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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:
Coyoacan · 02/03/2021 14:34

I'm just seeing the near unanimity of responses OP so my offering is that you take up an good exercise programme to help you with your recovery. Also give yourself every treat under the sun.

Take care, OP, and block that man.

MeowPurrGrr · 02/03/2021 14:44

I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but you are in no way to blame!

I had (sadly many) similar experiences with an ex who acted almost exactly how you describe, but I stupidly kept going back to him! My ex was a narcissist (in the true meaning of the word) so made me believe I was nothing and these events when he blew up were my fault for ‘looking frumpy and not sexy enough for him’ for ‘having a face on’ and for not giving in to his sexual demands as that’s what my duty was as a girlfriend!

He threw me out of his house one New Year’s Eve at 11pm when I’d had 4 drinks and lived 25 miles away, not a care how’d I’d get home and only messaged in the morning wanting an apology from me. Of course I did, like your man I was manipulated into believing I was the problem! I then had to take him out for a meal to make up for my awful behaviour!!

I didn’t learn quick enough and he actually moved in with me for 3 months whilst waiting for a house sale. I knew deep down I wanted to end things but thought I’d wait for the house to go through. He said it’d only be a few weeks, but still brought nearly all his belongings into my very small one bed place and literally took over! It eventually ended when I was working one day, he blew up over messenger over something ridiculous (as it always was), only a handful of very angry messages were exchanged (him angry, me finally standing my ground). Get home and he’d moved out, all his stuff gone! Then preceded over the next couple of weeks to send the most vile messages to me blaming me. I continued to stand my ground which he hated! I should’ve called the police for harassment, he was arrested when we were together for doing this to his ex wife!!

Sorry for the long reply, I’m really wanting you to see how things can (and will escalate) if you go back to him, the chances are he will try and get you back when he calms down! Someone like this won’t change and you’ll get ground down like I did into believing you’re the problem!!

Think about the red flags, have you chosen to ignore any from your time together? How did he treat his ex’s and how does he talk about them?

You deserve better than this, I hope you’re ok Flowers

BlueThistles · 02/03/2021 14:56

@Dustyboots

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.

this resonates greatly with me too...

I was 18 yrs old when I found myself trapped in an abusive violent controlling gaslighting relationship ... and yes I believed him when he told me everything was my fault... took me years to see what had happened to me and more years to eventually leave...

I so wish mumsnet was around... the experience wisdom and knowledge is phenomenal 🌺

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 15:15

MeowPurrGrr thank you for your message, that sounds fucking horrible! I'm really sorry you went through all that.

You know thinking about it now, I do think there are many red flags that I chose to disregard and I really have no idea why I did. Two that are weighing on me are below, please do feel free to tell me I'm an idiot for allowing it:

  1. we were laying in bed together once and he was showing me old photographs of himself on his mobile, of him at events and stuff and he suddenly shows me an image of him and his ex-girlfriend (not recent) arm in arm, he showed me and remarked "I really like this picture, its a shame I can't post-it". I must have made a face (he is lucky that's all I did) because he quickly declared back that it's "just a photograph" - why on earth did he still have this??

sorry what the fuck, I'm laughing at my desk, I do think this is my fault for accepting his shit.

  1. This one I feel dumbfounded, I honestly must have blocked this out but reading everyone's comments have definitely unclogged some not pretty memories. In the earlier stages of our relationship, I remember we had a disagreement over something (i couldn't possibly tell you what) but I can assure you it was trivial. He resulted in the silent treatment for 3-4 days, literally no contact. When he finally did contact me again, he told me that if I didn't listen, I would feel. That comment is honestly quite threatening now I think about it.

Jesus. I do feel a little better after that rant and realising that he is not the prince I thought he was but my chest still feels very hollow.

OP posts:
FuckyouCovid21 · 02/03/2021 15:20

Fuck that shit OP, be glad you're away from him, block him on everything and don't ever look back

Coyoacan · 02/03/2021 15:21

One thing that is impressive here is the eloquence and obvious intelligence and strength of all the women who have had similar things happen to them.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 15:22

Coyoacan - Right? it is so inspiring, i am so grateful to every single person!

OP posts:
ThisTooShallBeFantastic · 02/03/2021 15:28

'if I didn't listen, I would feel' - fuck, that does sound scary. But in amongst all the good stuff, why would you have realised how significant this phrase was? It's like the tiniest glimpse of the real man, easily overlooked in my opinion.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 02/03/2021 15:33

"if I didn't listen, I would feel"

Bleurgh that is chilling.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 15:34

ThisTooShallBeFantastic - Tell me about it! that's not a normal thing to say to someone, ever.
They do say love is blind, I think I have always felt I was blessed to finally have him in my life, lucky to be laid up next to him, when in fact, he was lucky to have me love him the way I did (do - oops).

