into the site in December. I had, it was around checking that I hadn't left unwanted info on the site, that my photo wasn't still there. I explained this, and that I hadn't been looking for anything, hadn't looked at any profiles, and had just been relieved I didn't have to do that any more. He was very upset and angry, didn't believe me, said that as I'd "been on dating sites" he now realised that when I said I had been on courses I'd actually been being unfaithul to him. There was no truth in this at all - I generally like to have time for myself, and like to work towards learning new things, which he always thought was strange. The last thing I would have wanted was someone else. He was the only person I considered dating or had serious conversations with when I was on the dating site.

He couldn't listen, said I was "trying to get my excuses right", and that of course I would deny it, that was just what his ex did and it turned out she was cheating on him. He was cold, sneering and horrible during the conversation, said he wanted no further contact and that he would contact me in a few weeks to collect my things. He did, last weekend, I collected my stuff, and he was cold and distant. He seems to really believe that I did wrong, such that I am questioning myself as to whether I did something wrong. I know I probably didn't spend as much time with him as he would have liked, as I often found it stressful. I just feel so upset about it - I keep crying, FFS! I feel that he has rewritten the story of our relationsip, such that rather than it being a good relationship with some problems, it was something awful. I am upset that he is upset and angry. I have been wondering whether to try again to talk to him and explain, or to send him a letter, but I don't know if that will get anywhere or just make things worse.

I know I shouldn't feel so bad, as I know that the relationship ending was the right thing. I'd be very grateful for any thoughts - should I do anything, how do I stop feeling so bad?
Thank you!

OP posts:
onetiredmummy · 25/04/2014 14:24

He should fuck the fuck off!

You can no longer care about what he thinks, you know you did nothing wrong so he can imagine whatever he likes & you don't have to worry about it now. His happiness is no longer your concern nor are his rabid imaginings & he has no right to get angry with you.

If he contacts you again, don't waste your time trying to reason with him or convince him of your fidelity. Tell him he is delusional & he can fuck off & not contact you again.

You are allowing him to control you after the relationship has ended. Ignore any coldness or sneeriness, he can be as cold & sneery as he pleases as again its not your problem. If you refuse to engage then he might just realise that he is in the wrong.

Get your life back! Get back on the dating site if you want, set up a profile for whatever you like. Stop letting him make you cry & make you feel like shit. Take back control & you will meet other people who you click with more than him.

Flexiblefriend · 25/04/2014 14:28

I think you are right that the ending of the relationship was the right thing. That doesn't mean you shouldn't feel sad about it though. Give yourself some time to wallow, have a good cry, then move on knowing that you had a lucky escape. Time will make you feel better

stella47 · 25/04/2014 14:29

Thank you onetired. That made me cry, but in a good way. He had a few episodes of irrationally thinking things and becoming angry while we were together, but I think eventually realised he was being irrational. It's just that this one will have no end.
Thank you x

OP posts:
stella47 · 25/04/2014 14:31

I know, I was feeling kind of ok about the end of the relationship, just feeling sad about it until this - it seems to have sent me into a spiral of bad thoughts - need to start spiralling up again!

OP posts:
FolkGirl · 25/04/2014 14:40

I think the clue in all of this is that, for whatever reason, it wasn't right from the start and you had misgivings from the start.

That's fine. You live and learn. What you have learned from this is to listen to that inner voice next time. Sometimes you can't always put your finger on what it is that is making you feel uncomfortable and so you ignore it, but we shouldn't ignore it. It often knows ourselves and others better than we ever do Wink

It wasn't that you did anything wrong, but that what you did was 'wrong' for him and that means you were incompatible.

Stop letting him make you cry & make you feel like shit Is true. In a sense. He isn't making you cry or feel like shit, you are choosing to let him make you feel like shit.

Don't talk to him, or write to him. It's just getting involved in his drama and there is nothing that you can say that will make him say, "Oh right, yeah, sorry."

I actually suspect that part of the reason you feel so bad about it is indignation that you knew it was wrong, but that he was the one who ended it. You might not have recognised it as that, and so you just interpret it as 'feeling bad'.

