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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

Utterly heartbroken

285 replies

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 20:37

I don’t know where to turn. I’ve no friends anymore and am so lonely and my long term partner told me this weekend that he doesn’t think staying together is right for us. It’s very complicated, he is going through a divorce and he has trust issues as have I.

On paper it sounds doomed but only last week he was saying he still wants to build a life with me irrespective of our differences and the past hurt. This weekend after much conflict around his divorce - conflict between him and I, he reached the conclusion it won’t work and we would be miserable given the challenges of different histories and lifestyles. He maintains after a blow out last week that he’s come to the realisation that whilst we are still deeply in love certain challenges are too big.

He has also said he will consider meeting up if after some time of reflection I still want to meet but he feels he can’t change how he feels because of all the past hurt and things I shared which has given him an impression that my values are not what I say they are, so meeting isn’t the right thing but he’ll still do it if I want to but I need to seriously think if it’s the right thing.
When we met I’d come out of an abusive relationship with my Dcs dad and thought I was in a good place but in hindsight I wasn’t ready. He was as he’s older and has been ‘single’ for years.

He’s messaged after our discussions to say thank you for a thoughtful message I sent outlying I understood why we are here and he loves me and I said I’d think about meeting and whether it was in reality the right thing to do and sent him a long message outlining my concerns and if I still think it’s the right decision to meet. I’ve not committed to meeting just yet either way. He won’t read it tonight as emotions are still running high and he is tired from work and needs time.

He’s says he still loves me and wants to save our relationship but as of now doesn’t think it’s possible or the right thing as he doesn’t think he can change his uncomfortable feelings about things I shared about my previous lifestyle. I used to go out a lot and party and he thinks that lifestyle is incompatible with a relationship. I don’t go out anymore as I’m far too old and just am not interested but he struggles to believe this.

Is there still hope considering he will still meet and hasn’t stopped communication. We are still kind towards each other there is no aggression but a lot of hurt.

He is sensitive and takes time to process things but a lot has happened including his divorce is in year two. When we met I had a close platonic friend whom he thinks was more - it wasn’t but he was a close childhood friend and he can’t get past the fact I was so close and that it was inappropriate considering our new relationship and how much I said I loved him. I was spending time with this friend but in a group and at the time he was still spending time with his family and didn’t disclose this as I’d get the wrong impression. This friend did have feelings for me but at the same time he was still dissolving his marriage. I was not the OW. All this happens years ago but for some reason it’s all come to a head.

We spent all weekend talking after an enormous argument and it was terribly sad but we were still very loving and kind and there is still intimacy which under the circumstances wasn’t smart.

I want to save the relationship but he is so conflicted doesn’t know what to do and veers between he’s thinks it’s doomed to not being sure what to do and will consider all I have said. Last week it was entirely the other way around I said I couldn’t do it anymore as the divorce was dragging and we do have challenges. I’m so sad but know I can’t change his mind he has to come to conclusions on his own life I’ve done. Just when I get to a place where I want to save things he doesn’t.

This is very jumbled but im struggling to gather my thoughts.

What can I do to save things.

OP posts:
Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:10

Why agree to still meet then and not just stay away.

OP posts:
Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:13

He has also offered to pay for major works to my flat which desperately need doing. So it’s really confusing why he’s do that.

OP posts:
Kat6901 · 12/04/2021 23:15

Well it’s all a bit weird to be agonising over your past and what you’ve done in the past. He sounds fixated on it which makes me think there’s something else going on, his own guilty conscience maybe.

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:16

Such as?

OP posts:
BlackMarauder · 12/04/2021 23:16

Sorry but I'm starting to suspect this is a troll. You're barely trying to hear what the other comments are saying. You're just replying to yourself at this point.

Kat6901 · 12/04/2021 23:16

Why is it all about him?

longcoffeebreak · 12/04/2021 23:16

Because he wants to control you and keep you hanging on?

Kat6901 · 12/04/2021 23:17

Well who knows but it’s classic projection behaviour.

longcoffeebreak · 12/04/2021 23:17

@Happinessevaded

Such as?
You are just completely in a closed loop only responding to the posters that add to your obsessing
Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:19

I’m absolutely not a troll! I have name changed but am not a troll.

@Kat6901 I guess because now it’s what I can do to save things so what can I do better.

