Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Love bombed and toxic? Anyone got experience?

15 replies

Timetogrowandmoveon · 10/03/2021 20:14

Got involved with an older man. 15 years!

Week one tells me he's still close to his ex and asks if I'm jealous.

Constant contact (which I liked) from day one. Messages and calls all day everyday. Felt like good company in lockdown.

The calls vary depending on his moods. He would do most of the story telling and I would listen and ask questions. I was enjoying hearing his stories and learning about a new person.

He told me he liked red nail varnish and sent me some. I noticed since his ex often had red nails.

I told him I couldn't sleep. He sent me pillow mist (felt like he was really sweet)

He told me he loved me after 2 months. I felt the same.

He gave me lots of compliments. But started sneaking in things that made me feel rubbish. Such as preferring my hair up when I wear it down. Then the other week he mentioned the only thing he'd change about me is he would give me a tan. I'm a SAHM and got my child into nursery last week. He said he was happy for me and I deserved some me time. But then he went onto say SAHM can become like children and have nothing else to talk about. He denied I was like that and said he was looking forward to experiencing the child side of things with me because he missed out on his own daughter due to seperation.
Then he sent me a text saying how much he loved me and knew it was a big day for me as my child was starting nursery.

I noticed him deleting women from his Facebook who appeared to be supportive friends on his posts in the past. He also mentioned a fling he had had after his long term relationship. I've since found out from this women that he's been messaging her for the last few months but stopped out of the blue two weeks ago. She doesn't live locally and he's been telling me throughout our relationship she's a crazy stalker. She has said he never told her about me once.

He sent me a large bottle of perfume and got obsessed with certain parts of my body. He would compliment those parts of me every day.

He goes to far taking the Mick out my accent. Slagging of the area we live in and the people because he's from down south. Saying all people here are thickos etc.

I'm currently in the dog house with him. He fell out with me yesterday when I questioned him on another women he's been in contact with. He said he couldn't deal with my insecurities and blocked me. Today he's unblocked me but not said anything.

In between all this stuff he's been loving, kind. We've talked about our deepest secrets and he felt like a best friend. We got so close. But suddenly I'm realising a million things and I'm feeling pretty stupid for not seeing it.

He always had women bothering him. They were always crazy. Everyone was always to blame. He has no family around him. He hates christmas and spent it alone. He doesn't have a relationship with his dad or brother. He has no friends but works and gels with some of them. He's still not over his ex and has her photos all over his house. He would say allsorts about her from them being friends and being close, to saying he never fancied her and she was this and that.

I literally can feel it all hitting me and I'm just shocked and sad. He really invested in me. Realising how he is has been hard. But I now know and have got to stop feeling sorry for him.

I don't know if he will contact me again. But I've read toxic people often do. Which would explain the unblocking.

Anyone been in this situation? Need some good advice. Thank you

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/03/2021 20:23

My advice is never ever talk to him again.

Then go back and catalogue and categorize each red flag. Work out what each one is and watch for them next time.

I'll get you started:

Bitches be crazy. I'd never date a man who has cut off their family AND has 'crazy' exes. It's them. It's always them.

Criticising your appearance or trying to change it. Once is a dump as far as I'm concerned.

However you also have some stuff. FB stalking. It's weird and intrusive.

Ruminating2020 · 10/03/2021 20:27

Yes, I have and I am glad you have recognised it for what it is in your situation.

He will almost certainly be back and will probably make several attempts before he gives up. Be absolutely resolute in no contact with him because if he knows that you will respond eventually, then he will keep doing so.

He compliments you and then says something mean, which is meant to confuse you because that is what people like him do. They like playing mind games and see how far they can push you.

The situation will not get any better so distract yourself and do things you enjoy and make you feel good. You don't need this man in your life.

Ruminating2020 · 10/03/2021 20:28

Be careful because he may turn nasty and use your deepest secrets against you, probably in a smear campaign.

ItisLikethis · 10/03/2021 20:30

He sounds demented. Get away asap or you'll start forming a trauma bond with him.

Dayafterday · 10/03/2021 20:31

Did you ever meet him?

Ardvark111 · 10/03/2021 20:42

Hi this is from a man's point of view,,, frigging hell,!! Kinda freaky with the nail varnish that sounds like the beginnings of either a control freak with how you dress the fact he 15 years older as well he must feel like all his Christmases rolled into 1 with you,!! Add to that the fact you should be in the honeymoon period and not the doghouse so early on in rship,!! 😂

Aquamarine1029 · 10/03/2021 20:47

He told me he liked red nail varnish and sent me some. I noticed since his ex often had red nails.

Gross and totally fucking creepy. You should have blocked him then.

This man is a living, breathing red flag.

honeysuckle21 · 10/03/2021 21:15

Do yourself a favour and block him.
This man is a player that's so obvious, he's love bombing you to keep you hooked but the not so nice comments are to lower your confidence to make you feel unworthy of leaving him.
I doubt his ex fling is a crazy stalker for no reason, I expect it has something to do with him being on/off with her and you're right to worry about him talking to her.
He's really not worth it it would turn into something horribly toxic.

DuchessofHastings1 · 10/03/2021 21:42

Exactly what honeysuckle said ^

Hes a player through and through. Still close to his ex, messaging women, asking if your jealous, love bombing you.
He is trying to get your confidence down so your grateful for his attention.

Dig out your self respect and never ever contact this creep again, only to tell him to fuck off.

Whydidimarryhim · 10/03/2021 23:01

Oh god - do you need all this drama.
Imagine a future with him. No thanks -
He’s a waste of space and will impact your mental health.
Dump him and block him.

Eckhart · 10/03/2021 23:06

Stop focusing on him. Leave him behind and do all the work you can on strengthening your boundaries.

It's about you, not him. All you need to know about him is that he's toxic and needs to not be a part of your life. Any other info is a waste of your headspace.

TalktotheFoot · 10/03/2021 23:19

Too much drama. Not to mention the negging.

I'd finish it if I were you.

doitwithlove · 10/03/2021 23:22

Block and move on

Jamboree01 · 10/03/2021 23:23

Leave him behind but be prepared for him to pop up every so often to try to drag you back in when he’s at a loose end. Block him on everything and move on. The poster who mentioned cataloguing and categorising the red flags for future reference made a very good point

Queenie6655 · 10/03/2021 23:28

Does his name start with M?

Freaky this sounds just like my ex

Anyway - block block block !!!!

You are ten million times better than that shit

New posts on this thread. Refresh page