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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

No contact for 2 weeks, and he's still playing games. 5 weeks post-breakup

23 replies

sittingunderthetree · 18/11/2019 19:02

I posted before about the break-up with my ex.

He dumped me because I was "making him feel guilty"

We had two "disagreements" in the entirety of our relationship. I say disagreement because it never escalated to an argument - I have never raised my voice or sworn at him, and he hasn't to me. The disagreements have literally been "nagging" at most from me, but in my mind not unreasonable nagging? The first time was asking him when he would be back from seeing a friend for a training session during a weekend at his house (we are LDR: said he would be back at one time and after an hour passed this I said: "what time will you be back?") Apparently that was disrespectful, and I was speaking down to him. I got dumped for that. Albeit for a few days, and then he said he "overreacted".

Second time was about porn. He makes a point of not watching it. I'm not trying to be a cool girlfriend here, but I really don't care if my partners do watch it. I mean, there are circumstances in which it would piss me off - e.g. if it was chosen over me, but generally couldn't care less. Anyway, he makes a point of saying how he hates the sexualisation of women. He uses social media for his business and unfollows/deletes women regularly who post selfies etc. He says porn makes him feel uncomfortable. He hates feelings of "lust". He won't talk about sex. He says that lust ruins lives (his father cheated on his mother, his sister cheated with his best friend, his first girlfriend cheated on him...)

So I was on Instagram and saw that he had liked a picture of a pornstar, so I called him asking why he had done that, when he said he hated stuff like that. He wouldn't discuss it saying he couldn't remember doing it. Conversation lasted 2 minutes if that. I apologised immediately - said that I appreciate it wasn't a major issue considering our current stresses, and that I had had a bad day etc., and I didn't particularly care/he was free to so what he wanted to do.

He ignored me for 2 days. Eventually he called me, but he wouldn't let it go. Like I said, I never raise my voice to him, I didn't swear - I just asked a question, because in my mind it seemed so unlike him (and it was on his business page).Anyway, after a week of him effectively sulking and making me feel bad, I apologised again and said it didn't really bother me BUT that I stand by the fact I mentioned it, because it was previously discussed as something he wouldn't do, and it was more a discussion that an argument.

He said I was always making him feel guilty, accusing him of being lustful and how could he ever open up to me again when I twisted his words so much? That he can't see past this ... Why did I have to make him feel bad? I thought I was his soulmate etc etc. He said I had put pressure on him. He said we should split up. He said he would post me my things because he couldn't bear to look at me. He sat turned away from me the whole time, huffing and laughing whenever I spoke saying "it doesn't matter what you think" and "you're a manipulative bitch". I said that was quite upsetting, and I would rather keep it amicable if possible, I didn't understand anything I had done wrong.

He broke up with me in a train station 2 days before my birthday, with no way for me to get home, 4 days after an abortion. He said he didn't feel comfortable looking at me, spent the whole time looking the other way from me, not listening and tutting every time I spoke. So pretty disrespectful.

I haven't contacted him now for 2 weeks.

The decision came after 3 weeks post-breakup where he would blow hot (having a 7 hour phone conversation) and cold (sending on word responses on text to me). The final straw came when he arranged to meet me to hand over my stuff, but didn't text on the day. I kinda lost the urge to get back with him that day.

He responded three days later saying he "completely forgot" to text to arrange. I couldn't be bothered with the game-playing anymore so I just didn't respond.

He then text me the day after saying that he could post SOME of my stuff back to me, if that was preferable to me.

I ignored.

He then text yesterday saying "Don't mean to keep bothering you (affectionate nickname) but just let me know when you're ready for me to send your stuff and I will get it sorted for you"

I again haven't responded.

At this point, it's been 5 weeks since we split up. I asked for my things the day after he finished with me, and I still haven't got them. I've lasted this long without them, I guess I don't need them now.

Why the sudden urgency on his behalf to return them? he's treated me with no respect over the last 5 weeks, and held them for that long. He "forgot" to return them 2 weeks ago, but now it seems so urgent.

