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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

I feel uneasy!

103 replies

Moofreemum1 · 26/07/2019 15:25

Posted a thread about this guy I was dating for 6 weeks! He was very intense at the end and didn't take to me calling it off. I got lots of huge long messages saying how upset he was, that maybe I could think about my decision etc. I told him he was making me uncomfortable and to stop. From that point I haven't replied to his texts. Yet he still keeps sending texts. One was apologising saying how overwhelming he had been and pretty much implied that we will be friends as how could we not.
Today's text was about seeing me on his way to the dentist when I was at the dentist. Bit of a coincidence we would be there at the same time. How he said he panicked and went down some random road as didn't know how yo deal seeing me. Thought it was a weird message. Yet again I haven't replied. Should I block him? I made it very clear to stop and he was making me uncomfortable. I just think if he continues and I haven't blocked him I have evidence of messages and if he escalates then I would have the messages to back it it.

I'm feeling really uneasy about this guy

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 27/07/2019 20:34

Thought you cancelled your application for that? My friends mum applied for it earlier this year and I'm sure he (my friend is a policeman) said it takes 6 weeks...i could be wrong though. Unfortunately it didn't come back before the man broke her shoulder :/

I dunno if I would report it just yet as you have only just blocked him on stuff so... maybe speak to women's aid and see what they think? They might think it is a wise move.

Maybe look into moving...

Moofreemum1 · 27/07/2019 20:46

No I haven't cancelled, the police officer said 35 days. Sooner if there is nothing on his record.

I really don't want to move 😢 I lived in a refuge for 6 months and I love where I live. Its quiet and the place is lovely. I feel at home and safe apart from this recent thing.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 27/07/2019 21:10

How's the building security? Or if its a house, could you get extra security installed?

This recent thing though...are you going to be able to feel safe knowing he knows where you live? :/

Fonduefrolics · 27/07/2019 21:23

@Moofreemum1 well you were spot on with your instincts, at least that’s a positive in this situation. More than likely you won’t need to move, it’s only been a week but I understand how unnerving it must feel. A man I’d been chatting to guessed where I worked and sent me a photo of the building saying ‘guess who’s outside’ and I felt instantly ill (there was a fairly innocent explanation but I went through every scenario in my head). Sorry have you sent a message asking him not to contact you? I mean, any decent person would realise this anyway. I think I’d ring the non emergency police number, ask their advice (apologies if you’ve already done this) and follow whatever advice they give. Have you any warning markers on your address (I don’t know the technical term) to alert the police from the previous domestic abuse? Hopefully this man will get the hint soon.

Moofreemum1 · 28/07/2019 04:47

I've woken up and I have a missed withheld number on my phone, pretty sure it's him. Also on his social media which i can see if I log out he's changed the bio bit to "if you don't fight for what you want, don't cry for what you've lost"

I'm calling the police now, and In going to try stay at my mum's for a bit. I have the worst headache from stressing so much!

OP posts:
Moofreemum1 · 28/07/2019 06:59

Also @jaffacakesaremyfav you were right my ex is using it against me now.
Don't know why I was stupid enough to confide in him, prob because my parents weren't taking it seriously

OP posts:
HRoosevelt · 28/07/2019 07:29

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Trust your instincts. How do you think he knew about the dentist, any chance he could be tracking you? Has he accessed your phone?

lawnmowingsucks · 28/07/2019 07:30

Goodness you're in a HUGE mess

You need to lock down all your social media. Even if you've blocked the nutter you still need to have everything to me only.

Stop talking to your son's father and your parents.

Call the police. Tell them you have a stalker and you'd like them to talk to him

Get a 30 minute free appointment with a solicitor and find out how much it costs to send a letter to nutter telling him to back off

As above with CAB

Block withheld numbers from calling and texting you - and/or make sure all go to spam

Tell someone - a work colleague or a friend - where you are every time you leave home/work and make sure someone you trust has you on find my friend

Do not use the same routes to get to regular places. Mix up your travel routes all the time

Do not get complacent

Moofreemum1 · 28/07/2019 08:45

No idea about the dentist. Could be a coincidence.
I just told my DM about it this morning and her reaction was "He obviously really likes you, your dad used to chase me all the time"
I said yea but you liked DF and I don't like this guy or want his attention. She frustrates me!

OP posts:
Missmossy · 28/07/2019 09:08

Speak with the police and ask them for recommendations for a solicitor that deals with non-molestation orders. The police in my area did this for me when I was being harassed, I had a non-mol within a week and haven't heard from the guy since. I also got legal aid for this as its domestic abuse. You wont have to pay a penny and the solicitor does all the hard work for you

Pinkbonbon · 28/07/2019 11:04

If your ex is cut from the same ice it could even have been him calling to sh*t you up. Those sorts like you to be stressed.

