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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

Utterly devastated and i feel so alone and stupid (long)

189 replies

Rewy · 30/06/2014 21:22

I realised at the weekend that my boyfriend is a NarcissistSad and has been emotionally abusing me for the last 26 months. He is text book Narc, been googling it and he has absolutely classic traits.
I feel so stupid that i didnt see through it before.
Feel like im dying i miss him so much , im infatuated with him,its like he has cast a spell over me. Ive never been so into a man before ( not that ive been with many)
I met him a few months after the breakup of my last long term 22 year relationship (which was also emotionally abusive)My ex was a passive agressive compulsive liar who slept around behind my back and finacially abused me and reduced me to a wreck.
When i first met my boyfriend he was so charming ,so handsome ,so kind and flattering. Always offering to help me out with money or practical things . Boosting my confidence,made me feel like a princess. The sex was amazing very thrilling ,risky and varied . He was the experienced older man with past of many partners.
I thought it was odd when he offered to buy a house with me a few months into the relationship (i refused of course)but he was always pushing or leaning on me to let him move in .He declared his love for me very early on. One day out of the blue(8 weeks in) he text me and said we need to talk. I knew what that meant and called him in a panic .He said he thought that i was only meeting him for sex and he didnt want that he wanted a family and could he meet mine blah blah.So i was pushed into that in fear of losing him.
I was already insecure and untrusting because of my ex and then he dropped that bombshell on me .
All was amazing until i brought a house ,the rows started. It was always my fault he would go into a blind rage shouting and insulting me he was the wronged person etc etc . In fear it would always be me trying to calm him say sorry as i would be convinced it was something i must of done. Then i would always get the silent treatment for days on end no calls texts nothing just ignoring me. Then out the blue i would get a nice text and it would be ok again.
Everything was my fault Sad
I tried harder, tried to be better ,understand him and all the while feeling more insecure. He would look at other women when i was with him (i told him i knew and hated it) he said it was a habit .He continued to do it eventually slipping back to the habit.
Lately sex has always been on his terms (always too tired if i wanted it) but ok if he wanted it.Started calling me a nymph ,said all i wanted was sex . He started saying he couldnt have oral sex with me because he had ulcers at back of his throat (with holding pleasure from me) Would only have sex how he wanted to etc.
Many examples of him withholding sex from me.
One incident after yet another row , we started foreplay and i stopped to remove my necklace so it didnt get in the way.This annoyed him and he shouted at me angrily to hurry the fuck up .The sex was angry and not pleasurable for me.
Everything was my fault ,he was too hot ,too cold. My house wasnt right etc. I couldnt get food right and tea only tasted nice if i made it in his special cup.
Saturday night i wanted to hold his hand and talk about a previous row last weekend (just because we hadnt done so because he ignored me ) He went mad shouting calling me a horrible fucking thing . He was getting madder and threatening to go (as always)with me trying to stop him.I started talking about how he makes me feel ,looking at women and then he said hes always done it and its habit ,nothing wrong with it and always done it .I said i hate him always mentioning his many exes then he said he couldnt help the fact hes had loads of women and gets offers all the time. I mentioned his ex wife (the only one he married) he went mad and said "she wasnt much to look at" (ive seen a picture of her on facebook) It was like a slap in the face .I asked why he had married her then and he said he was pushed into it and he didnt even fancy her when he met her. She was a good cook though and had a nice house and didnt push his buttons like i do. She ended the marrige and he told me (when i met him)that the last few "ogres" had also dumped him .I referred to this during the row and he said he never said that he fucked them off. Said his ex of 8 years was a psycho etc and i said maybe he made like that he must have a personality disorder and needs help .He said yes probably but he then mocked me about the counselling i have and said "what like you ?"
He walked out and i havent heard from him since.
God im sorry to waffle on my heads mashed im writing everything down to remind me how abusive he has been to me .Im so embarrassed and lonely . I dont want it to just be me and the dc (not his)
Ive never been alone and i dont want to beSad
Despite his treatment of me i still dont want anyone else to have himSad
I dont know where to start

OP posts:
TheysayIamparanoid · 23/08/2014 00:37

my ex was just like yours and afterwards, I was like you are now. Luckily I had friends to talk me out of texting and apologising for being me!

I just woke up one day and realised he was my addiction and the more I fed it, the more it would want. It wasn't even really about him, it was my needing him. I thought of the most joyful times in my life- (for me, DC being born) and when a thought of him came into my head, I made myself remember the joy. It wasn't easy at first but I was pretty determined not to let that user break me!

I have since faced up to the fact I attracted men like him. It was really low self esteem issues that go back years, I didn't think I deserved better.

