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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

Did I overreact during this argument? Perspectives please?

115 replies

AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 17:58

Hi,
My boyfriend is 26, I'm 22, been together 2 and a half years and we've argued (kind of) the past few days. We havent argued in a while before this.
Anyway, he's stressed because he doesn't know what he wants in his life, and isn't sure whether he wants to move away, he's not happy with his low paying job and it's getting him down and stressed that he still lives at home with his mum and dad. I don't mind this, I love him either way and it's realistic that we couldn't afford a house right now. I'm starting my nursing degree in September.
Anyways, we were planning on going on holiday and this was something I was looking forward to after completing my studies. Anyways, I text him 2 days ago about the holiday and ideas about where to go at 12pm (we wanted to book it by the end of this week about and we've both been so excited), he didn't reply. So at 8pm, I text him asking if everything was okay and he just said "yeah" so I said "what you been doing? Xxx" (I don't need to know where he is 24/7 but he hasn't ignored me like that in so long) and he said "sorting stuff out" so I said "oh okay! Nearly finished my work!" And he said "cool", so I rung him and asked if everything was okay, and he was really annoyed and he said not to ask him again because he's stressed. So I said "what's wrong?" He snapped and said "it's none of my business" so I told him not to speak to me like that but signal was bad so we had to hang up.
Anyway I sent him a text the next day saying "have a lovely day! Shall I pop round later?" And he said "yeah sure!"
I text about 6 asking what times best and he said he's tired but it's up to me. And he picked me up 20 minutes later.
When I got to his house, he didn't seem his usual lovey self. He was just on his phone with his back to me. So after a while I piped up and said how rubbish it's making me feel. That I feel rubbish with how he spoke to me last night and now he's got his back to me. This resulted in a tit for tat argument. He said I was up myself and that I can't handle that he didn't text me back quick enough and that he's tired and got a lot going on. So I said how I'm getting tired of his moods and I don't know what to say to him anymore, and I'm getting tired of him ignoring me everytime there's confrontation. I always get teary whenever we argue, it's the way my body deals with stress (I really hate it), and he started saying how I started this so why am I crying.
Anyway we made up, hugged and went to sleep. The next day, we were okay but then I said "shall we look at holidays then??" And he said "I dont feel like going on holiday, I dont feel happy enough to go", I once again started getting teary saying how Im scared his mood is going to get away in our relationship. He said that he can't believe I'm thinking about myself and this holiday and that I'm crying because I can't go on holiday. He also said he feels he cant tell me anything without me getting defensive. I said that I'm obviously going to be disappointed when we've been planning this holiday for ages and I've been looking forward to it. I was crying again so I got up and said I'm going home for a couple of hours because his moods are getting me down and I need to cool off but I'll be fine in and couple of hours.
He said maybe we should go a week without seeing each other. (He does this a lot whenever we argue he gives me the silent treatment for about 5 days). He said he needs to sort himself out and I can focus on my studies.
I'm more of a let's sort it out asap person,so I said a week is a bit much. But he was persistent.
Anyways, I was sat at home and I didnt like how we left things. So I rung him and said it's making me uncomfortable that we have and time set before we can see each other. He said it's for the best and I said everything is always on your terms. Whenever we argue, it's always you who decides when we can and can't see each other. And he said that's not true. And we hung up.
I then acted a bit psychotic (I admit) and thought "he always leaves me lingering, I'm just going to drive to his and sort it" so I did. I text saying "I'm outside, are you in?". No response so I went home and asked him to call me. Which he did, and I told him how sad this was all making me, how him being bored of life since January is getting me down and Im just really sad.
He said to just calm down. I asked if I could just come down to his to talk for an hour and he said no because he wanted to do stuff. I was crying so much (I look back and cringe), and so I said "how can you say no when I always drive straight to yours whenever you say your upset and need to talk to me", and he said "that's different because this thing your worrying about now isn't a big deal. You've made this situation about me and you so you can sit and think about how you caused this. Not me. I wasn't in a mood with you but you've turned this into a big thing". And then he said something like "I need to start thinking about myself but we can see each other next week and have a nice day together". I said okay.