Yeah I think a wee word with the police might be wise now just incase. Like prior poster said, make sure all your social media is set to private.

Moofreemum1 · 28/07/2019 13:51

I haven't contacted the police I think my message was clear enough now. I think if he contacts again after this clear leave me alone or I'll involve the police I will contact them.
I'm just angry my DM is saying in over reacting! Not going to take relationship advice from her because their relationship is abusive on so many levels! And my ex who I thought would be reasonable as we have been getting good for so long has turned it on me and saying our son can Live permanently with him! Clearly waiting for this opportunity to stab me in the back when I needed someone! He hasn't changed at all. Silly me.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 28/07/2019 14:04

Sounds like a good plan. And you are most certainly not overreacting. Ugh people suck. His sort don't change unfortunately. They like to kick you when you are down.

Hopefully that's that though op. Surely to goodness he'll get bored soon. Or fixate on some other poor soul :/

Jaffacakesaremyfave · 28/07/2019 14:27

I'm sorry your ex is being a dick about things OP. I have been there and learned the hard way. Also, your parents are clearly not helpful and you need to stand up to them when they brush off your concerns. My parents are similar in that they used to label me as picky and hard work when I broke up with my abusive ex. I now stand up to comments like that and dont let them shame me for standing up for myself.

Going forward, I think you have alot of things to work on for yourself. First of all, you need to learn all you can about abusive men because then you will realise that they never change and there is no point reaching out to an abusive ex for comfort. He is just as bad as this man who is harassing you now and you have to cut all emotional ties with him. Yes it's really sad that you cant have a friendship with your sons father but you have to accept the reality that he is just waiting to kick you when you are down. Abusive men love to throw child custody in your face as a form of control and will stoop as low as they can go to get to you. Only speak to him about your DS and NOTHING else. Trust me, I've been there, done that and it never ended well.

I think you really need to stop dating for a while until you have healed from your previous abuse. Once leaving an abusive relationship, it can lead to a downward spiral of attracting further abusive relationships because you are not in a good place to spot the red flags. You did well on this occasion but he was pretty blatant with it and I worry you may fall for someone who is much more covert and hides it better. I think you are in a reactional state where you are looking for someone to protect you and fill the void your ex left but you have to realise that dating another man is not the answer. Getting validation from men is never the answer.

I have been in exactly the same place and it led to me being in 3 consecutive abusive relationships and I decided enough is enough and that I had to change my outlook. I have stopped dating altogether and learned as much as I can about abusive relationships. I still get lonely sometimes but I feel a million times better and I'm starting to get the real me back.

Invest in yourself, in the people who love you (not necessarily parents but your DS and friends) and take the time you need to heal from your past. Only when you can honestly say to yourself that you love yourself enough to not need a man and that you will not tolerate anything short of an equal loving relationship will you be ready to date.

Abusive men can smell vulnerability and unfortunately if you have been abused previously and not healed from this then you remain vulnerable. There are so many resources out there which can help and as I've said before, youtube video about codependency have really helped me.

You need to make sure you are healthy and safe so that you are able to take care of your son as even though your ex is chatting shit about getting custody, you could very well be jeopardising your DS if you find yourself in another relationship like this. Hard to hear but that is ultimately what snapped me out of my previous unhealthy patterns as my DS's mean more to me that finding love again.

TheInebriati · 28/07/2019 15:11

It could just be coincidence, but if he has ever had access to any of your gadgets he could be tracking you.

Moofreemum1 · 28/07/2019 20:48

@Jaffacakesaremyfave thanks, i feel like you really understand where i'm coming from.

I feel like i've got caught in the abuse cycle again with the ex. I thought he had changed and he was being extra nice to me. Sending me old pics of us, family days out. Turns out he's had a gf for almost a year! Then bang the abusive side of him is out again. Should have known he had not changed. I did get really cross with DM earlier and she even had the nerve to say was my abuse with ex all that bad! Shes a treat isnt she!

I feel i know a lot more about abusive men than i did, obviously theres more i could learn. I also think i should stop dating too. I actually feel happier when im not dating! I was in a good place at the beginning of the year, then an ex from years ago popped up and ruined that and believe has made me vulnerable again. About the recreational state, i agree. I do feel like im trying to feel a void, doesn't help that i feel extremely lonely too.

