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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

Having to walk away from a relationship you don't want to.

48 replies

IronNeonClasp · 04/10/2020 22:56

When my ex-H and I were ending I had no question that it was the right thing to do despite the kids being 6/7. I weighed it all I up and knew I just didn't have the strength.
I was in a happy relationship up until last month when it came to the surface he had been using coke. I gave all that up and the lifestyle in January so I've had to knock it on the head with him but I'm just so sad about it. Really finding it difficult to walk away. I'm so down about it all. I know I can't change him but aside from that everything was ok really Sad
Just wondered if you wonderful people had a similar story of walking away and how you realised it was right to do, you had to walk away and what's happening in your life now. Perhaps to give me a glimmer of hope and support.

OP posts:
newnameforthis123 · 04/10/2020 23:25

Do you mean you gave up coke in January but you found out he's been carried on it between then and now?

Anordinarymum · 04/10/2020 23:28

Does he still do it ? Did he try to stop ?

IronNeonClasp · 04/10/2020 23:50

I stopped drinking and occasionally doing coke in Jan. 9m clean tomorrow.

Yes - I tasted it on him after thinking I was imagining it for a while - he'd picked up again over the summer.

I don't think he'll stop he's caught up in his own complications with addiction.

Just very sad to walk away..

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 04/10/2020 23:54

So is he doing it every day or just at the weekend or with friends, or is he doing it alone?

Is it affecting his health/personality. Is he in debt?

Is he nasty to you when he does it? Is it stopping him from living a normal life?

stuckinarut86 · 04/10/2020 23:54

At the end of the day you can only do what you feel is best you. If your a recovering from addiction I would think about whether you're in a strong enough place to continue the relationship and his addiction.

Pantsomime · 04/10/2020 23:56

V sad yes but you can’t save him, only yourself- in theory you can still be Friends but that may be impossible emotionally. I think his health physically and mentally will deteriorate long term not to mention possible employment and financial complications. I think you have to say you’ve saved yourself from harder but inevitable split by doing it now - well done and good luck with your recovery too

newnameforthis123 · 04/10/2020 23:57

Firstly well done on 9 months clean. I was an all too regular user and appreciate it can be incredibly hard to give up. Is he using in a reliant way or in social situations occasionally? If the latter then I think establishing whether he is willing to get help to give it up / genuinely wants to is important. You have the absolute right to leave because of this, I absolutely agree with you. I just wonder if he gets how much it's affecting your perception of him and your perception of him prioritising your family. He has clearly lied to you for 9 months (I'm assuming you both agreed to give it up) and that's what would make me the most concerned.

IronNeonClasp · 05/10/2020 07:37

Thank you so much for the replies and yes - 9m today I can hardly believe it myself but sadly overshadowed by him.

I tasted it 4 weeks ago and I've seen him about twice since then. To talk through what went on. It all made sense as I'd had my suspicions for a good few weeks. I think I became unapproachable so it became easier for him to lie about it. I'm in CA so it was a pretty big deal and I possibly over reacted. We don't live together. He's had 'parties', company the last two weekends it's pretty obvious he's thrown himself in to his addiction rather than the want to work on 'us'. He's also 13 years younger.

I absolutely get that I can't change him or influence his life choices. That's the hardest part. My life is so different now - not in a constant pit of self and how awful everything is underneath my binge hangover. I'm just so so sad as he ticked so many boxes for me - he really did.

I've just sent him a message saying I have to let him go. But it still hurts letting someone go that you adore and were willing to work through with them.

OP posts:
TheBlueStocking · 05/10/2020 08:40

Do you mean you tasted alcohol or coke on him?

RantAndDec · 05/10/2020 08:50

I think it depends. You don't have any reason at all to end a relationship, so you have to do what feels right for you. But not everyone who takes coke has a problem. When you yourself have had addiction issues- be it drugs, booze, food, sex- it's easy to project that unhealthy relationship with whatever it is onto others. Reformed alcoholics often can't accept that people can drink alcohol and have a perfectly healthy relationship.

So walk away by all accounts, because you feel it's the right thing for you. But don't judge him too harshly.

HRH18 · 05/10/2020 08:52

You have done the right thing.

Greyandrare123 · 05/10/2020 09:24

Its so hard as you will have a tendency just to recollect the good things about your time together.
I was v much in love with a man who had a drinking problem. He would drink heavily and frequently and it would change his mood. Taking him from a kind person to one who is argumentative, leary and unreasonable. At the time I was stressed and upset. I walked away and I regretted it. Actually it was the right thing to do. He hasnt dealt with the problem. He has found someone new and described her as clingy. She wont be clingy, it'll be him and his drinking behaviour making her on edge. He and I are friends now and its much better even though I do miss him. You just cant fix it for people and trying to will make you exhausted.

