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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

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What on earth happened?

779 replies

Newbie96 · 01/03/2021 10:55

Hi everyone, long time reader but first-time poster. I'll just jump straight into it. Please be kind.

My boyfriend and I have been together officially for a year, we've known each other since we were around 13 - 14 and attempted to make a go of it as teenagers (around 18) but it never worked. We've been in contact ever since because we both have mutually been drawn to one another. He often tells me he has compared every woman he's been with to me and to be honest I've done the same.

I am now 25 and he is 27. We got together just before lockdown last year and have spent nearly every waking second with each other since. We had been spending a lot of time together prior to lockdown happening and we both jumped at the opportunity to become each other's support bubbles when the time came and to be honest, it has been total bliss, we genuinely never argue, he is like my bestfriend.

Luckily for us, the lockdown has been kind to us mostly because we've had each other to get through it and it has made us grow extremely closer. I can honestly say the past year we both have agreed that we have been the happiest we've ever been, our relationship being one of the main reasons.

We both live alone and so we stay back and forth between his place and mine, only having to travel now and then for work etc. Due to our history and of course how much time we've spent together, emotions have definitely intensified and I am very much in love with this man, he knows this and tells me he feels the same way.

So fast forward to the weekend just gone, we had planned that I would spend the weekend at his house. I arrive at around 6:30 on Friday evening and things are good but I can sense that something is off/ or that he isn't exactly in the mood. I decide to ignore it but it seems to only get worse. Usually, we would sit down, have a conversation about our day and watch a series episode together which we commentate back and forth with each other but this time it's pure silence. Neither of us was physical with each other, he actually even sat on the furthest part of the sofa away from me. I can honestly say this was the first time I felt a little unwelcome in his home, which is odd considering how much time I have spent there and I've never felt this way before.

I mean maybe I overlooked everything far too much so please tell me if that appears to be the case. An hour of silence goes by, most of the time it was him on his phone whilst I watched the episode by myself, he stands up and asks if I am hungry, I say yeah and he says okay I will cook something for us. As it was the first proper real words we had spoken to each other all night, I decided to ask if everything was okay? he says yeah so in a jokey, laughing tone I ask if he wants me over tonight as it feels a little as if I'm intruding.

Well what happens next I didn't expect it at all, he is stood in the doorway of the living room and begins to get more and more wound up, he starts off by saying "of course I want you over but you have been sat there all night with this miserable look on your face, giving off bad energy" his voice is slightly raised but I don't retaliate and I calmy say "okay well I must have read it wrong, I wasn't trying to give off bad energy, I've been looking forward to seeing you all day" but he is so annoyed and goes off again accusing me of being the reason why the energy is so wrong between us tonight and how dare I blame him for it. I apologise again and say that I must have had a long day. He then goes on to say "well this is weird for me now so I think its best you leave" I am in shock as he walks out of the living room into the kitchen, in an attempt to let things settle, I leave it 5 minutes and walk into the kitchen with him and ask if he would really like me to leave? He responds "I'm just saying maybe its best", the thing is I can see on his face he is visually angry and in my head, I can't figure out why he is so annoyed, over something that in my mind was so trivial and silly. Like a fricken helpless puppy dog, I look at him again and ask if HE wants me to leave? and he responds "you know what yeah I do".

I take myself to the other room and begin packing up my stuff and I can hear him stomping and slamming about. I obviously felt a little confused because the whole situation felt extremely blown out of proportion. Once my things are packed I give it one last attempt and go and sit next to him on the sofa, I ask him if we can talk about this and I gently reach my hand out to touch his arm, but he blows up and is practically foaming from the mouth shouting at me not to touch him and that he just wants me to leave, at one point he swings the front door open and walks out of the front door in nothing his dressing gown, I don't chase him because I was honestly just shocked. He begins texting me telling me to leave his house or he won't come back? - I replied and told him I'm leaving but I would have appreciated it if he came back and just spoke to me. After 5/6 minutes pass, he comes storming back into the flat, pushing past me in the hall and is still foaming at the mouth shouting at how it's my fault and I'm making it worse by not leaving. Like a fool, I started to cry because I could see this has all escalated into a situation I didn't want for us at all. He tells me crying doesn't help the situation so tearfully I leave. As I wait outside for a cab, I check my phone and notice that he has blocked my number, my WhatsApp and my Instagram. I am totally confused and hurt by all of this and in my honest moment of craziness, I create another account on Instagram and message "I'm sorry for everything that just happened, I didn't expect any of that. I accept I was in the wrong and that I read the situation wrong, please can we talk when things are calmer?" he replies "please just let me know when you are home as I won't be able to sleep until I know your home" I leave it and let him know I am home, he bluntly replies "good, night" I again press on and I ask if we can talk? he responds and says "no I just want to go to sleep, we have been so good lately and now I'm laying here crying," I tell him I love him and that I don't want him to be sad, he replies and says he knows I do and that I should go to sleep.

