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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

Ghosted in long term relationship

504 replies

Doingmyownheadin · 01/12/2020 11:47

Hi, sorry for the long post but just felt like I need to vent as I’m struggling.
I had been with boyfriend on and off 4 years, very much on since January and seemed to finally be heading to a good place. I’ve been accused of “going on about things” in the past and I admit yes sometimes I have been a little impatient about moving forward but it always seemed like such a struggle for things to move forward and I would bring it up and he would always have a reason why now wasnt the right time or he wasn’t quite there yet.
He has disappeared in the past and we have worked things out. However a week past Monday he completely disappeared again, I remember we hadn’t spoke that much that day (long distance relationship) and at night I was trying to chat but he went quiet. I felt that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that he was going quiet on me so later that night and the next morning I asked if we could talk etc but I haven’t heard from him since. I waited a few days and tried but nothing. It’s now been over a week and he’s gone. Has read my messages but no response.
So I assume we have broken up.
I don’t expect to get a message to officially end it and say goodbye and I know I need to move on but I just feel so rotten. I’m blaming myself and wish I hadn’t of “gone on” as he would put it but I only ever wanted is to finally get a secure place. I feel totally rubbish that in his eyes I am such a terrible person that he doesn’t even want to say a goodbye.

I want to just feel better and not go over in my head what I could or should of done differently. Sorry for the long post, I just feel lost.

OP posts:
Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 09:46

I don’t see many friends at the minute though I have a few that know all the drama and they are supporting me albeit we can’t see each other. I have a DS who is at his dads house this week but he’s back with me this Sunday and we have plans to decorate the Xmas tree etc. He’s only 5 so he’s all excited and I don’t want to be sad over Xmas so I’ll make the effort to put on a brave face and make the most of it for him!

OP posts:
Noshowlomo · 03/12/2020 09:48

Listen to some Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin. You are stronger than you think x

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 03/12/2020 09:48

Op it may sound corny but time is a great healer and each day that you are not under the thumb of this relationship miser is making you stronger and helping you regain control of yourself.
You are NOT a loser you are a person of courage making the hardest steps towards freeing yourself from this person who has controlled and manipulated you for 4 years whilst constantly wrong footing you and offering you nothing except a few crumbs so that he can enjoy the massive ego boost of stringing you along.
It’s not your fault that you were optimistic and trusting it’s that he has been manipulative.
It is very brave of you to face that, deal with the hurt and the loss of what might have been and say no to any further emotional abuse.
Thankfully you have your independence so whilst you may feel low sometimes, things will get better the further away you are from this situation
So cry if you feel like it. But don’t berate yourself or tell yourself off. Be kind to yourself as you move forward

ArabellaScott · 03/12/2020 09:49

Xmas Smile Sounds like a lovely plan for the weekend.

blisstwins · 03/12/2020 09:51

Don't buy into the sunk cost fallacy. Even though you spent time on him, you are saving yourself a lot of unhappiness by ending things now. The real him in not the one you hoped for.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 03/12/2020 09:53

Once you are feeling better I do agree with @cantwaitforchristmasyay that it would be a good idea to look into why the situation developed and what you can do to prevent it happening again.
In the meantime you have a beautiful 5 year old DS looking forward to being with you and supportive friends. This, with your independence are such blessings.

Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 09:58

Quite funny I never got a reply even tho I did wish him good luck! I’m sure he is happy in the knowledge he got to be the one to ignore for ye final time!

OP posts:
Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 09:58

I’ll go out this weekend and buy a big real Xmas tree in preparation for the boy coming home! He wants a big tree!!

OP posts:
Cavagirl · 03/12/2020 10:03

Ah yes that sounds like a lovely plan Xmas Smile

YoniAndGuy · 03/12/2020 10:32

@Doingmyownheadin

Quite funny I never got a reply even tho I did wish him good luck! I’m sure he is happy in the knowledge he got to be the one to ignore for ye final time!
Nope, you got the last word there - and it was a good one.

He won't have had a good reply to that one that could be ANYTHING other than 'You too' - and he doesn't want to send that, doesn't want to look sheepish.

You bet he's been looking for a way to send something that would be able to turn it around even slightly into 'Oh! Said you wanted to stay friends and now you don't' - and just hasn't been able to find one that won't make him look an arse Grin

Dignified kiss offs just have no comeback!

