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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

Phased out / dumped. Please please help. Feel like I am Drowning

76 replies

Rejectedwoman · 07/11/2017 09:53

Posted about this man ages ago in AIBU. Met through a shared hobby. He is definitely single. Was very into me. Sending lots of texts, ringing every day. Asking how I though things were going after each date. Lots of open talk about his feelings and mine. Instigated by him. He was by far the more full on and I was very cautious. Eventually I talked to him and said it felt too much and he calmed down. We went out more and got on. I started to like him an f have feelings for him . It's been 11 weeks almost. Had trouble trusting after a marriage break up (husband still lives in the house but we are not sharing a bed / life anymore . It's a question of how soon he can move out into his own place ) always been totally open and honest with new man about it. He was absolutely fine. Actually praised my honesty and openness many times. Not slept together as I wanted to be sure about him and take it slow. Again he was fine with this.we were on the same page. Didn't want a casual / one night stand thing.

Anyway about 3 weeks ago new man lost his job. Was upbeat at first saying he was applying for other stuff and would be ok. Slowly he's become withdrawn. Moody. Says it's effecting him badly and he doesn't like not working. Now he's said he wants space. Cancelled our date Saturday saying he didn't feel like doing.much that day.said it wasn't me or anything I had done but it's because he's spent x number of weeks with no real routine he's in a doing nothing mindset. Hes still taking part in the shared hobby we have however. He said he's snappy and off with his daughter, family other friends. It's nothing against me etc etc. Anyway now the phone calls have stopped. Doesn't reply to texts. Followed me on Twitter . Only place he has kept me is Facebook. I am being careful not to post anything about this on there or to post anything cryptic. Last week I noticed he had been through his Facebook and deleted all trace of me. Check ins and photos of us. He said his daughter (late teens) had been asking him questions about who I was and he has always said he wouldn't be introducing a new woman to her unless he had been in the relationship some time and was as sure as he could be about the direction it was going. I have kids and I understand that. Something about it didn't quite sit right in my gut feeling as she's not on his friends list and his posts were for friends only but he was adamant she had seen some of the posts and kicked off about it ...

Anyway yesterday I asked outright does he still have feelings and want to see me. He just said he wanted to be on his own and needed some space to sort the job thing out. This later turned to Jim saying he needs to sort his life out and that probably means I out everything on hold. It's not you. It's where I am in my life at the moment. I will sort myself out and get myself moving again but that will happen in my own time. Once I am sorted I can see what lies ahead. At this moment in time I can't. Hope you understand.

It's over isn't it? I feel so sad. My anxiety is through the roof. Finding it hard to eat, sleep is all over the place . Keep crying.. Keep checking to see if he's taken me off Facebook. Feel like I am going mad. I had started to trust him and open up to him. He was always in contact . Always reassured me. Once he calmed down I felt really calm and content with him. I don't understand why he has done this.

Tried to ring him yesterday and he didn't answer. No reply to messages now either. The last text I laid it on the line how I felt. That I would be here when he felt better about things. That I wanted to be with him and I cared about him and had feelings for him and I didn't want to throw the towel in. Stressed this was a bump in the road he would get over. That we had lots to look forward to. He never even answered. I am absolutely gutted. :(

OP posts:
ravenmum · 07/11/2017 15:38

Whatever the reason, it's truly probably a good thing for you to split up if you are so vulnerable now. You'll look back in a few months' time and realise that this was all about you being vulnerable, honestly. First relationship I had after my marriage breakdown was far too intense - and I waited a year!

Sancerresanwine · 07/11/2017 15:41

Delete his number but don't block. Read the 30 day no contact rule. Massive hugs Flowers

Sadlady77 · 07/11/2017 15:43

You need to take control here and block him. You only know him 11 weeks. You should be still in the honeymoon period and out enjoying dates. It sounds way way to heavy and high maintenance.

lesleyhal · 07/11/2017 15:47

@rejectedwoman I know exactly where you are with this and how you feel. Sadly I'm in a similar predicament but it's a 7 year relationship that's just been thrown away for reasons that are still not clear to me. It hurts so much I too feel like I'm drowning. I can't make sense of it all :( Reaching out to you and sending you big hugs xx

Rejectedwoman · 07/11/2017 16:07

Thankyou. I will have to delete his number and keep no copy of it. I have looked at my wattsapp a few times and every few hours he pops on but my messages aren't read. So either he's popped on sees I have sent something but won't open it or he is messaging someone else. He only ever went on it in the past to message me. Only installed it what I asked him to as opposed to sending texts.