OP posts:
AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 15:40

Good woman Newbie. You sound lovely and mature, he’s not worthy honestly. I promise there are plenty of them that are out there.

After I was dumped I decided I couldn’t be arsed with the whole romance rigmarole anymore. Had several very (some very Wink) short lived fun flings, concentrated on work, and then stumbled upon the loveliest guy when I least expected it. And by that point (late 20s) I had extremely firm boundaries and expectations which helps to make a healthy foundation to spend your life with someone. In short, I do not put up with his shit

IndecentCakes · 02/03/2021 15:44

My abusive ex was very, very like this. You sound like a lovely, kind person. Take it from a crabby 43 year old - stay away from him and anyone who trots out the same sort of bollocks. It's not any of your fault.
He WILL come crawling back, btw. They always do.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 15:44

AGirlCalledJohnny - Well done you! sounds like you had some fun to make up for the hell that he put you through. Well deserved ;)

I do think I shall steer clear of anything romantic right now, I feel like you can't tell anymore whos an actual prince and whos an idiot wrapped in tin foil.

OP posts:
BlueThistles · 02/03/2021 15:46

how are you feeling today OP 🌺

TatianaBis · 02/03/2021 15:47

I had a feeling he might be a blocker. Silent treatment my arse.

I had a short lived uni bf who tried that. He gave me the silent treatment for something, and I said if it ever happened again he was gone.

Well it did I got the silent treatment for 3-4 days, so that was that. When he contacted me again he expected to carry on as normal, and said no it’s over. He was actually annoyed with me for not having notified him earlier. But hey if you ignore your gf you may not be aware she’s pulled the plug.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 15:48

BlueThistles Thank you for asking lovely, I feel a bit perkier right now after reading through this thread, its amazing how much you have all helped me.
I know its extremely early days and its probably going to get worse before it gets better, when I get home later and the distractions of work are gone and I'm alone in my head again, reality will hit me.
My chest just feels pretty empty xx

OP posts:
AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 15:53

I thought I was gun shy for a long time, but looking back I realise I really enjoyed suiting myself for those few years. I did what I liked, went where I liked when I liked. I remember so many of my friends being in co-dependent relationships that dragged on them, all so they could say they had a boyfriend Confused and thinking to myself fuck that. I’d get claustrophobic if I had to commit to more than dinner. I had SO MUCH FUN Grin

AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 16:06

Unfortunately, a broken heart won’t heal instantaneously. But it will heal. Especially if you are crystal clear in your mind that you’re done, no matter what he says or does. You’re worth a thousand of him. Cry your eyes out, feel the hurt and then dust yourself off.

When I’ve been devastated by life, I try to channel my inner Liz Taylor; “You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other, and God damn it, you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. You curse. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way.”

Roszie · 02/03/2021 16:07

Wow. You will feel. That sounds like a serious control freak.

stuckinatrap · 02/03/2021 16:11

My charmer from up thread said:

'I can be a horribly cunt sometimes and if you push me any further, it is you who will be upset.' (I hadn't pushed him in any way, incidentally. I just asked to see him)

He was right. He was. Why didn't I listen to his own words?!

I could go back in time and smack myself round the head sometimes.

OP - do better. Block the bastard.

MeowPurrGrr · 02/03/2021 16:11

@Newbie96

MeowPurrGrr thank you for your message, that sounds fucking horrible! I'm really sorry you went through all that.

You know thinking about it now, I do think there are many red flags that I chose to disregard and I really have no idea why I did. Two that are weighing on me are below, please do feel free to tell me I'm an idiot for allowing it:

  1. we were laying in bed together once and he was showing me old photographs of himself on his mobile, of him at events and stuff and he suddenly shows me an image of him and his ex-girlfriend (not recent) arm in arm, he showed me and remarked "I really like this picture, its a shame I can't post-it". I must have made a face (he is lucky that's all I did) because he quickly declared back that it's "just a photograph" - why on earth did he still have this??

sorry what the fuck, I'm laughing at my desk, I do think this is my fault for accepting his shit.

  1. This one I feel dumbfounded, I honestly must have blocked this out but reading everyone's comments have definitely unclogged some not pretty memories. In the earlier stages of our relationship, I remember we had a disagreement over something (i couldn't possibly tell you what) but I can assure you it was trivial. He resulted in the silent treatment for 3-4 days, literally no contact. When he finally did contact me again, he told me that if I didn't listen, I would feel. That comment is honestly quite threatening now I think about it.

Jesus. I do feel a little better after that rant and realising that he is not the prince I thought he was but my chest still feels very hollow.

He’s acting in a very emotionally immature and manipulative way. The sulks and silent treatment (all too familiar with my ex) are to make you overthink things and of course come to a conclusion that you’ve done something to upset him.