But it's over. Was it a 'good relationship with some problems' or was it a not great relationship that became more than it should have been because it started off as a long distance relationship and he relocated?

As for a solution, when you have an unpleasant thought about it, challenge it and rewrite it.

E.g. "He's probably right. I should have spent more time with him and it is my fault that he feels like this."

Challenge it - "But is he right really? What else do I know about him/our relationship? Do I often treat other people badly or am I considered a good person" or whatever...

New thought - "Actually, I always knew there were problems. I did nothing wrong. He probably didn't either, really, we were just incompatible".

stella47 · 25/04/2014 14:56

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me advice, that has really made me think. When we ended it, we'd had an argument and he'd said "I don't know how we can move forward from this" and I think he was surprised that I said, yes, I think we're incompatible, rather than coming up with a plan to put it right. We had exactly that conversation, that neither of us had done anything wrong, we were just incompatible, and I had thought that was an OK way to end things, I wish that had been the actual end rather than this.

OP posts:
stella47 · 25/04/2014 14:58

"Don't talk to him, or write to him. It's just getting involved in his drama and there is nothing that you can say that will make him say, "Oh right, yeah, sorry.""
Thank you for that - it is exactly what I needed to hear! x

OP posts:
Fontella · 25/04/2014 15:04

You know the truth, you know you didn't do anything wrong - fuck what he thinks. You could swear on a thousand bibles and walk across broken glass in your bare feet and he still wouldn't believe you - but that's got nowt' to do with you, and everything to do with him.

He's the one with the issues and insecurities, and as others have said - you've had a lucky escape. Just imagine if you had gone on to a long term relationship with him - he'd end up questioning your every move. The bloke's got major trust issues (probably because of his ex cheating on him):

He had a few episodes of irrationally thinking things and becoming angry while we were together

You're well out of it. Dry your tears, draw a line and move on.

Isetan · 27/04/2014 17:56

The bright side of his little rant, is that now you don't have to pretend to be his friend.

stella47 · 27/04/2014 18:22

Thank you! I actually had an email from him yesterday, just as I was starting to feel better, after a couple of weeks of no contact, asking for explanations of what had happened between us. I wasn't sure whether to reply, and didn't want to get in a situation of waiting to see what he said back. But I did, basically with an explanation of why I agreed with him when he said the relationship wasn't working. I assured him I had been faithful, but thanks to FolkGirl's advice above didn't try to explain anything or persuade him, and said that there was nothing I could say if he chose to believe differently. Thank you for your advice - I haven't had a reply for him, and feel better leaving it like this.

OP posts:
AnotherTry · 27/04/2014 18:24

Its annoying when they rewrite history and in their version you come out as the bad guy - I've had it happen too and its maddening and hurtful.

But I think you've had a lucky escape. Have nothing more to do with the deluded tosser him. Get busy enjoying life.

oldgrandmama · 27/04/2014 18:28

Stella, you did the right thing and honestly, you're well rid of him. What a horrible man. Just stop reacting to him - no texts, calls, no replies, no bloody ANYTHING. Ignore, ignore, ignore. You did absolutely nothing wrong and thank god it's finished. He sounds horrible and maybe a bit stalkerish? Watch out for that - nip it in the bud if stalking of any sort begins.

You've a great new life ahead of you, you musn't let this creep mess you about.

JeanSeberg · 27/04/2014 18:36

Block him on all forms of contact.

FolkGirl · 27/04/2014 18:41

Good reply! I understand why you did it, I would have done too. I don't like the ball being in my court, but I agree that you should block him now. You've given him a very final response so just leave it there now.

Glad you feel better Smile

stella47 · 27/04/2014 18:45

Thank you for your replies - it is lovely of you all to give advice, I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
aylesburyduck · 27/04/2014 19:15

Having been in your shoes on more than one occasion (Wink) this is the time to indulge yourself and do whatever it is that will make you feel pampered and spoilt - enjoy whatever you like.

As for the fella...let him rewrite history, you can hold your head up. I suspect he was testing you and got a bit of a shock when you agreed upon being incompatible.

You've responded to his email, I'd leave it at that because the more you engage with him, the more he will feed off the contact.

You'll come through this. I promise.

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