Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

NC Dignity Club Pt 4: The Only Way Is Up

998 replies

Basseting · 20/01/2018 17:31

Welcome to the No Contact Dignity Club Part 4

If you are aiming for it, trying to maintain it, being 'offered' it, coming back to it... NC support is here!

OP posts:
OldBook · 22/01/2018 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 22/01/2018 23:30

Lol at the smug face. That's defo enough to put me off 🤣🤣🤣

IcecreamSundays · 23/01/2018 04:47

I’ve not checked in for a few days now, sorry ladies. I’m on day 12 this morning. But I found the weekend, my mind was feeling stronger and clearer and I didn’t want to focus on the NC. I’m questioning whether I’m putting too much energy into him by doing so. So I didn’t check in. Then it all came down yesterday when I had to see him in work again. It was fine really, remained NC. He was being loud, jokey, basically making it clear how happy he is now I’m out of his life for good. It really got to me. I considered sending him a message to ask if he could make it less apparent - is that unreasonable? I messaged a friend instead, who encouraged me to ride it out.

Why does it bother me that he is happier? I think I’m happier. I am still grieving all those lost dreams, all the what ifs, but I’m in a better place away from him as I’m putting the responsibility for my happiness back in my own hands. Maybe it makes me feel like I was unloved. That it was all a lie? I don’t know.

So I’ve woken at ridiculous o clock this morning and can’t get back to sleep. Instead I’m trying to sit in this place of feelings. I don’t know what a lot of the feelings are though. Sadness, missing him, wanting to be out of the woods, and also just this feeling of something not sitting right in me, and I don’t understand this one. I’m scared I’ll never be loved.

I’ve tried to have a good read over the last few pages. Tiru please don’t send the message when you’re past 4 weeks. He will know you don’t want contact by this point, and hopefully won’t contact you again until your feelings have subsided. Contacting him to make him aware of something that he will already know from your actions will open you up to new hurts and vulnerability.

rhubarb excellent work getting to 32 days. This is a huge achievement and you’ve done so well. 30 days is going to be a landmark for me - so much so that I’ve marked the day in my calendar!
I’m hoping that by 60 I will be ready to stop counting, but working with him makes me feel that this may take longer.

Well done appella on day 9

theParting welcome to the thread 😊. It is the milestone everyone dreads isn’t it? An ex moving on. Try to put all your energy into yourself and what makes you feel better now, and take it away from him. Easier said than done I know...but the basics first, eat, sleep, cry when you need to cry, exercise and look after your body and your mind will slowly follow.

oldbook I completely relate to feeling fine and then being floored. Do you think that it may just be the newness of the situation and change to the relationship that’s causing you to feel off about the dates?

Star all round x

OldBook · 23/01/2018 04:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gingergenius · 23/01/2018 04:58

Not caught up with everyone yet.

I've been really stupid.

Has to work together yesterday. Ended up shagging.

I now feel useless and pathetic. And confused.

OldBook · 23/01/2018 05:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OldBook · 23/01/2018 05:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IcecreamSundays · 23/01/2018 05:04

Agree with oldbook, be compassionate towards yourself ginger, I know it feels terrible after and brings up a multitude of feelings, but get back on the wagon and do your thang. You have us all here for support. Come on here today if you feel crappy. And be kind to you.

Enirroc · 23/01/2018 05:19

@ThePartingLass I completely get what you say about the sense of loss. I think it feels so much worse that he's got someone and I'm alone- even though in my case, I don't believe he's happy, but he made that choice and left me with nothing but grief.

I'm wide awake because I'm ill and I've got an irritating little human in my bed because he had nightmares...

Urgh

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 07:25

Checking in for Day 22. Will catch up on everybody in a little while.

Belonger · 23/01/2018 07:43

ginger you are NOT useless or pathetic, you're a lovely human being doing your best in very difficult circumstances. Being mean to you won't help anything so be as kind as you would to anyone else here who'd had a wobble x

user1493423934 · 23/01/2018 07:44

Ginger Be kind to yourself! to quote from a song (Supernaturals "glimpse of the light") 'we all make mistakes and when we've made enough it's called experience'. Forgive yourself and move on.
Icecream From what i could read, I really think you are healing. You might not realise it, but some of what you were saying eg I’m questioning whether I’m putting too much energy into him by doing so. This stood out to me. I'm sorry I don't know your situation, but you have to see him at work? (correct me if I'm wrong) you were right to listen to your friend and not send him anything. I think he can sense you're healing (you're sending out vibes for want of a better word) and was going on because he is insecure. (And a jerk by the sounds of things).
Sorry not had a chance to check on everyone, but keep going ladies!