I sent him a text at 11pm just saying sorry and that I hope he has a good day tomorrow and that I love him.
He hasn't got back to me and it's now 6pm :( I haven't text anymore or tried to ring him. I feel calmer now since I think yesterday I was just panicked since he's done it so much before that it makes me anxious when we argue. And I know he won't text me for about 4 days now because he's done it before :(
I'm scared I've put him off with how needy I was but I was just worried and this is our first argument in ages so it's not as if it's regular :(
We were just so happy last week and saw each other practically every day and he was practically begging me to come round. Now he can't even be bothered to get in touch with me

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 15/03/2018 18:03

That was long...
I think you might have to leave him be for a while.

SomeKnobend · 15/03/2018 18:04

He's a dick. Stop pandering to his ridiculous need to not contact you for a week at a time, it's huffy and childish. You're wasting your life. Just move on, with a grown up.

dementedpixie · 15/03/2018 18:05

It all seems like a lot of hard work. I'm not sure you are compatible with each other

AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 18:09

Sorry it's so long.
Long story short: he's depressed about life and we had an argument. Now he wants to wait a week until he seems me and won't talk to me

OP posts:
MyBrilliantDisguise · 15/03/2018 18:11

Stop pandering to this man! And never tell a man who's treating you badly that you love him. You're basically saying you'll put up with anything.

Stand back from him now. If you want to talk to him, write it down but don't send it. Play it cool and maybe when he's ready to be nice to you, you might have found you're happy apart.

elisenbrunnen · 15/03/2018 18:15

And what do you want, OP?

A holiday? A partner who can talk to you?

Doesn't seem to me like you are going to get either. i couldn't live like this - always second-guessing, never knowing where you are, or what you are going to do.

I'd rather be alone. At least I'd know where I stand.

homtardy · 15/03/2018 18:16

He sounds like a complete knob, OP

Adora10 · 15/03/2018 18:21

FGS, what is going on here today, why are all these nice lovely women chasing after these absolutely knobs of men!

Find your love for yourself OP and stop wasting it on a creep who gives not one shit about you, what a truly horrible nasty vindictive prick he sounds.

AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 18:50

Thanks for the advice everyone! It's just so hard when you love somebody :( whenever he's gone silent on me in the past I've resorted to spending the week begging for him to talk to me but I have no energy now. Apart from yesterday when I was panicky because I knew he was getting in one of his moods again.
It's just upsetting when he said he can't tell me anything without me getting defensive when I've spent the past few months since January spending hours discussing his problems about his boredom and surprised him with snacks at his house and always drI've straight to his when he was stressed and needed to talk. Yet there he is not bothered that I'm upset

OP posts:
AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 18:50

Should I just not text him now?

OP posts:
user1483387154 · 15/03/2018 18:54

Do not contact him at all

AthenasOwl · 15/03/2018 18:58

Jesus Christ ..he's terribly passive aggressive. I would stop texting him at all and book a holiday for myself and just go! He sounds like hard work.

Bloodyuselessatthinkingofaname · 15/03/2018 18:59

He doesn't want to be in a relationship anymore .

PrizeOik · 15/03/2018 19:03

Find your dignity love. He is a just a man. I know you say you love him, but that isn't a reason to stay in a relationship with someone who reeeallly is making it clear that you are not that important to him.

HanutaQueen · 15/03/2018 19:04

He is a MASSIVE BELL END

He is selfish and self centred. Sitting in his mummy's house whining about not earning enough money and not knowing what he wants to do with himself, putting arbitary time limits on when you can see him, raising your stress levels and upsetting you then refusing to sort it out, promising things then reneging and having a go when you are annoyed about it.

Fuck him off. He is not worth it. When you start your degree I can see exactly what you will get. 'You're so up yourself, you think because you are at uni you know it all' 'why can't you see me any more, you are making time for other people too much' 'these shifts are really antisocial, I am not happy I don't get to see you when I want' etc.