I realise my reaction isn't really normal. That's why I can't do one night stands no strings stuff. If I have feelings for someone I have feelings for them .

Are my feelings real or was he a light at the end of the tunnel in a shitty marriage and a life raft to cling on to?

OP posts:
IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 07/11/2017 18:54

Could have been a bit of both regarding your feelings but I imagine either way it feels a bit shit and extremely hurtful Sad Not nice when someone just does a U turn on what's they've said and disappears. No real advice other than what's been said but if possible try to leave him be for now and could be he'll have a change of heart once things in his life calm down but best thing to do is just take it day by day (hour by hour if that seems too hard). Feel for you OP it sounds like an all round stressful time, take care of yourself CakeFlowers

Rejectedwoman · 07/11/2017 19:07

I will have to take it hour by hour. Can't work out why he's kept me on Facebook as a friend. What's that all about? Maybe he will come back when he's worked things out. I honestly haven't felt pain like this before. I clearly have a massive problem

OP posts:
IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 07/11/2017 19:51

I know how you're feeling and it's horrible. And leaves you interpreting everything looking for clues. Could be he doesn't want to sever all ties but who know it does sound likes he's playing mind games a little. If it's a habit he has could be good in a way to find out early.

crimsonlake · 07/11/2017 20:11

Hate to say this but this is the risk you run when you start a relationship so soon after your marriage ended.You have not had time to grieve for the end of your marriage and now you have the additional grief of getting over this relationship no matter how short it was. Take your time and stay away from entering any other relationships until your divorce is well and truly over and you are emotionally ready to move on.

Rejectedwoman · 07/11/2017 23:21

Well he has taken me off his Facebook and blocked me. He sent a message to me shortly before he did this. It read...

I’m gonna take you of fb for the time being. Seeing you on there isn’t helping me. I need time to sort myself out and this is for myself and only that. Please understand that it’s my way of coping ..

He says he's not himself and won't be until he sorts himself out. That he needs a complete break from everything . That it's really getting to him and he isn't coping..quite why that means I need to be cut out his life and blocked is anyone guess. I am beyond hurt right now

OP posts:
LoveforPGTipsMonkey · 08/11/2017 00:37

OP, having read your last message, he sounds grnuinely low, and I'll take it at his word. Some people - after losing their job and feeling lost/not sure where to go next - have to really concentrate to find a way forward and they do NOT want romantic partners or even most of their long term friends, seeing then at that low point. I'm like this myself ( I'm a woman).
I like the fact that he is explaining and apologising and keeps saying that's it's not to do with you and he hopes you understand -well you don't understand and that's not your fault as you are vulnerable atm for your own reasons. But I do understand wanting to withdraw due to feeling ashamed and as if he's no good to anyone until he sorts his head/job out!

LoveforPGTipsMonkey · 08/11/2017 00:39

should've been 'I'd take him at his word'

MistressDeeCee · 08/11/2017 00:51

He's got a lot of talk hasn't he OP? A lot about his past, how he is feeling, it's not me it's you etc. Yes it's rotten when a man leaves you. But in time to come you'll realise it's best this happens sooner, rather than later. Just 11 weeks in you seem to have had a lot of hopes pinned on this man. He is moving on, and you will have to once you get through the grief of it all. & you will. I'd also bet money that he has another woman and that's why he is erasing any appearance of you on his social media. It's the usual lies and script of a coward.

ferrier · 08/11/2017 07:41

I think the message from that is very clear that it's him not you. Maybe there is someone else involved, maybe not. Whatever, you did nothing wrong and there's nothing you can do right now to 'win' him back.
I'd pop over to the 30 day no contact thread for support with handling your feelings over the next month.

Rejectedwoman · 08/11/2017 07:49

Thank you all for replying. I just want to sleep and wake up when all this is over.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 08/11/2017 09:43

I hope this comes across as kindly as it's meant OP but I feel a bit worried for you that you've had this strong a reaction after 2 and a half months. I think you need to be very careful in the coming months / years with these types of feelings. It's really not "normal" (I hope you know what I mean by that) to be quite so bereft over a man you've known less than 11 weeks and probably only met a dozen times or so.

