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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

Another Breakup Story...My Stupid Fault

86 replies

Bottlebluebell · 16/05/2021 21:30

This is going to be long, I apologise in advance, I really just want to vent, like a form of therapy.

Like so many posts on here I've been dumped & finding it so hard.
Background is we've been together 4 months but known each other 40 years, we were best friends for a while, I lost touch a couple of years ago but got back in contact and realised I loved him. He said he's always loved me, I was so happy with him & secure, we were planning our future, maybe things moved fast but it felt right because we knew each other well.

I messed up, Friday night started well, dinner & drinks, then when we sat down to watch a film he was distant, his body language was off. After it finished he said he was going to bed and went upstairs to sleep in the spare room, I called to him 'are you really going to leave me like this'. I was emotional & hormonal, I put on my coat and went out the back door which I closed a bit loud, I wouldn't say slammed but it was louder than I usually would close it, I then walked round the block.

When I got back he was waiting for me. Had a bit of a talk, he mentioned aggression to me - think he was referring to my door 'slamming', he said I had made some comments that upset him, I asked for examples.....I'm always cold & he's hot, he was sweating, apparently I said something like we're mismatched, I didn't mean anything by it, I was hugging him at the time. He said I was on a mission to get drunk, it's true I was tipsy, but felt good & happy. He commented how I said I didn't want to lay my head on his shoulder because I didn't want to fall asleep, it's true, I fall asleep in that position but still wanted him to cuddle me. He said I seemed annoyed when he was trying to find a film to watch, I wasn't, I was worried I was annoying him because I'm indecisive. See all these things were misunderstandings.

I did say we can't seem to resolve this, he said I had two options, he leaves immediately or he goes in the morning, I said morning. He went upstairs, I tried to hug him but he said again about aggression and how it wasn't for him, so I left him.

I was really upset, I did something stupid, I packed his bag and left it by the back door with a note saying 'I'm still not sure what I did to upset you, I've gone for a walk'....early morning I got up and went for a long walk (I walk when I'm upset), I was scared to see him, I didn't want to say goodbye, I regret that now. When I got back he was gone.

I messaged him, apologised, I missed him, he said 'I thought you made your intentions clear when I found my bag packed, anyway you made your decision last night, I don't feel I need to be the object of that blame, I'm not angry, just don't enjoy that sort of aggression, regardless of how I feel about you'.....I apologised again, never meant to hurt him, I packed his stuff at 2 in the morning, I was emotional, he said he was leaving and I didn't want any reminders of him....I did say the word aggressive is upsetting me, I'm not that, maybe dramatic but not aggressive. He commented 'I was telling you how you came across and how it made me feel, you might think it was dramatic, your back door might not feel that way'. I explained it was late at night, he was upstairs directly over it, everything sounds louder in the dead of night.

He said 'the problem is he saw a taste of what could happen, and implied you can me with no reminders, makes me think if she can do that when it appears to be nothing, what happens when we are further down the line & it's more serious, how are you going to react then? I would prefer not to find out, those games aren't for me, it's not something I enjoy or want to be part of'

I said I could never erase him, I'm sorry he didn't want to give us a chance, I don't play games. Nobody is perfect, we all have our faults, I made a mistake, we have to accept each other, learn from things and work through life. It's the happiest I've been in a long while and I will try to hold onto that.

He's no longer replying

Obviously I'm devastated, this is my fault, I messed up and did some stupid things which I hate myself for, I've lost the love of my life. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this, he was not only my partner but a close friend, we have so much history. I feel terrible about myself, I've destroyed my future and life seems pretty pointless to me now. I'm not sure what to do.

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 16/05/2021 21:34

I have read this and I dont see what you did wrong. It sounds like it was all him and you are actually well rid of someone who makes you second guess every little thing that you do

Imjustsootired · 16/05/2021 21:45

Your behaviour was a bit much to be fair. Packing his bag? I'd be pissed off too. I know you were emotional but nothing THAT bad had happened, what's with all the drama and notes and packed bags?

He's freaked out now and quite rightly. Give him some time and space. Harassing him with messages will only reinforce the "drama". Leave it a few days, let him calm down then call him and have a chat.

And maybe think about why you reacted so badly. Was it the alcohol? Does he drink too?

FranklymydearIdogiveadamn · 16/05/2021 21:56

@Imjustsootired

Your behaviour was a bit much to be fair. Packing his bag? I'd be pissed off too. I know you were emotional but nothing THAT bad had happened, what's with all the drama and notes and packed bags?

He's freaked out now and quite rightly. Give him some time and space. Harassing him with messages will only reinforce the "drama". Leave it a few days, let him calm down then call him and have a chat.

And maybe think about why you reacted so badly. Was it the alcohol? Does he drink too?