IronNeonClasp · 05/10/2020 09:27

All I can say is he's not banging down my door to make things work. He's thrown himself into drink and drugs and probably chatting up someone else now. Up until 4am. It'll never work now it's just I had been going along thinking we were ok. One minute I was in a relationship one minute I wasn't and that's the hardest thing.
I'd have him back in a heartbeat but he doesn't give me the impression that's what he wants and I have to focus on the kids and myself and not worry about his well-being but that's the hardest bit as I love him very, very much Sad

OP posts:
Eckhart · 05/10/2020 09:29

I think I became unapproachable so it became easier for him to lie about it

There's a reason for this. Being clean is more important to you than maintaining a relationship with an addict. You haven't over reacted. He's doing something that fundamentally affects your well being, and his priority isn't you, or the health of your relationship.

You deserve more. Especially given the hard work you've put in to get clean and dry. Many are never able to do that. You rock. You need to find someone who respects that.

IronNeonClasp · 05/10/2020 09:57

@Eckhart

I think I became unapproachable so it became easier for him to lie about it

There's a reason for this. Being clean is more important to you than maintaining a relationship with an addict. You haven't over reacted. He's doing something that fundamentally affects your well being, and his priority isn't you, or the health of your relationship.

You deserve more. Especially given the hard work you've put in to get clean and dry. Many are never able to do that. You rock. You need to find someone who respects that.

Thank you so much. It's so hard really feeling pain - not getting fucked as I did so much. I wish I could turn him into a horrible man but he's just not - just struggling with his own addictions.

I do know what you're saying is what I need to do. It's so easy written down but the grief is horrendous.

OP posts:
Eckhart · 05/10/2020 11:31

It feels like this might be part of your quitting process. A way to demonstrate to yourself that you do have the new found self respect to let him go, even if it feels like you're ripping yourself apart.

You might have quite a lot of crying ahead, but you're building new emotional muscles, and you'll be really tough afterwards. It's like emotion-gym. Keep pushing. Once you've solidified these boundaries you'll be rock solid.

S00LA · 05/10/2020 11:47

@Eckhart

I think I became unapproachable so it became easier for him to lie about it

There's a reason for this. Being clean is more important to you than maintaining a relationship with an addict. You haven't over reacted. He's doing something that fundamentally affects your well being, and his priority isn't you, or the health of your relationship.

You deserve more. Especially given the hard work you've put in to get clean and dry. Many are never able to do that. You rock. You need to find someone who respects that.

This
justilou1 · 05/10/2020 11:49

I think you are finally growing up and out of your own addictions, to intoxicants and to him. Maybe this is one of the explanations for the age differences. Addictions keep you immature. I’ve been there. You hide behind anything to avoid facing reality and dealing with whatever’s going on. Or whatever you’re hiding from. It’s sad now, but worth it ultimately. I know it’s tough, but I’m proud of you.

AgentJohnson · 05/10/2020 12:22

You’re grieving the man he never was but desperately wanted him to be. Hopefully, you’ll be more critical of a future partner.

newnameforthis123 · 05/10/2020 13:43

@justilou1

I think you are finally growing up and out of your own addictions, to intoxicants and to him. Maybe this is one of the explanations for the age differences. Addictions keep you immature. I’ve been there. You hide behind anything to avoid facing reality and dealing with whatever’s going on. Or whatever you’re hiding from. It’s sad now, but worth it ultimately. I know it’s tough, but I’m proud of you.
All of this. And I'm proud of you too - please stick to your new boundaries and don't consider getting back with him as he's shown himself to be more committed to the drugs and lifestyle than he is to you.
madcatladyforever · 05/10/2020 13:46

Walking away is sad OP but not nearly as sad as flogging a dead horse for 20 years like I did always hoping it would get better and it never does.
It's better to go as soon as you know it isn't working so you can get on with your life.

IronNeonClasp · 10/12/2020 08:35

Just an update from me for anyone who remembers my post and thanks for your support at the time but I wasn't strong enough to cut the cord then. Call it pandemic fatigue or being too scared to be on my own. Hoping this might help anyone in a similar situation.

So. I took him back in October and towards the end I endured worse behaviour than the first time. I guess I took him back as I missed him, our routine, cuddles, eating together, his shower (!) grown up company, sex and the grief was unbearable. Also with the ongoing pandemic he was one of the only people I saw. I do get lonely. But this time around I wouldn't let him see my kids and I don't think that helped. But I needed to know I could trust that he wasn't using and that moment didn't really come. I was on my guard almost wanted to pat him down when he arrived but I wouldn’t have found anything. He only saw them a couple of times and I think I hurt him not letting things ‘go back to ‘normal’’.