Saturday morning comes and I message saying I hope he is okay and that again when things are calmer can we talk about this? he reads and doesn't respond. Sunday I message again along the same lines but telling him I miss him, again he reads and doesn't respond.

This morning I received a message from him saying "I told you that you were just making everything worse on Friday and you just didn't listen, you just thought you knew better and now I'm going to show you what I meant. I don't care, sorry" I sent some messages, honestly being very weak and pitiful, telling him that I would just like us to talk and sort this out as I miss him and this isn't like us at all, I then check for a response and he has blocked me from that account as well, so there are no ways of contacting him.

I just can't make sense of it all, we have never argued like this ever. I didn't expect him to blow up the way he did after asking him if everything was okay. I just feel like its all my fault for ruining something that we had so good. I feel really sad, low and alone and just wish he would calm down and speak to me.

Please give me your take on this entire, childish and shit situation. Did I do something wrong? and is he really never going to speak to me again over that?

Thank you

OP posts:
duchesspodcast · 02/03/2021 12:59

I second everyone who says you sound lovely OP. No one deserves this. And it is a huge loss you're experiencing - the loss of a future and a person you thought you knew so well.

It's shocking reading on here how common it is though. We can't go around expecting it to happen, we'd go mad, but at least I guess it's useful to know that if this does happen it's not our fault and we're not alone.

ktp100 · 02/03/2021 13:04

Sounds like now lockdown is coming to a close he's hoping to go back out there without a Mrs but he's too much of a coward to say it so he's trying to turn everything around on you.

Yes, you stayed a tad too long that night but only because you were so weirded out by his unusual behaviour, and no, it wasn't a great idea to accept all blame via text or to keep trying to have contact as teats like him then use it against you to make you look crazy but LESSON WELL AND TRULY LEARNED!!

I'm sorry you're broken hearted but honestly, he's not the man you thought he was and if you wrote a list of what you wanted in a long-term partner I doubt you'd write down cowardly, selfish, unreasonable or cruel so take your time to mourn this relationship then move on, 100% without him.

You can do better, OP.

Fiona2020 · 02/03/2021 13:06

I want to say this is unusual but it’s not. He wants out and is too pussy to say.

Cyaaaaa👋👋👋

Pull yourself together and realise you are worth more ❤️

ktp100 · 02/03/2021 13:07

Teats = twats, but honestly he's also a total TEAT!! A massive, dangly, hanging-off-a-cow's-mammaries TEAT!! Grin

TheyIsMyFamily · 02/03/2021 13:11

I would block his accounts in return so you're not sat around waiting to hear from him subconsciously.

He picked a fight so he could make you the baddie. Walk away with your head held high; you haven't done anything wrong.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 13:28

On my break and honestly, you are all so lovely! I wish we could all meet up in real life and have a real good talk about how some men can be real pieces of shit!

Reading some of your experiences is really shocking and I'm so sorry that you had to go through it, at the moment I'm looking at you all like super women because I don't feel as though I can get through it the way you all managed to (dramatic I know).

I know it does just take time, but its like the little things, usually he would be sending me messages through out the day, sending me pictures of what he has had for lunch, now nothing. Honestly how can some people be so heartless and shitty towards others?

OP posts:
LopsidedWombat · 02/03/2021 13:30

OP I really felt for you reading that. I'm another who has been in a similar situation where after two lovely years where I couldn't fault him, he turned into a moody snappy bastard who treated me like dirt. After it happened once, it became a regular occurrence. To this day I can't fully understand it and this was many years ago now! My only regret is not leaving sooner but its so difficult to walk away when thinking of the lovely person you'd been with up until the moment they snap. If your partner is anything like mine was he will do nothing to reassure you that it's him not you.

TheSparkleJar · 02/03/2021 13:33

Whatever the reason he had for suddenly turning on you that way, you didn't deserve it. Maybe he fabricated a mood because he has an interest in another girl, maybe he decided you were "off" when you walked in so needed to give it back to you with both barrels, maybe he doesn't want to date you anymore but didn't have the maturity to own up to it. Whatever it was is irrelevant really. You don't want a man with these anger issues in your life.