@longcoffeebreak but doesn’t want to continue to have a relationship Sad

My head is wrecked and I feel like I am far to old to be feeling like this. It’s so sudden.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 12/04/2021 23:20

Your ignoring all the warning signs - you left your abusive ex with DC, how old are your DC? This man will wear you down, can the DC go through another abusive relationship with you? Are you willing to take the risk in spite of all the red flags?
You're crazy chasing this gaslighting controlling man searching for a piece of amber in the ashes.

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:22

@longcoffeebreak I am struggling to accept what is being said as I don’t want it to be true ans I don’t know if it is and when we are together I still feel a certain way so to have such a harsh perspective and points of view is hard to take onboard at this point.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 12/04/2021 23:22

He has also offered to pay for major works to my flat which desperately need doing. So it’s really confusing why he’s do that. full of false promises isn't he! keeping you reeled right in.

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:23

@EmeraldShamrock he is very different to my ex but I suppose that doesn’t matter. I don’t want them exposed to any abuse and we have discussed the impact on my dc should be we forget has he doesn’t want them exposed to any friction. They are fairly young.

OP posts:
Mupp64 · 12/04/2021 23:24

He's emotionally controlling you - puppet on a string - he's technically running rings around you - picking you up with his words then letting you down - if he's older he's played these mind games many times before and he will continue to do so even if you do " get together "
He will always manipulate you - always make you feel bad about your past even though you hadn't met him at that stage - can't you understand what the responses you are getting are actually saying - " what the fuck are you doing- get the hell out as he sounds like a complete head fucking dick "

Rubyrecka · 12/04/2021 23:24

You sound massively codependent and need to sort that out before anything else.

rattlemehearties · 12/04/2021 23:25

Drama drama drama. Why live like this? Cut contact, put yourself first, stop all the drama! Drama is not love.

EmeraldShamrock · 12/04/2021 23:25

He may be different from your ex, he is still abusive, he has you insecure with self doubt head in a cloud. Abuser's come in different shapes and sizes the results are similar.

LovePoppy · 12/04/2021 23:26

@Happinessevaded

He’s asked me to give the relationship a chance time and time again and when I get to the place I want to after weeks of saying I can’t come back from certain things he didn’t disclose about his divorce he decides after arguments about it it’s now not right. I don’t understand why he’s doing this, he also said he’s been unhappy for a long time and has been trying. Then in the same breath says there are moments of ecstatic happiness. It’s so confusing and there is still a lot of love.

The conversation was that we are at a turning point and can we move forward given all the challenges up until the weekend he did want to and as I said earlier last week he said he wants a life with me. Sad

He’s stringing you along. I’m sorry.

Time to move on

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:28

I honestly thought I could see this a mile off after the mindfuckery of my ex. I was sure I was in such a good place after we separated so to be told I’ve entered into a similar situation is hard to stomach. But I see there may be parallels I posted on here about my ex and Anyfucker (I am NOT a troll) hit the nail in the head and I didn’t want to believe it at the time but it was all so right.

This is so depressing for me ajd I thought we were so much I live and he genuinely wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I feel such a fool and still don’t want to believe anyone

OP posts:
Onthedunes · 12/04/2021 23:28

OK, you say he is definetly getting a divorce, have you seen paperwork, any evidence? have you only his word for this.

Have you met his family.
Have you met his friends.
How often do you see him a week.
Does he stay over often.

So he flew abroad to see his sick child. He's either a drama lama, lying or he's got a major hang up about his age.

EmeraldShamrock · 12/04/2021 23:28

Btw it isn't your fault. Take back control you're young and deserve someone kind be has taking advantage of your kind nature. Flowers Wine

CodMouth · 12/04/2021 23:30

You’ve posted about this very same thing before.

Are the replies you’re ignoring any different than the other threads replies you were ignoring?

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:32

My friends don’t think he is getting divorced but he was willing to show me evidence , reluctantly. He is very private about everything but has told me a lot about his family things I really didn’t want or need to know.

I see him when my children have time with their dad.

Not met his family as they are not here.

The age thing in s now apparently an issue as he keeps bringing it up and that I’ll be bored and he won’t be able to do certain things it wasn’t an issue before the last birthday

OP posts:
Onthedunes · 12/04/2021 23:34

Willing to show you evidence of the divorce, but did he actually show you?