My ex always talked about his ex who he was with over 15 years ago and on one or the times we’d split up (only a for a few days) she’d apparently got back in touch with him abs wanted to go for a drink Hmm. He told me this when we were in bed and went onto say he has decided not to meet her and has ‘picked’ me instead! Wtf!! Although I strongly suspect he was seeing her following this!

Keep thinking of all those red flags, you’ll be surprised how many you’ll think of now! After things ended with my ex l told my sister the honest truth of the relationship, I’d made excuses for all his bad behaviour as he was going through a difficult custody battle, my sister cried. That was the wake up call to how bad things were and how much id put up with! Please don’t don’t get to that stage!

What has since helped me with another breakup (I clearly know how to pick them!) was a podcast called ‘What I Know Now’, it’s by a YouTube called Amelia Liana who’s fiancé walked out on her with no explanation. She talks with a break up therapists and offers some really good advice.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 16:24

MeowPurrGrr - It definitely works because I haven't stopped overthinking everything since it all happened. It just keeps replaying in my head over and over again.

Why on earth do they think that doing something like that is a good idea? Lucky you for him 'picking' you by the way, nice to know he has so many options... (sarcasm).

I do keep trying to think about the bad times in our relationship, I'm sure there are many more that I've blocked out, I just wish I could stop thinking about him as a whole.

Also, thank you so much for recommending the podcast! I'm going to listen to it on my way home today!

OP posts:
CleverCatty · 02/03/2021 16:37

@Newbie96

MeowPurrGrr thank you for your message, that sounds fucking horrible! I'm really sorry you went through all that.

You know thinking about it now, I do think there are many red flags that I chose to disregard and I really have no idea why I did. Two that are weighing on me are below, please do feel free to tell me I'm an idiot for allowing it:

  1. we were laying in bed together once and he was showing me old photographs of himself on his mobile, of him at events and stuff and he suddenly shows me an image of him and his ex-girlfriend (not recent) arm in arm, he showed me and remarked "I really like this picture, its a shame I can't post-it". I must have made a face (he is lucky that's all I did) because he quickly declared back that it's "just a photograph" - why on earth did he still have this??

sorry what the fuck, I'm laughing at my desk, I do think this is my fault for accepting his shit.

  1. This one I feel dumbfounded, I honestly must have blocked this out but reading everyone's comments have definitely unclogged some not pretty memories. In the earlier stages of our relationship, I remember we had a disagreement over something (i couldn't possibly tell you what) but I can assure you it was trivial. He resulted in the silent treatment for 3-4 days, literally no contact. When he finally did contact me again, he told me that if I didn't listen, I would feel. That comment is honestly quite threatening now I think about it.

Jesus. I do feel a little better after that rant and realising that he is not the prince I thought he was but my chest still feels very hollow.

It's good you're getting confirmation that he's not the 'prince' he was!

Silent treatment for 3-4 days is no way to live either. and the 'feel' comment after it. Twat!

My advice for now would be:-

  • meet a supportive friend after work if you can or at the weekend for coffee/cake and a walk in a park. You need someone who will reinforce that he's no good in your life. You can sit down on a park bench with said friend from 9th March if you're following the rules.

  • Book in a hair/beauty/pampering etc appointment from 12th April - and do some self care/pampering e.g. home pedicure now - maybe go through your wardrobe and have a clear out?

You are not an idiot for allowing the red flags here - basically you liked him a lot thought he liked you the same and just chose to ignore the 'red flags' - we all do it from time to time. It is a blessing in disguise this has happened.

stuckinatrap · 02/03/2021 16:37

Have you considered writing down these thoughts and memories as they come to you?
I have done this. I wrote a list of the crazy things he did and said, so if I ever wavered I would read it and think 'Fuck. That.'

On the next page I wrote (and yes, it is a bit cringe) a list of all of the good things about myself to remind myself that I am worth more than the crap on the previous pages.

Sometimes seeing it in black and white as though someone else wrote it gives you a different perspective.

You could even try writing to him (not that he will ever see it) and getting your hurt and anger down. You may find it cathartic to draft it out, as you may never get the chance to say these things to him.

Then you can literally close the book on it and start a new chapter.

stuckinatrap · 02/03/2021 16:43

Another thing is to keep this thread.

I had one going when my arsehole left me and I was all sorts of a mess.

Even a few months later, I read it back - just my own posts - and could almost see day by day how I was getting stronger and stronger. The version of me posting at the end was a different person to the big, emotional, broken puddle I was at the beginning. My humour came back. I had started looking forwards and stopped going over and over it all.

It is a good exercise in seeing how strong you really are. And you are. Most of us posting have been exactly where you are now and you will come out the other side too.

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