I know it only just happened, but the sooner you feel able to end the relationship autopsy, the better it will be for you. And don't be surprised if whatever else was going on falls through, and he decides to "forgive" you by next weekend. Don't fall for it. Block him on everything and be glad you found out who he is before making a commitment.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 13:34

LopsidedWombat , I'm proud of you for leaving, even if it did take a little longer. Honestly, your strength is insane!
I feel so weak at the moment, I haven't really been eating because, to be honest, the thought of food right now makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I wish it would all just stop for a second. I realise now how little I meant to him because he didn't even think I deserved the decency of "it's over".

OP posts:
Fiona2020 · 02/03/2021 13:40

@Newbie96

LopsidedWombat , I'm proud of you for leaving, even if it did take a little longer. Honestly, your strength is insane! I feel so weak at the moment, I haven't really been eating because, to be honest, the thought of food right now makes me feel sick to my stomach. I wish it would all just stop for a second. I realise now how little I meant to him because he didn't even think I deserved the decency of "it's over".
Try and eat something. Even if it’s small x You’re so right though- he didn’t even have the decency to say it to your face. What kind of person does that? These men are all the same- they have no common decency, then cannot comprehend what they are doing is wrong. It’s outstanding how many narcissistic men there are out there.

I have had this happen to me time after time. Each time I have thought “he’s different”.

Just take it day by day. Next week will be easier, next month he will stop popping in your thoughts so often, and in a few months the hurt won’t be there anymore. Flowers

justilou1 · 02/03/2021 13:41

That's because he's a coward. He's going to make this about you. You've done this to him. Arse. The thing is, it's actually so common, he's a cliche. He's an archetype. Knob.

TatianaBis · 02/03/2021 13:46

It’s not that OP, it’s just total emotional fuckwittage.

He liked you, he was in a relationship with you. When didn’t want to be in a relationship with you any more, but he didn’t want to be the bad guy. Didn’t want to deal with anger, upset, reproach or have to explain himself: so he got angry in his head, blamed you, and pulled the plug - thus it’s over and he doesn’t have to deal with the consequences.

YoniAndGuy · 02/03/2021 13:49

I wish it would all just stop for a second. I realise now how little I meant to him because he didn't even think I deserved the decency of "it's over".

I really think you have to make a major shift in your head. You're talking about it still as if you've been 'judged' and found wanting by a normal person - 'How little I meant to him' 'didn't even deserve a goodbye' - you are still hurt for having failed in some way.

But it's not that at all. The reason this has happened is because. he. is.a.weirdo. You haven't failed any test of worthiness. He hasn't thought carefully and decided you're rubbish and not worth bothering with. How could he - nothing happened. You didn't change at all. He did, though. He went weird, acted like a twat, and engineered an argument.

It's all him. He's just. a. weirdo.!!!

There are a lot of very odd people out there who can manage to act the normal, loving, balanced person for quite a while.

Even if you had done something wrong, the way he handled it - engineering an argument and blowing up at you - was simply WEIRD.

He isn't normal. He isn't a nice person.

You've escaped a weirdo.

This is why my one comment earlier was - he's likely to come sniffing back round - please make sure you are decisive and swift in blocking, and if he contacts you again you laugh and say 'I don't think so. I'm done with utter weirdos, thanks.'

LBXXX · 02/03/2021 13:49

What you need to remember is a lot of the time men don’t feel the distance until a few weeks after a break up. Usually they’re enjoying their new found freedom and then it gets them

Women feel it straight away but are usually feeling better by the time the man eventually realises

ThisTooShallBeFantastic · 02/03/2021 13:58

OP don't beat yourself up about 'why did I accept bad behaviour from him?' It was 1.75 hours from 'everything is fine with my life partner' to 'oh look, he's shoved me out the door'. That's no time at all to adjust your head and feelings to the new version of someone you loved. I've taken longer than that to get my head around much less important things.

Have a handhold and Flowers. You will get through this. If you can, maintain complete silence from now on - he'll hate it!

FedNlanders · 02/03/2021 14:04

When this happened to me, the biggest change is adapting to not speaking all day and its proper odd and horrible but a week down the line you will be feeling far better xx

Roszie · 02/03/2021 14:06

He doesn't want to tell you it's over. He wants to keep you as an option.