He really isn't a grown up.

AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 19:08

He's always been up and down. Literally 3 days ago we were totally loved up but I fear he's getting depressed which is affecting our relationship :( he doesn't even go to his hobbies anymore because he can't be bothered and feels as though he's wasting his time doing them. He said on the phone yesterday that he doesn't want to talk to anybody - not me, his mum, his friends,
And I dont know how to act :(

OP posts:
EggysMom · 15/03/2018 19:14

You act supportive, and that means just now giving him the space that he's asked for. Don't text, don't go round. Look on this as time to re-discover yourself, do things for you, see old friends, go out and have fun at things that you want to do, lounge around in your mankiest pyjamas Grin

Then when you do get back together, remember that a little independence can be healthy in a relationship. Don't live in each other's pockets, respect that each of you are individuals as well as a couple.

PrizeOik · 15/03/2018 19:23

but I fear he's getting depressed which is affecting our relationship

please stop.
He is in charge of his own mental health and you can't help him with it. It isn't your job to be a nurse to this man. He is telling you clearly with his words and actions that he doesn't want you around. Believe him. Stop looking for reasons why his clear words and actions should be ignored.

Leave him alone, stay busy, enjoy your own company, and read "Why Men Marry Bitches".

PrizeOik · 15/03/2018 19:24

He's always been up and down.

Also, and I know you don't want to hear this, this is literally him screaming at you that he isn't that into you.

If you were the one for him, there would be no up and down.

Again - listen to him when he communicates with you. He has told you and continues to tell you extremely clearly that he is not that into you.

TERFragetteCity · 15/03/2018 19:25

Stop begging him and leave him be. Permanently.

calmandbright · 15/03/2018 19:28

Agree with bell-end comment. How fucking dare he whip you up into a frenzy of panic and sadness then ignore you for a week. You need to change your mindset now - think of yourself as officially single for a week. Have a cry by all means, but try to get out and do some fun things. Read some books, meet a friend or two for a drink, go see a band. BUT most importantly don’t even think about contacting him. WHEN he comes crawling back because you aren’t pandering enough to his pathetic little whiny hissy fit, you’ll be in a much better place mentally to say, actually, I’m bored of your tantrums. You may decide to give him one last chance (I bloody wouldn’t!) to shape up and cut this shit out, or you’ll have build up enough resolve to tell him it isn’t working out.

ProjectMoose · 15/03/2018 19:29

Please please don't think that this is normal behaviour. You really should not have to put up with this. It sounds as though he knows he's got you wrapped round his little finger.

You deserve better.

Timefortea99 · 15/03/2018 19:29

He just sounds a bit depressed to me, needs a bit of space. He might well be a dick but just respect the fact that he wants some time to himself.

AnnaStudy · 15/03/2018 19:45

I think the problem is that I do see this as "normal", he's me first proper long-term boyfriend and throughout the 2 years these silent treatments and mood swings have become the norm and I get more and more exhausted each time. But I don't know any different :/ I'm still learning myself, and of course I've made mistakes of being too intense sometimes but I've calmed down a lot compared to the person I was 2 years ago.

OP posts:
SparklyMagpie · 15/03/2018 19:45

Oh god this reminds me years ago when I was a little younger,stupid and in love with my DS's dad and I used to act like this....

Tbh I look back and cringe massively!!

OP, no I wouldn't text him,leave it with him.
If anything it'll push him further. You said he's done this before so leave him to it

I personally couldn't be arsed with playing these games. It's so close to my relationship with my ex, although we were together 6/7years an met quite young... don't chase him,don't text him apologies, just let it settle

But in all honesty,can you really keep going with this for years to come? Would you want to?

I'm sure we all know what it feels like to be so in love with someone and hurt when they push us to the side,don't seem to care..the list goes on. But do you really see relationship going the distance like this? You always being the one doing the chasing, apologising, trying to make everything right ?

Fwiw I think you sound lovely, an your time is spent better elsewhere and on somebody else

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