Have been single a while now and am actually a bit scared of another r'ship, even though I'd like one!

I don't think I actually snapped out of it, it was gradual, like a fog lifting, but I promise you it does get better, your days will get happier
Good luck x

Rewy · 23/08/2014 20:14

theysayiamparanoid

That makes complete sense to me, that's how it feels, like an addiction.
Unless you have been there you can't understand it. It makes no sense.
He feels /felt like a drug!

I've felt better today
Kids been happy playing and I've started painting my hall, stairs and landing. It's been a good distraction.

OP posts:
Adarajames · 23/08/2014 23:33

Well done, distraction is your best friend right now! You wouldn't believe the amount of work I got done, whilst listening to taped novels so brain had no chance to revert back to unhealthy thoughts, after a particularly devastating breakup, and you'll also get to feel good about what you've achieved each day, a very good place to be :) be proud of yourself when you go tired to bed from hard work tonight :) x

Rewy · 23/08/2014 23:45

Sylvana -no gp cant help
I will get there, I think it's just the initial shock of knowing he's out there ready to perform again.

OP posts:
Rewy · 24/08/2014 01:14

Thanks
I think it may be the answer

OP posts:
Adarajames · 25/08/2014 02:04

Hi OP
how's the painting coming along? Hope you've had a better day, rest well :)

TheysayIamparanoid · 25/08/2014 09:49

It does eventually fade away, you just have to starve it!
I read a book called 'women who love too much'- it helped me see how and why I attracted that kind of P

Rewy · 25/08/2014 16:29

Hi
Painting nearly finished, feel like we've survived the weekend better than I thought.
It was probably more the thought of it looming ahead. Initial shock of him being on dating site and panic.
I find my thoughts tend to wander to think of him or what he might be doing or who he's working on now but I try to not dwell too much.
I keep remembering more and more measures he made to control me. Even making me have a "loud" alert tone on my phone so texts and emails could be heard.
So glad I don't have that now.
Thanks for messages and looking in on me.

OP posts:
orangefusion · 27/08/2014 20:40

Of course he is on a dating site, he think's he's wonderful. He needs new supply. Your thoughts are quite natural and they will wander to wonder what he is doing and who he is grooming next. When they come, gently ask your mind to let them go and occupy yourself with something lovely instead.

Go slow, take your time, you need to treat yourself very gently at the moment. Actions to reclaim your space are great distractors, decorating, cleaning, moving stuff around to make it look different- all good things.

Your descriptions of how you feel are normal (in so much as I did the same stuff) but I am worried that you are not able to put on a good face for the children. If you cant manage that then go see your doctor because you need a support network around you.

Eat something- it makes you feel stronger. You might be enjoying seeing the pounds slide off but it wont make you look better to others and it wont give you the strength you need to fight back and bounce back. His nasty mind would enjoy the idea that pining over him was causing you pain- do not give him that pleasure, it is another form of narcissistic supply to know that he has that effect.

Rewy, keep posting here. It will get easier- it will, you have to take each day as a step closer to the time when you will realise that you have done a whole day/week/month without thinking of him (or if you have thought of him, there is no associated emotion- just indifference- possibly even pity).

Keep on keeping on Rewy, keep on.

Adarajames · 27/08/2014 22:25

Hey Rewy
Sounds like you're doing well, good on you :) yes, do make sure you're eating well, and getting rest. If you run out if walls, you're always welcome to come paint mine as a distraction?! ??
Just keep remembering you are woman - strong and smart, you VAN do this x

Adarajames · 27/08/2014 22:26

CAN obviously! Silly phone typos!

Rewy · 29/08/2014 13:54

Thankyou for your words of encouragement both

I wore lipgloss today and I haven't worn it for ages because he used to complain and say get that sticky shit off your lips. Then refuse to kiss me.

I keep thinking of the next victim wondering how long until his charm disappears and his evil twin (he actually called it that) appears instead.

OP posts:
Miggsie · 29/08/2014 14:01

If you are stuck for something to do buy the book "why does he do that?" by Lundy Bancroft and read it.

It helped my friend get over her abusive ex because she read all about him in the book and say "oh yes, he did that! Why did I think it was reasonable?" It allowed her to talk honestly about him for the first time in years and really helped her disassociate and move on.

As to who he'll move onto next, well you can't really help them, but you can protect yourself and make sure your DD never takes up with someone like that.

And there is no evil twin - there's just a horrible man who covers it up for a bit but has always been horrible underneath.

Rewy · 29/08/2014 16:02

Thankyou miggsie I shall

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