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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

Boyfriend who cannot express his feelings

38 replies

Hope4newlife · 11/02/2021 02:46

I have a boyfriend who finds himself very difficult to express his feelings. I can see he is happy when he has a nice meal though. He once told me that I am an emotional person and emotions are a waste. Divorced after 17 years of marriage from a cheater wife, had some girlfriends before and after but never been in love with a woman but he said he doesn’t want to live alone.

He is still actively hiding me from his family, said we only introduce a woman for marriage. (I know the culture difference but it hurts)

From his reactions and how he deals with the relationship issues, he seemed quite selfish and talks very blunt so I got hurt a lot at the very beginning when we were learning to know each other but then again I feel that his selfishness is because he doesn’t know how to approach to talk about the odd situations and sudden events that could hurt me? or simply don’t think that further?

He never touches me or holds my hands ever first even in bed he just cannot show his affection at all as if he does not know anything so you do all but he really likes me being next to him, touching him, holding his hands, anything.

Other than his character, he is very successful and has an honourable job. His work is his whole life, nothing else. I honestly cannot believe that he was once in a marriage for 17 years because I have found it very difficult with him, maybe me? I don’t know. I almost broke up with him a couple of times and could have left his house straight away but I didn’t and he hugged me so hard next morning ( this means “ thank you for staying/bearing with me, omg, I want to cry😭)

I have kept telling him what I want him to do and how I want to be treated with clear instructions but I know it may be impossible for him to change especially in his age. and I feel that he won’t be happy to hear it all the time. He told me that too much negativity isn’t good but he didn’t say any further. So I know he still wants me.

I love him so much. I am now kind of getting used to him and learned to understand and ignore but still very hard.

Are some men too difficult to express their feelings? Anyone has this problem? I guess if someone’s character is like my boyfriend, they won’t be here because they can’t express anyway.

OP posts:
121hugsneeded · 11/02/2021 02:49

Jeeeeeze . He's too much admin . Next !

katy1213 · 11/02/2021 03:09

Why do you love him? He doesn't sound very lovable. Or even very likeable.
He doesn't want a partner. He wants a housekeeper. Buy him a copy of The Lady and show him the small ads as your parting gift.

Iflyaway · 11/02/2021 03:12

OMG, you deserve so much better!

I agree with PP. NEXT!

If you stay with him you will have a lifetime of sorrow. Please don't do that to yourself. You are worth SO MUCH MORE!

NovemberR · 11/02/2021 03:21

Find someone else. You describe him as selfish , he says emotions are a waste and he's never been in love.

You even say other than his character he's ok. Why would other than being a repressed, rude, selfish prick with utterly zero ability to empathise with others he's ok be your low bar acceptance of who you'd be with?

Man up! Get rid!

seensome · 11/02/2021 03:27

Don't waste your time on him, he doesn't want to be alone so he's using you for that reason not because he truly cares, if he did then he would have no trouble expressing his feelings.

He's emotionally unavailable to you, he keeps you a secret from his family, what are you getting from this?

You are not going to find any happiness with this man.

BlueThistles · 11/02/2021 03:52

Ditch 🌺

BeanieB2020 · 11/02/2021 03:59

Nope. Couldn't deal with that and you don't have to put up with it. You deserve someone who WANTS TO express his feelings and love to you.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/02/2021 04:13

What's to love? Fgs, run for your life.

Clymene · 11/02/2021 05:07

What do you love about him? The fact he's successful? Because he doesn't sound like he's got a whole lot else going for him

He sounds miserable and like you say, you can't imagine how his poor wife put up with this for 17 years. Ditch him.

category12 · 11/02/2021 05:51

You have a boyfriend, who is unable and unwilling to meet your emotional needs and is keeping you secret.

Why are you doing this to yourself? Do you hate yourself? Do you think you're worthless and don't deserve happiness?

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/02/2021 05:54

I love him so much
Why? Do you have a lot of childhood trauma? Or very low self esteem? I'm not being mean, I assume it must be the case.

RantyAnty · 11/02/2021 06:42

Don't waste another second on him.
I also have to ask, what is there to love about him?