Don't let him

Zebracat · 02/03/2021 14:08

Op, so sorry you are suffering. If you haven’t really eaten since this happened, you will be feeling all kinds of weird. I know you are at work, but on your next break or when you are able, please eat something. Carbs and sugar are very good at a time like this, but really whatever your comfort food is. For me it would probably be a bowl of soup and some buttery toast, but we all have our favourites. Honestly, self care is so important.

CleverCatty · 02/03/2021 14:09

@Newbie96

On my break and honestly, you are all so lovely! I wish we could all meet up in real life and have a real good talk about how some men can be real pieces of shit!

Reading some of your experiences is really shocking and I'm so sorry that you had to go through it, at the moment I'm looking at you all like super women because I don't feel as though I can get through it the way you all managed to (dramatic I know).

I know it does just take time, but its like the little things, usually he would be sending me messages through out the day, sending me pictures of what he has had for lunch, now nothing. Honestly how can some people be so heartless and shitty towards others?

We're not 'super women' although the way some of us have dealt with experiences has been 'super' and some of us who've gone back to men who treat women like shit, gaslight etc well that's not great but we're human.

This man knew you from very young (13/14) and it was quite young when you tried and made it work and then tried to make it work during lockdown. You both tried but where he went wrong was stringing you along if/when etc he had second thoughts or was messing around/stringing you along messaging other women - which it sounds like he was. Most adult men either pluck up the courage to have a talk with you to say it's not working and then you'd have been upset but there wouldn't have been this big drama that happened recently!

Of course you'll miss the little things, messaging about nothing etc and it's even worse because although you're at work you're on lockdown so can't do many of the usual things you'd do to get him off and out of your head.

Listen to ThisTooWillBeFantastic says - don't be so hard on yourself, have a handhold from me, maintain complete silence (men really do hate this!).

Have you got something you can lose yourself in? New fitness regime or something? Binge watch boxsets?

FedNlanders · 02/03/2021 14:10

I remember looking around me thinking nearly everyone has had a broken heart they all survived and so would I x

isthismylifenow · 02/03/2021 14:18

@FedNlanders

I remember looking around me thinking nearly everyone has had a broken heart they all survived and so would I x
Absolutely.

It just takes some time OP.

Nanny0gg · 02/03/2021 14:22

@Newbie96

Thank you dottiedodah, I'm trying to come to terms with the fact he's potentially met someone else. Prior to the other night, we genuinely got on like a house on fire, telling me that I was the one he's been waiting for all this time. It was all a load of nonsense and lies. It just hurts.
Just to say, it may not have been 'nonsense and lies'

He may have genuinely meant it all at the time.

I can remember, way back in my youth, being head over heels with someone and then...like a flick of a switch, I wasn't.
It wasn't their fault or mine, it's just how it was.

Hopefully though, I treated him better than your boyfriend treated you at the end.

Dustyboots · 02/03/2021 14:27

I wish mumsnet had been around when I was younger. Gosh I could have done with all this advice. You’re all so wise and helpful.

Be strong OP.

Feedingthebirds1 · 02/03/2021 14:28

Although hard to read, I can see how I made the situation so much worse by not leaving

I'm not actually sure you did make it worse. You know you tried, which gives you some comfort. And if you had left immediately you would have sent the message that he had control - he tells you what to do, you do it. Then either he knows he can control you and it escalates, or he finds another way to end it which he makes also your fault.

This is painful because the plaster has been ripped off quickly. But you know where you stand, it's not going to drag out. It hurts now, but in time it won't. Take it a day at a time, but please don't let him worm his way in later if he comes crawling back. Don't let him do this to you again.

AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 14:33

Newbie hark our words. He will undoubtedly try to rekindle things, maybe in a few weeks, maybe in a few months. The guy who dumped me did too. Please come back here and reread this thread. And post saying so! We will put you right Wink

I couldn’t eat either, constant lump in throat, I was literally vibrating grief. One of my best friends saw me outside uni one morning, he just dropped his bag and walked over to give me the biggest hug as I dissolved in tears. I was pretty mortified by my carry on - I’m usually very stoic - but on another level I knew I had to release my emotional pressure valve and I felt better for just letting it out (even in public, cringe!)

Your heart has been broken, and not through any fault of your own. There is a grieving process to go through, it fucking sucks but you will get to the other side. Understand he’s manipulated and manoeuvred you, but now you can get back into the driving seat. They say pride is a sin, but not here. Muster all your self worth and tell yourself you dodged years of hurt.

I told my ex to go fuck himself btw. He cried. I didn’t Grin

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