I can be around booze, but I cannot be around coke. I don't know why perhaps it reminds me how close I was for my life being in a very dangerous place this time a year ago, potentially going down the drain. It's the thing I can lean over and demand in a split second and undo what I've been working on and through, whereas I just think of booze as quite poisonous and toxic to me. I don’t know why it’s difficult probably doesn’t make the least bit of sense if you are reading this.

And he just wasn’t using ‘recreationally’ anymore. I wouldn’t have cared if he was. I could tell it was happening whenever he had the opportunity.

So I gave him an ultimatum a few weeks ago after enduring lie after lie, seeing him less, him making excuses and he really let me down the week before undertaking something. I told him "if I find out you are using I'll have no choice but to end it". I saw him less and less. I started to be able to tell when he was high from his WhatsApp messages "the fact of the matter 'sweetheart'", which was not from the person I love and adore. He said he was missing me and that he loved me but I felt lonely. He was sniffing constantly, and I'd joke saying "your using aren't you, just be honest with me", he said his nose was just healing. And his OCD prevented me finding any paraphernalia. He told me I was paranoid or that he wouldn't be doing that because he was skint, he wouldn't do that to me etc. Endless excuses until he started running out of them. Like he started to use work as his excuse and he’d never used work, especially working from home. The things he said just didn’t add up - he was just avoiding me. One Saturday afternoon I was feeling really lazy and fancied hanging around his - staying in bed or similar but he was like an excited child and couldn’t wait to get shot of me for the afternoon. I knew it was so that he could score as I saw him again in the evening and he was sniffing but I don’t think he did whilst I was there as he fell into a coma about 9 in the evening on the sofa probably where he’d stayed up until the early hours on the Thursday. I know it all makes sense now and it’s glaringly obvious but I wanted to believe him with him telling me I was paranoid or it was all in my head. Shocking really what I put myself through.

I became wise to his behaviour and on the off chance tasted some on a washed off plate in his dishwasher. He didn’t know how I knew but when I asked him “when are you going to tell me you’re on coke” we had a back and forth “why do you think I am” nine times or so. I could see in his eyes all he was thinking was “fuck what has she found, what did I leave out, did I leave a bag in the bin” etc I said “just tell me” and he did. I gave him a hug and thanked him for finally being honest and then I left.

It is extremely tough to walk away from someone you love and adore wholeheartedly but who places their addiction above all else and you can't make them see that there is a different life to be had. I desperately wanted him to find what I had found. But you can't make them see the person they become and the obsession that they have, that they are wasting away or - their soul is. You can't make them see that are spending hundreds of pounds on nothing but heartache and a false high or sense of happiness as they already had that temporary high such a long time ago and now their mind is constantly searching for it. They are not using 'recreationally' any longer it's become an obsession.

The last text I had from him after I walked away asked that I come back to help him. That he massively needed my help. But he was high. I didn't reply and I haven't heard from him since. But we’ve gone no contact a couple of weeks before in the past.

I think he was probably glad that I left that night because he could fully indulge into the only thing that matters to him. I expect he got tired of my demands (to see him one extra night mid week not just weekend) or that he was being inconsiderate because for the first time in my life I have learned to be honest with him. Perhaps I was a nag, the sex had become vanilla, I certainly wasn't even enjoying that anymore with him. Perhaps he had already moved on.. Perhaps communication just broke down. Understandably I wasn't the person I was when we met but I haven't changed an awful amount tbf. Perhaps it was just a matter of time. I can't say that I could believe anything he said towards that last week. But I didn't have the strength anymore as I am fighting my own battle.

I’m doing the opposite of what my heart is telling me to do. It’s probably the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do. I don’t want anyone else, I want him; I have to go it alone. I think it makes it that much more difficult that I am the only person who knows how bad he is (aside from his dealer). I’m hoping silence sends a stronger message. But it’s so hard for me not to message him. To start the process all over again when I’ve been given my answer - twice!

I was 11 months sober beginning of this week. But I’m devastated I have had to do this without being able to tell him why and just sort of ghost him. I love him so dearly. But it’s just too dangerous for me to support another addict.

My daughter asked me the other day "Mum are we going to see * on Christmas Day?". That really hurt. It really hurts so much.

OP posts:
Spritesobright · 10/12/2020 09:28

Thank you for sharing, OP. That's so so powerful. Congratulations on 11 months sober! What a fantastic accomplishment.

IronNeonClasp · 10/12/2020 13:41

Thanks @Spritesobright. Wish I could shut all the over-thinking down.

OP posts:
Lora88 · 10/12/2020 22:38

Hi no advice but going through same thing we seperated in July after I realised how bad he was on the coke , not only that the coke developed a new habit of looking at escort sites during the high , he’s begged for me back for months but like you I know he’s still taking it at weekends x

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