TheSecondMrsAshwell · 03/12/2020 10:33

Hi OP

Enjoy that Christmas tree. I'll catch up on this thread later. But I saw something that made me think of you:

"I love when I'm missing a guy and he takes it upon himself to give me another reason to wish I never met him in the first place. Thank you for fueling my healing process babe."

Isthisnothing · 03/12/2020 10:45

OP, you really need to ignore him forever now. He's an absolute joke.

Why would you assume responsibility for someone else's awful behaviour? The fact he thought ghosting was an appropriate way to behave is a reflection of what a loser he is, nothing more, certainly no reflection on you.

The "going on" you have described is you asking for perfectly reasonable things from someone you are involved with. Please promise yourself now today that the next time you find yourself involved with someone who is not making you happy that you will discuss it with them and if they are not receptive / willing to compromise / considerate then you will leave immediately.

You need to find your self respect here and hold onto it firmly. Set your own standards. A guy will either meet them or he won't. Never let him dictate what is acceptable to you.

Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 13:56

Hopefully it will get easier with time. Been reading old messages today which clearly isn’t helpful. Just can’t bring myself to delete all the messages and photos yet

OP posts:
bangheadhere40 · 03/12/2020 14:08

Has he messaged you again? It will take time...you are doing well.

Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 14:48

No I never got a response to my it’s over best of luck message!

OP posts:
Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 16:38

I defo feel worse now I know we will never talk again! I’m starting to worry i came across all dramatic in my sudden exit when he was wanting to send the odd message. What is wrong with me that I can’t see it was all so utterly pointless investing in him!!

OP posts:
YoniAndGuy · 03/12/2020 16:41

No no no.

Of course you feel shit right now and you miss him and everything else.

BUT - you won't for long.

Just ride this bit out. Distract yourself, speak to friends, watch crap tv, eat chocolate - whatever. It's shitty but it's what you have to go through and soon you'll be out the other side and will be relieved you ripped the plaster off.

Then one day when you're with a great guy and haven't given him a thought for ages you'll have a flash of memory and think OMG that twat... so glad I'm not with him!

ravenmum · 03/12/2020 16:42

What you wrote sounded pretty low-key to me - he's the one going on and on and on!

Wendywoo19 · 03/12/2020 16:42

@Doingmyownheadin please don’t question cutting him off. Why would you let him send the odd message after he’s wasted so much of your time already. Don’t accept the breadcrumbs he is offering, you are worth so much more.

YoniAndGuy · 03/12/2020 16:43

And no, he would have no interest at all in sending the odd friendly text to be lovely friends no hard feelings. Why would he? He doesn't give a shit about you! No - he wanted to keep you on a string for the odd booty call. Just like a worthless piece of meat. Vile.

Mangofandangoo · 03/12/2020 16:43

Being ghosted by a friend is hard enough but by a partner is just awful.

Look after yourself Thanks

TwentyViginti · 03/12/2020 16:46

Did he worry about how HE came across when he kept ghosting you for days on end?

No - because he doesn't care about you or how he made you feel. He played with you, it was a game to see how long you'd put up with his behaviour. Then the final humiliation of asking you to be a fuck buddy after all those years.

Stop worrying about his feelings. They really don't matter. HE did this.

Concentrate on plans for your future. He is the past.

Doingmyownheadin · 03/12/2020 16:48

Arghhhhhh!! Cold turkey sucks. I know eventually I won’t feel like this (fingers crossed anyway) and I wouldn’t message anyway as I’d look like a total tube.
But I’m just sitting thinking he will be on dating apps already lining up someone new and that person will get his best chat!
We started off as friends for the first few months and I resisted his flirtations but he was just so lovely and i grew to really like him! What happened to that man Sad

OP posts:
TwentyViginti · 03/12/2020 16:54

He never was that lovely man. He pretended to be at first to reel you in.I think he became addicted to having you on a string - just like you became addicted to 'investing' in him, hoping for a full relationship.

You never met his friends and family. He had no intention of taking it to the next level.

As pp have said - he could have other women on the go - especially during the ghosting times.

TwentyViginti · 03/12/2020 16:56

Sooner than you think, you'll 'wake up and smell the coffee' and will realise you are well rid.

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