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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

Non-communication problem.

150 replies

lifeissweet · 13/09/2015 09:24

This may be long. I apologise in advance.

DP and I have been together for 2 years. We have known each other for about 11 years, but were both married to other people. We are part of the same circle of friends. I was divorced for 5 years and him for 2 before we got together (just in case anyone was wondering)

We have always got on really well. Our friends were all delighted when we got together because we are so well suited. Including my ex-h, who I have an unusually good friendship with.

All was going amazingly well...until...

About 6 months in, we had a very minor disagreement. I was annoyed with him about something he had done that had hurt me and I told him so.

Completely without warning, the shutters came down. He wouldn't answer my calls, he wouldn't respond to messages save to say that he didn't want to talk to me. It was hell. I felt ill. I thought it was all over.

After 2 days of being ignored, he invited me round, told me he had been going over things in his head. He had been worried that I was trying to manipulate him. I wasn't. He had decided that I wasn't, so now everything was ok. He was trying to guard against the same mistakes made in his marriage, where he had been controlled and manipulated and was determined not to let that happen again.

I was upset with him, but relieved that things were back on track, so on we went...

This has happened 3 times since. Always about something small that was taken the wrong way. He refuses to answer my calls and gets annoyed if I text him saying 'all I want is some space and you can at least give me that.'

When I ask him about it he just says he needs time to think and that I need to leave him alone. He stops short of completely ignoring me. He'll send a good morning or a goodnight (just those words. No elaboration) and if I try to call, he'll text a 'do you need me for anything?' and if I say 'just to talk to you.' He'll say 'oh. Ok.' Or remind me that I'm supposed to be leaving him alone.

He is doing this to me at the moment. We don't live together. We have complicated and busy lives. I went round to his on Thursday night. Neither of us had our children. I usually stay the night. I was getting tired at about 11, so said I might go to bed. He said 'so you're going home, then?'

And I was a bit surprised and asked 'can't I stay here?'

And he said
'No.'

Just that.

So I got my stuff together and started to leave. I was upset. Visibly so.

He got annoyed with me. I told him it was fine. He needed a night to himself and that is valid. I sometimes do too, I was just disappointed as I hadn't seen him all week and like waking up with him. He accused me of trying to make him feel bad.

I left.

And since then it has been the cold shoulder.

He sends me good morning and goodnight messages and we even all went to his sister's house for lunch yesterday, but he didn't speak directly to me or look at me the whole time we were there.

I feel like I'm going mad.
I have told him how this makes me feel. It doesn't seem to make a difference. He says this is just how he copes with things and I need to accept it.
But it makes me feel physically sick and Insecure and out of control.
Is Any Fucker around to give me a kick up the arse?

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 14/09/2015 11:40

Alluding to having 'other problems ' to make you feel you are being selfish for expecting to be treated better, whilst at the same time decoratino the bedroom to reinforce how great and really committed he is. Mmm

LineyReborn · 14/09/2015 11:41

He knows you've seen through him.

Inexperiencedchick · 14/09/2015 12:18

I can't believe he is okay saying "you are not the centre of the universe" and still expect you to be with him.

God! He is bloody rude.
Why would someone tell to woman he shares his life with such nasty things.

I was dis-heartened when the guy I dated commented "you have eaten more than last time" and Started to distance myself from him. With this man I wouldn't stay even a minute. He is very very rude.
Or it's me being oversensitive?!

Please keep yourself happy. Don't allow people to bring you down.

The best of luck in everything. Flowers

Inexperiencedchick · 14/09/2015 12:24

And it's not about being the centre of the universe or high maintenance, eating more/less (my family and people who know me actually complain that I'm underweight), etc. it's about treating the person the right way and acknowledge that the person in front of you is a human being with feelings.

I wonder if there is a normal man who actually thinks before opening his/her mouth.

Something has to change!

Inexperiencedchick · 14/09/2015 12:33

Please walk away before he becomes unbearable!

His behaviour completely reminded me my past where I didn't walk away and stayed with the hope he will become nicer, he did the opposite and end up being the nasty piece of shit.

These types are unappreciative idiots.

Stay strong, you really don't need this looser in your life.

lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 18:41

I have been round and removed all of my things.

He has been sending me little texts all day. I am ignoring it.

Thanks for the wise words. I have to keep remembering that this is absolutely not worth the aggravation. I need some stability right now and so do my children.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 14/09/2015 18:45

Congratulations. You just took your life back.

TendonQueen · 14/09/2015 18:53

Well done. As for 'you're not the centre of the universe', neither is he, but he's much closer to thinking it! Expecting you to sit and wait patiently while he deigns to decide he might be able to hold a conversation with you now. All the not-so-subtle blaming about 'not wanting a slowdown'. The unbelievable nastiness of having you at his family member's house only to ignore you and not even engage in the most superficial polite conversation. Think back over all that when another text arrives. He was getting something out of being unpleasant to you and if given the chance he'd do it again. And you don't want to open up your kids to that.

He's realised he no longer looks like the wounded party / Mr Nice Guy to you, and wants to regain his spot. Don't fall for it. There'll be another round of the cycle if so.

SevenSeconds · 14/09/2015 19:11

Stay strong, OP

Zebraface · 14/09/2015 19:19

Well done OP,stay strong

You've made me see that the issues I've been having with my DP of 3 & 1/2 years are very similar... Although I'd not put it down to him being a NARC.

I've been NC for 2&1/2 weeks,just about to buckle but reading this thread makes me think stick with it (the NC Confused). So thank you... Here to hold your hand Wine

lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 19:21

I know this going to be me boringly going waa waa waa after the decision has been made - and I know there is no point going over old ground, really.