Rejectedwoman · 08/11/2017 13:25

Bitoutofpractice.
I think you are right and it's come to a head here . There are a couple of reasons from my past I could point it to as to why I am basically clinging onto the first male who comes along and shows me a bit of love. I realise that's what I am doing. I am not the sort who starts stalking and sending things and bombarding with phone calls and going to his house . So it's not about to manifest itself in that way. I think it's the loss of the things he was saying to me and promising me that's what I am struggling with I think.

Just to add he didn't say any of those things in response to things I said or told him. I was very very careful not to give away much about my past (the bad bits of it) or what I have been through in life so that I didn't appear vulnerable or needy in any way. He would often say how confident I came across actually. Certainly wasn't lining up a replacement father figure either . The feelings were for me to to him if that makes sense. I realise it's not normal to bond to someone that strongly that quickly. He appeared to bond to me just as quick. Said after one date he wasn't single he was with me and stuff like that

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 08/11/2017 14:37

Rejected I'm sorry to be so blunt.

I think it would be an excellent idea to get some help with these issues from your past before you get into another relationship. It sounds like the past has just rushed up to you and smacked you in the face Thanks

Sadly that full on start followed by withdrawal is very very common nowadays. Particularly with online dating

Rejectedwoman · 08/11/2017 15:47

It wasn't online dating it was a shared hobby we have . We go to the same place weekly and have lots of mutual friends although I haven't actually come across him prior . He messaged me through Facebook after I commented on a post from one of his friends. That's how it began

OP posts:
Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 08/11/2017 16:32

I think you was over invested in someone you only been dating for 11 weeks & sounds to me like he was love bombing you & because of your past relationship you clung to it, you also sound very needy to me but I am very relaxed so maybe just me,
If i had to take a guess id say it was a rebound thing for him playing the normal dating someone after sneaking around & probably didn't even realise himself until he got hit with losing his job & the norm stopped being the norm & the balloon burst & reality set in & maybe he is depressed about it all,
My advice you have no way of knowing the truth behind why he has gone like he has, the 30 day no contact is what I advise you to do & concerntrate on being happy being on your own & learn not to dive in & realise it takes time to build a healthy relationship in the future & learn the traits of love bombing. Flowers

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 08/11/2017 18:54

It's all about him isn't it. You know what, OP, I spent so much time trying to analyse the words and behaviours of the men I dated, desperately trying to make sense of why they'd gone cold. Spent way too long being supportive and understanding to the detriment of my own happiness. But in the end the reasons why are irrelevant and if we focus as much on our own feelings and happiness as we doing trying to suss out these flakes, we'd be a damn sight happier. So my advice is assume you're dumped but he hasn't got the guts to come right out and say it (or he just wants you left on the back burner at his beck and call), assume he's twat who is either abusive or an emotional lightweight, delete/block him on everything so you're not reminded of his existence, and try and get on with your life.

IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 08/11/2017 19:24

Actually reading your post and nodding in recognition whataload as been guilty of over analysing someone else's behaviour/actions to death too many times, thinking what can I say and do to meet their needs and make them happy while putting myself on the back burner. We do need to remember to think about what we want out of the relationship too how damn true! Good reminder.

IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 08/11/2017 19:58

Also hope you're doing OK today OP Flowers

Rejectedwoman · 08/11/2017 20:36

Anxiety not been as bad. Still thinking about him. Hardest at night. I miss him. Still no idea why he blocked me. Wasnt contacting him through Facebook. Hes totally cut me out after saying he loved me. I am just baffled

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 08/11/2017 20:47

Walk away with your head held high and like people have suggested,keep busy and don't look back.you have come through one major relationship break up and do not need all his issues .
Be nice to yourself,your living arrangements must be extremely stressful(ive been there),so remind yourself youre a strong woman,get a new hobby so you're not likely to see him.
Keep going forward,one step,one hour at a time and as you walk further away,so your step will become stronger,more purposeful.eventually you won't want to look back.picture yourself living a happy,independent life.
It can be done.remember you are not alone.
You will succeed,and that success will be fabulous!