I had a small breakdown last week and realised i needed to do work on myself so i took myself to the doctors, im determined to get back to that happy place again and be stronger then ever. Through all of this i do have alot of anger at the way men think its ok to treat women. Not saying all men just alot i have come across ( which are obviously abusive arses).

Thankfully i haven't heard from the other guy since my text and his passive aggressive social media posts have also stopped so my friend tells me. If you have any youtube video recommendations then please pass them my way :)

OP posts:
Jaffacakesaremyfave · 29/07/2019 09:32

I have been there Moo. It was only March this year that I left my last abusive relationship and finally decided to change and heal from my past. The biggest breakthrough for me was realising I was a codependent and learning why I made the choices I have in the past and it is all rooted in childhood for me. Look up Lisa Romano of youtube for some good videos on this topic.

It's so hard to not be sucked back in when they are being nice, especially when you have DC together but you have to remember that his nice side is a facade and he is using it to manipulate you still. My ex used to do this and I would allow him to come on family trips as a 'friend' and he would later throw this back at me (calling me a slag etc) if I didnt instantly take him back because we had spent one day at the zoo with our DC. It was crazy making and the sooner I accepted we couldn't ever be friends, I learned to make peace with it and stopped communicating with him.

I used to feel like I knew all there was to know about abusive men but in reality, I only knew about abusive men who were like my ex (dominant, extrovert, macho) and found I used to then try go for the opposite and attracted covert narcissists who play the victim card. It was only when I learned about narcissism in depth that I felt more able to recognise more subtle abuse.

I think the anger stage is good. I went through that for several months and realising just how unfair it is that you have been destroyed and they get to walk away from all the damage and they cant feel empathy so dont even care. Anger often drives us to change so keep being angry and use that energy to look into why you have allowed yourself to stay in unhealthy situations for so long. I know you didnt ask to be abused (and abusers always start out as the best thing that's ever happened) but there will have been a point with your ex where he tested you and you chose to stay. I can think of many examples in my own life and found the answer for me was codependency and people pleasing. I suspect your parents have a big role to play in this as they seem to be unable to validate you and your feelings. Maybe some counselling to explore this may help.

I've linked to a thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3646119-Im-wondering-whether-to-date-again-after-domestic-abuse-or-to-accept-that-the-relationship-I-want-doesnt-seem-to-exist?watched=1&msgid=88905159#88905159 where the OP has linked some excellent videos so feel free to post on there too. I really hope this creep has got the message and leaves you alone.

Have you looked into the Ruggles trust and the national stalking helpline as they will have some good advice on what to do if things escalate

Pinkmonkeybird · 29/07/2019 09:57

Take a look at this site OP

paladinservice.co.uk/advice-for-victims/

Moofreemum1 · 29/07/2019 20:32

@Jaffacakesaremyfave i am also codependant and know it is rooted through my childhood too. I actually went to a CODA meeting once but it was too far for me to keep going to.

Yes he is the biggest manipulator and always turns it on me and blames me. I am now keeping contact to a minimal and only about our DS.

Thanks for the recommendations, i'll have a look. Yea i am worried about attracting the covert ones so i do think its a good idea for me not to date atm. I was going to go back into counselling just hard finding the time and money.

That is exactly how i feel with my anger. I feel its so unfair that i struggle with money and my career is halted yet my ex is getting a new house and good job and new gf. I would be lying if i said i didn't feel resentment.

I do know the reasons why, i am a people pleaser. I tried to keep the peace within my family when my parents would argue and not speak to each other for days on end.

Thank you @Pinkmonkeybird

OP posts:
Moofreemum1 · 03/08/2019 20:47

Oh god just realised the crazy guy made a fake Instagram profile and has been stalking my social media. It was an account that is my hobby. Just twigged that it didn't seem legit and I blocked that account. He's now blocked me.on WhatsApp as he prob realised I knew it was him! Mentalist!!

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 03/08/2019 21:31

Yeesh, scary. Maybe take down your social media for a bit? At least the ones that can be 'followed' without your say so.

Moofreemum1 · 03/08/2019 22:20

@pinkbonbon I had my account private and I thought oh it's a new place for my hobby. Stupid me had only realised it was him! I've called the police it's making me so uneasy!

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 03/08/2019 22:48

No sign of the Clare's law form back yet?

Moofreemum1 · 03/08/2019 23:00

Oh yea it came back as nothing on there. Looks like if he carries on there will be something on his record! I'm a mixture of angry/upset and scared. Why can't he just leave me alone!

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 03/08/2019 23:07

I think now he has blocked YOU on whatsapp he might leave you alone now because he'll see that as him rejecting you. As long as that is enough for him.

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