During these two weeks, I have felt calmer and more at ease with myself. I have realized that I am a nice person, that I had minimal fault in the breakup, and that I am ALLOWED to express my opinions, wants and needs in a relationship and that doesn't make me mean.

Do they not realise what pieces of shit they are? They can't treat people the way they do and expect contact on their terms.

It sounds awful, but I want him to feel the same level of panic I did when we broke up. That this time, I am not talking things through. The NC is the new way forward for me.

I don't want to break NC, but I also don't want to be mean. I don't want to engage with him. He knows my address, but weirdly keep insisting that he doesn't. I am tired of this now. I just want it to go away.

What's the best course of action here?

OP posts:
Windmillwhirl · 18/11/2019 19:10

I think you are overthinking it all. Who cares why he is being nice now. Bottom line is he enjoys messing with your head and is still doing it.

Break the NC to organise the return of your belongings and then block for good.

He sounds incredibly immature and, frankly, quite ridiculous. You will do a lot better than him.

Ellieboolou33 · 18/11/2019 19:14

I'd think I've had a lucky escape and never contact him again!
Sounds like gaslighting to me.

YellowBeryl · 18/11/2019 19:15

I think you have alreay found your best course of action - NC. If you don't need your stuff I would continue to ignore him. You say you are calmer, he appears to have issues and if he is going to blow hot and cold and you can't have opinions, he is only going to grind you down and break your heart. Stay strong. There are good men out there.

Longfacenow · 18/11/2019 19:18

Waste no more time trying to understand him. Just get on with mourning the idea of what he was and looking forward to the time when you don't give a crap about him!

Keep up NC. He treated you appallingly after your abortion. You owe him shit.

ScrambledSmegs · 18/11/2019 19:21

God how tiresome, it must be exhausting to give him headspace. Block the manipulative manchild. You could, for politeness sake, inform him that you are doing so and any further attempts to contact you will be considered harassment

Also, he appears to have some quite bizarre hang ups, and what's with the problem with lust? 'Lustful'? Is he a Victorian? You're better off without him.

Thingsdogetbetter · 18/11/2019 19:22

He's not being nice trying to give your stuff back. He's trying to get you to engage.

As you say he already knows your address, there is not need to 'organise' posting it. And even if he didn't he could drop it round and leave it your doorstep. Or decide you don't want it and dump it.

Not engaging with a manipulative ex isn't mean, it's sensible!! Stop being so 'nice'. YOU come first.

If you really need your stuff, text your address and then block. But be prepared for your stuff not turnng up anyway. Or him to find another crap excuse to try to get you to engage.

If you don't (which you don't unless it's very sentimental or expensive) just text 'dump it' and then block. Or just block.

He's still messing with your head. You going NC for 2 weeks is freaking him out cos he thought you'd cave. Prove his sorry ass wrong: don't cave to be polite! Mean is good here!!!

MarianaMoatedGrange · 18/11/2019 19:33

I like text "dump it" then block! he treated you worse than I'd treat a stranger after your abortion. He sounds unhinged all round in his treatment of you. Keep him out of your life. A new year and decade looms. A good time to make positive changes.

Mum4Fergus · 18/11/2019 20:27

Just block him on everything and be done with it/him.

ReanimatedSGB · 18/11/2019 20:45

If there is anything you really want back, how about sending a (preferably male) friend round to collect it? And then block this man and cut him out of your life completely.
And give yourself a year off from men and dating so you don't get mixed up with another useless waste of oxygen like this one - it sounds like your dickhead radar needs repair.

Princessfaffalot · 18/11/2019 20:48

You’ve had a verrrrry lucky escape. Honestly run and don’t look back. Don’t engage, block and move on. With regards to your things, I think you should just write them off. It’s just not worth getting back in contact with someone so manipulative and toxic. As for why he’s so desperate to get them back to you all of a sudden is either him trying to worm his way back into your life or he has someone new on the go and wants your stuff out of his life/because she’s nagging him to get rid. Seriously whichever it is it doesn’t matter, you just need to focus on how much better you’re going to be without him in your life.

sittingunderthetree · 18/11/2019 21:11

I would prefer the things back, but it's just "things", I'm sure I can replace them over the next few months.