You see the way he is as a problem. He doesn't as if you notice, he gets everything his way and on his terms. What he does work for him so why change?

CodenameVillanelle · 11/02/2021 06:47

This isn't the man for you. Time to accept that.

readingismycardio · 11/02/2021 06:50

He is still actively hiding me from his family, said we only introduce a woman for marriage. (I know the culture difference but it hurts)

Run and don't look back.
Nevermind the rest, red flags all over

AgentJohnson · 11/02/2021 06:54

Well you’ve managed to talk yourself into a relationship with an emotional unavailable man. You are an option for him, not a priority and the version of him that sees you as a priority, isn’t waiting around the corner. Everyone has a role to play in relationship dynamics and you’ve chosen doormat. The question you should be asking is, why am I willing to accept so little from this man?

The balls in your court, you can either choose to save yourself from certain as well as current heartache by leaving or, continue to dig in and be miserable.

This is who he is now, waiting for a potential future version of him to show up is a waste of your time.

Crapbuttrue · 11/02/2021 06:57

I would just shrivel up and die without affection. What are you getting from the relationship?

minmooch · 11/02/2021 07:05

This is him at his best - selfish, cold, emotionless. When a person shows you who they are - that's what they are. He won't change, why should he as you've stuck with him so far?

Why would you ignore the hurt he causes you? It should be ringing alarm bells that he is not good for you.

Open your eyes properly and see him for what he is. And fgs leave him.

LJenn · 11/02/2021 07:06

Ok before anyone jumps down my throat I'm NOT condoning cheating. I think if you're unhappy you should just go rather than doing that, anyway.. OP, is it possible (because I don't know these people) that perhaps the wife cheated because he was so cold and lacking emotion? So she went looking for attention elsewhere. It sounds like he's got deep rooted issues that go just beyond the marriage.

Rainbowqueeen · 11/02/2021 07:08

He’s training you to accept crumbs.
No. Don’t do this. Find someone who cares about what you want and need. That’s what you deserve

Mazeofpipes · 11/02/2021 07:13

My ex could do happy and angry. That was it. Whatever else he may have felt he either didn’t know he was feeling or couldn’t express. It was like living in a vacuum. He couldn’t talk about anything to do with feelings but when things came to a head it was clear he was a more complex character than I’d released as he ended up in jail for fraud. If he had been able to recognise or express his feelings he might have not done the things he did. He was a weird man and marriage to him wrecked my mental and physical health. My DB reckons had the marriage not ended when it did I’d have had a stroke or heart attack due to the stress of living with someone so unable to talk about anything in a vaguely meaningful way.

NotaCoolMum · 11/02/2021 07:22

He sounds a delight 🙄 in case you can’t tell- I’m being sarcastic because the truth is that he sounds like an absolute asshole. You will be miserable if you stay with him.

Mistystar99 · 11/02/2021 07:33

It is foolish of you to think you can change him and you are already making excuses for his behaviour and gratefully accepting breadcrumbs. Sounds like a pretty horrible relationship and a declining future to me.

Lampan · 11/02/2021 07:41

I found myself in a very very similar situation a few years ago. I realised that if I ended up with him long term things would get worse not better. I’m not a particularly affectionate person myself but I couldn’t have coped with a lifetime of zero affection. In my case I think it was partly cultural differences but mostly just the way he was.
You need to leave, things will not get better.

Hope4newlife · 11/02/2021 08:25

I of course brought « hiding from family» issue up with other issues but I haven’t seen him since. Hope he doesn’t do that again.

I don’t know the reasons why I am still with him and love him without receiving love and affection from him, and I feel only me trying to accept who he is as he doesn’t do anything in order to keep me happy or keep this relationship go. Unfortunately, this has happened and I am now fighting with myself whether I should leave him or not for the sake of my happiness. I feel that he needs me, he told me that he needs me. Probably I am the kind of person who is attracted to a bad guy, emotionally incapable man😢

I feel that I must decide before getting hurt more.

OP posts:
ravenmum · 11/02/2021 08:29

I love him so much. I am now kind of getting used to him
Which is it, the first thing or the second? They don't go together.

If this is real, speak to someone about getting therapy for whatever horrible things you must have experienced growing up.