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 08:24

Icecream definitely don't message that to him. You need to adopt the 'fake it til you make it attitude' and try and keep it light and breezy until you can deal with it. I know it must be so hard because you see him so often but honestly don't message him.

Oldbook glad it went well and I'm really glad he got in touch to wish you well. Good idea to stay sober and in control at the birthday event. Strange that he checked alright. I wonder is he noticing that the dynamic has changed?

Ah Ginger don't be so hard on yourself we've all been in that position. Hope you're okay

OldBook · 23/01/2018 08:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rhubarbginn · 23/01/2018 08:53

okd book if you’re strong enough I wouldn’t go. You need to carry on changing the dynamic if you want to remain friends. Don’t put yourself in a position where there’s a high chance you will get upset if he’s likely to behave in a certain way.
You not going will also send him a message that you’re not always desperate to be in his company.

Belonger · 23/01/2018 08:55

May be if interest, this article popped into my inbox this morning just when I needed it! About coping mindfully with urges and cravings

zenhabits.net/

Teensandfuture · 23/01/2018 08:57

Oldbook
Let's face it, you will think of his tinder date irrespective if you're at the party or not so why stop yourself from socialising and having fun? It's like he still has that power over you, don't let him!

Also why there's that unhealthy dynamic ,why do you know about his dates? Can't you put boundaries in place and sugges you don't discuss particular topics?

Belonger · 23/01/2018 09:03

oldbook it sounds so hard to be friends with this guy, you sound very attached to him, much more than just friends. Is it maybe too early to be being in touch with him, if you're having to put so much work into managing your feelings and decisions?

Weirdly, I feel like I want to encourage you to go all out trying to 'get him' in a romantic sense!

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 09:09

Oldbook it sounds like he would leave early for the Tinder date. I definitely wouldn't go if it was me.

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 09:17

So I disabled one bit of my SM so I can't go on it today. This is as much about me as it is about him. I'm on it far too much and have a lot to do today.

Feeling a bit seesaw with my emotions today. Reality is definitely settling in

OldBook · 23/01/2018 09:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OldBook · 23/01/2018 09:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 10:16

Well done Oldbook big step for you not going them. Being honest it's really insensitive of him to go on about Tinder dates when he's turned you down so recently. Definitely too soon to be subjecting yourself to the feelings.

Ah I'm not feeling too bad. Just a bit meh but actually it's because of work and not him so maybe a diversion of emotions away from him is a good thing.

Belonger · 23/01/2018 10:31

I agree with nk that it's not very kind or thoughtful of him to be telling you about dates when he knows you have had feelings for him. Maybe we try to be cooler than we are, tell ourselves we can deal with stuff that actually still hurts. Sounds like not going to the drinks is an important act of kindness for yourself oldbook, keeping yourself out of harm's way until you are fully healed.

I'm on day 2 of not initiating contact and it's weird and uncomfortable and sooooooo good for me! We had very quickly got back into messaging all day long, but I was holding firm to not wanting anything romantic /sexual. But he was wanting more and has now gone silent. I have an itch to contact him because I miss all the chat and flattery. But I know that every itch I resist makes me stronger, and that that strength is transferable, not just limited to this situation. I can feel myself becoming stronger as a person somehow.

I also noticed on my drive to work that when I was stuck in traffic I was thinking about him and all of it, all the 'will I won't I?', has he messaged? etc, and then made myself stop and think about something else. So I thought about a work issue I need to sort out instead. I noticed two things

  1. I would far rather think about flirting, texting, heartache - my brain was v reluctant to leave that fantasy world and focus on something real and a bit difficult
  2. It was sooooooo much a better use of my time to get a work issue straight in my head than spend more time daydreaming about him!
NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 23/01/2018 10:45

Ahhh Belonger your situation sounds so similar to mine. Every thing you said above resonates with me. He always wants more and it just isn't possible. It is so frustrating!!!

I really really miss all the flirty texts and all the compliments and suggestions. I suppose who wouldn't! But then he always gets suggestive and then I pull back, as you do. But when we pull back we are showing we have great respect for ourselves and are very strong. And they know that too.