But I'm still processing this and having realisations...

The one that struck me on my way home from work was this:

As part of my self-esteem work in therapy, my psychologist asked me what my friends would say about me. I said I didn't know, so she asked me to ask them to list some of my qualities.

He did it too.

Since then, when I'm feeling low and crap about myself he always makes me remember the common themes in those lists. To remember that I'm a good person.

One of those was that I am genuine and honest and unfailingly kind. He wrote that I treat people well even when they have not been so gracious to me. That I am forgiving and unjudgemental.

Why, then, does he seem to take offence at things I say so often - as if what I'm saying is code for something else. When I am upset, it is a personal attack. When I say how I feel I am criticising him (I got a torrent of 'nothing I do is enough, is it?' once, when I told him I was unhappy about something perfectly valid) I say what I mean. I always do. I don't play games. He KNOWS that, yet still paints me as a manipulator.

Sorry. I know this doesn't matter anymore, but I am still getting to grips with this - and facing up to these little things that I'm now realising I have been ignoring is quite helpful.

OP posts:
lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 19:24

Good luck, Zebra face. You have done so well to get so far on. It hurts, doesn't it? You've got this far. That's the hard bit done (I hope. I can't imagine feeling much worse than I do right now)

Keep strong.

OP posts:
EngTech · 14/09/2015 19:29

You have to decide who is important in the relationship an what your sanity is worth

DoreenLethal · 14/09/2015 19:35

Why, then, does he seem to take offence at things I say so often

a - Why did he...not why does he.

b - because he is a manipulator and any chance he gets to play the victim he takes that opportunity.

Have you actually dumped him? If so - block!

Zebraface · 14/09/2015 19:43

I feel your self doubt OP but this hit home:
It's so disrespectful to shut someone down when they are trying to resolve an issue.
More than anything you're trying your best & 2nd (or 3rd) time around we're trying to not make the same mistakes so things get examined in more detail maybe?
Keep your distance. Resist the urge to text (I deleted number) & am not on social media.

lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 19:53

Yes. Sorry. I haven't changed the tenses in my head yet. Why DID he.

Thanks, Doreen. You've been brilliant.

And no - I haven't actually dumped him yet. I want to do that to his face when he gets back.

He may not deserve it, but I wouldn't be so shitty as to finish with someone by text. Take the high road and all that...

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 14/09/2015 20:43

You're not being boring so please don't worry about posting the questions that are going through your mind.
What's interesting in your post is that you talk about positive things he's said to you, times he's been supportive. But you're also aware that it doesn't add up with his other behaviour. I think the simple explanation is that he is messed up! He is abusive, manipulative and his behaviour does not make logical sense!

NameChange30 · 14/09/2015 20:51

As for how to dump him.. you don't owe him a thing. You don't need to take the high road. You're ON the high road whatever you do! You just need to do what you have to do to stay strong and end things for good. Don't forget that this man thinks nothing of ignoring you for days. Honestly if you just blocked and deleted his number I think it's no more or less than he deserves. But I also appreciate that you might not be ready to do that?

Morganly · 14/09/2015 20:56

I do understand what you are saying about the face to face, and it's a credit to your decency and maturity, but do you think you will be able to withstand being talked around or being made to feel that you are in the wrong or just having a whole heap of criticism dumped upon you? He does seem to be really very very good at persuading people that he is the good guy. And after all, if he doesn't want to face 'a showdown' why should you?

SexNamesRFab · 14/09/2015 20:58

I've watched my dad do this to my mum, and sometimes my mum do this to my dad for decades. It's an awful, awful way to live. Get out now OP and save yourself, and those who actually do love you, years if heartache. The thing at his sister's hit a particularly shitty note for me Sad It doesn't matter how great he is 99% if the time, if this is his he deals with minor disagreements then you need to ditch & run.

eddielizzard · 14/09/2015 21:07

lifeissweet, you are my heroine. amazing. stay strong!

Inexperiencedchick · 14/09/2015 21:09

If you want to do it face to face, then do it.
I guess it's about self respect.
But please be strong, and remember how he treated you.

Good luck OP, you are a star, x

lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 21:25

Don't be too quick to praise. I haven't done it yet.

And the thing that is getting my goat right now it how it's going to look.

I know I need to not care what other people think, but this man is just such a GOOD GUY. My family love him. My ex-MIL even shed a tear when we got together because she couldn't think of a lovelier pair of people being together.

And, as I'm the unstable one, he will be a wronged victim. I mean, he's so lovely and so decent. HOW COULD SHE?! She really must be mental.
I'm just venting now. I am aware this is getting me nowhere.

OP posts:
pocketsaviour · 14/09/2015 21:30

A comment such as "You never really know someone fully, do you?" or the more blunt, "Everyone's got their dark side" to most parties should nip that right in the bud.

Or, just say "We weren't making each other happy anymore." If pressed by nosy bastards about what exactly was making you unhappy, just keep repeating the first phrase (if necessary followed by "it's none of your business" or "Trunky want a bun?" Grin )

lifeissweet · 14/09/2015 21:31

And yes, sexnames. That is what I keep coming back to.

He was Mr Charm at his sister's. Joking with everyone. Playing with the children. Being Mr Jovial. Just not making eye contact with me or addressing me directly at any point. Even when he left and I tried to hug him goodbye he stiffened and almost pushed me off.

He was doing a perfect good guy act. If I had said anything I would have come across as mad and like I was 'making a scene' when all he was doing was being his usual jolly self.

So he gets to put up the facade and be nice to everyone while shunning me - and then telling me it's not about me and it's not personal.

It scares me that he's so far away from the person I thought he was for a whole decade.

OP posts: