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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

Just broken up with my boyfriend of 5 years and feel very low

19 replies

elenaferrantelover · 19/01/2019 18:29

Hi - not sure what I'm looking for on here, I guess some support from anybody who's been through similar. I'm 26 and have been with my boyfriend for five years - we have our own flat together and pets, no children. He has been a good boyfriend on the whole but for the past year or so I've felt that things haven't been right between us - we don't talk anymore, we don't have sex (probably had sex about five times all last year), and I have sort of been dreading going home due to the atmosphere there. We tried to resolve multiple times but it has always seemed to go back to a sort of horrible malaise. He also smokes weed heavily which has always bothered me - you could say my fault for being with him when I knew that he was a weed smoker and it is, but then we were students when we met and it bothered me less then as I suppose I hoped he would grow out of it. Last night I decided that all I could do was to have some integrity and have an honest conversation once and for all - I said that neither of us happy and it was difficult but I think for the best that we split. He cried quite a bit last night/this morning (although is now just smoking weed and playing on his laptop again) and I feel really terrible about the whole situation - about hurting him, about losing what in the past was a good, secure relationship, and at the prospect also of having to flat share and (much further down the line) date others - I've heard so many horror stories of terrible men out there and it just frightens me. Sorry if I sound pathetic and whiny, I just feel really lost and scared for the future and want to know if anybody has any advice - thank you x

OP posts:
SuziQ10 · 19/01/2019 18:35

Sounds like it's for the best. Your previously good relationship with him is long gone & you were just stagnating in a relationship that wasn't right for you.

This is the first day of your next chapter and you now have the opportunity to do the things you want to do, meet new people, enjoy life and move forward!

It's your chance to concentrate on yourself and strengthen your relationships with friends.

It sounds as though you're doing exactly what you should be doing to give yourself another chance at finding the life you want to live. You're only 26! Good for you.

showmeshoyu · 19/01/2019 18:43

The good thing is you didn't wait for another 14 years and wake up one day realising your clock was ticking, you're not feeling good about yourself and that you've wasted a huge chunk of your life. Sometimes life really benefits from a change. It will be good for both of you!

Having a long-term relationship in your early 20s is often tough as one or both of you wonder if there's more to life than what you have...

NameChangeNugget · 19/01/2019 18:45

I agree with SuziQ

It does sound like it’s for the best. 5 years is in age in your 20’s. What you want & will tolerate at 25 is vastly different when you’re 20.

You have your whole life ahead of you. How exciting Flowers

UrsulaPandress · 19/01/2019 18:50

Don't be scared. You've done the right and brave thing and you can step forward into an exciting future.

elenaferrantelover · 19/01/2019 18:52

Thank you all @SuziQ @showmeshoyu @NameChangeNugget @UrsulaPandress - lovely women xxx

OP posts:
LuckyLou7 · 19/01/2019 18:54

You've made the right decision, you know that. At your age, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't worry about flat-sharing or future dating just now, concentrate on extricating yourself from the current financial agreement with your boyfriend - terminate the tenancy, work out who is having the pets etc
This maybe the shove he needs to reevaluate his own life - smoking weed and playing computer games all day - time to get grown up!

Antst · 19/01/2019 19:46

Of course you feel conflicted--you've had a long relationship with him. But the problems you mentioned are important ones. You've said that you have tried multiple times to fix things and it hasn't worked. So it looks like you've treated him with respect and done everything you can do.

The possibilities you mentionedof ending up in a bad situation with another manare the reason why so many people stay in unhappy relationships. The thing is, you KNOW you'd be unhappy if you stayed in your current situation. That's a guarantee. So you have a better chance of finding happiness elsewhere than you do by staying where you are.

You're used to your current partner's issues and might find that it takes a while to figure out other people's. In other words, don't rush into anything. I have dual citizenship and one thing I find very useful about the US is the concept of "dating." It doesn't seem to be popular in the UK. Dating means getting to know someone before acknowledging a deeper emotional connection. It's a way of protecting ourselves from getting attached to someone and then realizing things won't work out, but feeling tethered either by emotion or circumstances (living together, etc).

I'd add to that that it might help you feel more in control of your fears if you sat down and figured out some boundaries for yourself. For example, what's a dealbreaker for you (something that immediately puts you off wanting to be with someone)? Maybe it's being yelled at, or going a month without sex, or financial irresponsibility. If you go into your future encounters with a clear idea of what you won't put up with, you may feel more in control and waste less time agonizing over whether to continue seeing someone iffy.

Honestly, I think you're doing your partner a favor. I hope for his sake you've been honest with him about why you're leaving. Maybe he'll eventually get that his unwillingness to participate in your relationship drove you away.