He 100% knows my address, so as PP have mentioned, he could have sent them by now. So, whether I reply or not, I don't think I am getting them.

@Princessfaffalot in any other ex-boyfriend case, I would assume the new girlfriend thing too! However, he's massively introverted, sexually repressed and does not "see the point of casual relationships". I was his first girlfriend/woman in general in six years!

OP posts:
fit4more · 18/11/2019 22:52

I think you need to give yourself a massive pat on the back for getting rid of this weirdo. His behaviour is some of the strangest I’ve ever heard of. He sounds like a psychopath. Read back what you’ve written. If that’s all true, doesn’t it creep you out? Never ever speak to him again. He sounds weird and dangerous. People like that aren’t wired right and do weird things (the huffing and laughing stuff) creepy!! Just block him.

Princessfaffalot · 18/11/2019 23:28

That’s what he told you...men like him will lie and twist things in order to make manipulating you easier. He may well have told you all that about casual relationships, anti porn etc but his actions speak louder than words. He followed a porn star on social media, belittled you and treated you like shit and ended your relationship many times so it seems like it was pretty casual to him. I think he fed you a bunch of crap! I honestly would write the stuff off, it just gives him ammo and a chance to get in your head.

Butterymuffin · 18/11/2019 23:34

'Send them now please'. Nothing else. No replies to anything he sends in response.

Boopeedoop · 19/11/2019 14:25

Learn to live without your stuff. It's just stuff.

He can't understand why you aren't playing the game by his rules anymore.

This person does not like women and will never have a mutually loving, healthy relationship with one.

See this as a wonderful gift of freedom from him.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 19/11/2019 14:41

He reminds me of someone I dated briefly a few years ago. We never argued either, but he would go,off in massive strops over really innocent things and not speak to me for days. One time it was because I asked him if he was planning on going out with a friend or wanting to spend the evening with me. It was just a question, but I needed an answer so I could plan my own evening. He said that everything I said was a dig and threw me out if his house. I was then expected to meet up the next day and act as if all was normal. The second (last time) was when he'd made a big thing of nit buying something for his son as he'd been "ungrateful " (ie just a typical teenager) and then went on to buy it for him. I made a comment along the lines of oh you changed your mind - he accused me of questioning him, slammed the phone down and didn't talk to me for two days.

He was also addicted to porn, but also sexually repressed - it is a weird combination.

The thing is, you don't realise what is wrong with the relationship when you are in it. Then, when you are out it all makes sense.

Block and move on.

sittingunderthetree · 19/11/2019 15:21

@Leighhalfpennysthigh

Uncannily similar ! How did you break ?

OP posts:
sittingunderthetree · 19/11/2019 15:23

Break up I mean!

OP posts:
Havaina · 19/11/2019 15:31

Do you have anyone who can get the stuff on your behalf?

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 19/11/2019 16:48

@sittingunderthetree I got fed up and stopped contacting him and he, being the arrogant arsehole he was, was presumably assuming that I'd come running so didn't contact me. And that was it!

If helped that I moved away as well around that time - was only staying in that area temporarily for work.

sittingunderthetree · 19/11/2019 20:17

@Leighhalfpennysthigh

Geez that's what I thought would happen with me to be honest. I would say my ex was not arrogant in the slightest though, more very insecure.

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 19/11/2019 20:28

Unless you are absolutely sure there is nothing important amongst the stuff, I'd get it sent (and I'd get it sent, because I wouldn't be sure)

No need to say more than

'Just send it, please'

because this is just a minor admin loose end to be dealt with. Not any real resumption of contact

CalleighDoodle · 19/11/2019 20:33

I dont think he has any intention of sending it back, because he easily could without making you beg for it. I think your options are ignore him and send someone round for it, or ignore him and write the stuff off.

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