You may indeed end up in a bad roommate situation or dating weirdoes. The thing is, you won't be trapped. Your actions hereditching a relationship that is not providing the basicsshow that you are sensible and make good decisions, so I wouldn't worry that you'll suddenly lose the ability to get out of bad situations. Also, a few weird experiences make life interesting. And every time you have one, remind yourself that we have to put ourselves out there in order to encounter good things/people.

You'll be fine. My advice for the immediate future is to join meetup or the gym or borrowmydoggy.com and start filling your time so that you won't be obsessing over anything once you're no longer living with him. Good luck.

Dan89 · 19/01/2019 19:49

The important thing to remember is that it honestly will get better in time

Alysanne · 20/01/2019 08:07

I was the same age as you when I broke up with my ex of also 5 years. Although we didnt have pets, etc either and lived together we did have his mother living with us.

It was months before they moved it and during that time it was bad. His mum turned him into an ass. He got really rude and I was miserable.

Now im in a much better place (31) both financially and emotionally. I dont have any hang ons to support! Promoted at work and now got a great DP (4 years), flat and mental reacue dog

What im getting at is it will be tough until you guys get your own space but hang in there!. It wont seem like it now, your still young and you've been together for years but they'll come a time you'll look back at this moment and know you did the right thing Smile

Bess78 · 20/01/2019 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumteedum · 20/01/2019 08:25

Be proud of yourself for having the bravery to do the right thing. Take it from an old gimmer, I know lots of people in relationships that failed later in life and I think if we'd had insight and bravery not to settle earlier then maybe we would have had children with decent partners and happier lives in our thirties and forties. You're young. You're going to be fine.

elenaferrantelover · 20/01/2019 08:33

Thanks everybody for getting back to me - I feel like I have made the right decision. Only issue is that we actually own the flat we are in - the deposit was given to us by his parents although since buying it we have paid the mortgage equally but I still feel like it’s more his than mine. I need to suggest that we either sell the flat or if he wants to stay then he give me back the share I have paid in either now or when he later decides to sell. Does that sound reasonable?

OP posts:
elenaferrantelover · 20/01/2019 08:36

@Antst thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely and encouraging response Flowers you sound like Cheryl Strayed! X

OP posts:
Antst · 20/01/2019 08:42

I had never heard of Cheryl Strayed, so you've alerted me to a writer whose work I'll enjoy reading! Thanks.

I'd talk to a financial planner or real estate professional about the flat. If you've had it long enough that it has increased in value, it wouldn't be fair on you to get back only what you put in. Good luck.

scatcat01 · 20/01/2019 08:42

Just another back pat...at your age I had a boyfriend who smoked weed and layed on his games console. I gained a uni place so was moving on anyway but he dumped me...as life moves on I realise how lucky I was. Any addict loves their fix a bit too much and loves you not quite enough. You need a partner who will step up. Work on his career. Help you with babies. Smoking weed really does turn people lazy and ineffective. You have loads of time on your side but well done for not wasting it on an eternal teenager xxx

scatcat01 · 20/01/2019 08:44

Played not layed!! And obvs...the baby comment...only if you decide you wanted them!!!

GavinFromTradingStandards · 20/01/2019 08:44

He either needs to buy you out of the property which will involve a valuation and transfer of equity (did this myself age 20), or you need to sell up and split the profit. I personally would give him the deposit back (so he gets half the proceeds + the deposit or you knock half the deposit off your half the equity if he buys you out) though there are many who I’m sure would say his parents gave you both the deposit so half is yours. Don’t worry-it’ll all sort and I’m sorry you’re going through this.

juneau · 20/01/2019 08:48

I ended a long-term relationship at 25 OP - we'd been together for 5 years as well and it was hard to do. My ex wasn't a weed smoker, but our relationship had got stale, we weren't having sex either and I just knew we both needed to move on. All I can say to you (from 20 years' distance from that event!), is that you're doing the right thing. Your relationship is clearly as a dead end, so don't waste any more time on it. Talk through the options on the flat - sell it and get your money back, or he buys you out for whatever money you've put into it - and that should give you a nest egg with which to move on. Be firm, be strong and start making plans. It's tough making a fresh start, but it's also a really positive thing to be doing. It's a new year and you have your whole life ahead of you. Get going!

Captainj1 · 20/01/2019 09:32

I was in a relationship for 7 years in my 20s, over that time we both changed hugely, he began smoking which I hated, his values changed, I grew up a lot and my career progressed and so did his. Like you we grew apart, sex was very I frequent for the last year or two. He eventually was the one who called it a day and I was devastated because I loved him and couldn’t imagine being without him, although I knew our relationship had slipped too far away to be retrieved.
I was 28 and worried I wouldn’t meet anyone...and that I wouldn’t want anyone else...at 30 I met a guy through a friend at work, took things slowly, feelings grew and anyway long story short I’m now 43, married almost 10 years and have 2 kids.

Try not to worry. There are still loads of single people around of your age and you will have a much clearer and more sustainable idea of who you are and what you are looking for than you did in your early 20s. X

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