Yes, I'm not proud of my behaviour, it was wrong, i shouldn't have done it. I understand he's pissed off and put off....I did that and take responsibility.

I'm not sure why, I was impulsive and yes alcohol maybe played a part, he wasn't really drinking, only a couple, I guess we don't realise how we come across to others while we've had a few. It's something I've taken onboard, I guess I just reacted to him being distant and the alcohol magnified that reaction.

I'm not contacting him again, he was clear in his message that he didn't want to be involved with me anymore, there's nothing I can do there. I just hate myself so much

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/05/2021 21:57

I do think you were very over dramatic and wonder if you don't realise how you come across when you're tipsy? You say you were emotional and hormonal but that's not really an excuse if you're slamming doors and going for walks around the block to calm down when he's just gone to bed early because there's maybe been some tension or you were more pissed than you thought. Then the packing the bag and the note etc...

Be honest, do you have a tendency to be a bit over dramatic and have you perhaps not realised it's as much of an issue for other people as it might be? While you feel this was out of the blue, it may be that it was the culmination of other incidents on other occasions and the straw that broke the camels back?

I do think you're minimising how dramatic your behaviour has been around this whole incident - the door, the walk, the bag packing, the note etc. It's a bit much!

I know you're really sad so sorry if that's not easy to hear, just trying to help you think about it a bit differently so you can potentially unravel what happened and learn from it Thanks

mummyof4kids · 16/05/2021 21:57

I don't think the op is fully to blame here. He acted off/distant for no reason at first.
The packing bags was a bit ott but nothing massively out of order.
Give him a few days and see if he gets in touch, personally I'd leave him be. He sounds hard work

aboutbloodytime123 · 16/05/2021 21:59

I'm so sorry, you are clearly very upset, and it sounds like you were both annoying each other, but you did give him a very clear message, you stormed out twice and left his stuff packed by the door. I think you have to write this one off, he's told you how he feels about it and you've apologised. There isn't really anything more to be done.

MandalaYogaTapestry · 16/05/2021 22:07

You don't pack the bag of the love of your life. I would have been extremely hurt by such an act and would never ever forget. Don't know if there is any coming back from this, to be honest

mummyof4kids · 16/05/2021 22:09

Why was he distant and sleeping in the spare room?

FranklymydearIdogiveadamn · 16/05/2021 22:12

@youvegottenminuteslynn

I do think you were very over dramatic and wonder if you don't realise how you come across when you're tipsy? You say you were emotional and hormonal but that's not really an excuse if you're slamming doors and going for walks around the block to calm down when he's just gone to bed early because there's maybe been some tension or you were more pissed than you thought. Then the packing the bag and the note etc...

Be honest, do you have a tendency to be a bit over dramatic and have you perhaps not realised it's as much of an issue for other people as it might be? While you feel this was out of the blue, it may be that it was the culmination of other incidents on other occasions and the straw that broke the camels back?

I do think you're minimising how dramatic your behaviour has been around this whole incident - the door, the walk, the bag packing, the note etc. It's a bit much!

I know you're really sad so sorry if that's not easy to hear, just trying to help you think about it a bit differently so you can potentially unravel what happened and learn from it Thanks

If I'm being truthful maybe I do have a tendency to be overdramatise, I need to calm down and think things through, the alcohol did not help for sure -I don't usually drink much.

I'm not minimising it, I really fu*ked up!...when I read your message it hits home even more.

There has been no other incidents, this is the first one, but a big one.

I'm not surprised he never wants to speak to me again, who would, I'm a mess...I've messed up my future happiness. I can't take that back, only learn from it and self reflect...

FranklymydearIdogiveadamn · 16/05/2021 22:14

@mummyof4kids

Why was he distant and sleeping in the spare room?
Because of all those stupid little misunderstandings earlier, cross wires?
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 16/05/2021 22:15

@Quartz2208

I have read this and I dont see what you did wrong. It sounds like it was all him and you are actually well rid of someone who makes you second guess every little thing that you do
Really? The sulking, door slamming and bag packing was totally normal in your mind?
Notmoresugar · 16/05/2021 22:15

I think he's being an over-sensitive unreasonable twat.

Going off and leaving you to sleep in the spare room - what a fucking baby, and then trying to cast you as some sort of potential criminal for shutting the door heavily.

I think he's blowing it out of all proportion to get out of the relationship so he's blaming and insulting you.

I think in a few weeks when you've had time to mull this over, you'll be glad you're rid of him and you'll see him in a totally different light.

Don't be fooled that good friends make perfect relationships - you've now seen some of his true and pathetic colours.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 16/05/2021 22:19

OP I do think you're minimising here. I know it's hurtful but you have to look objectively at your own behaviour. Is this the first time he's seen you that drunk?

I'm just thinking if he has prior history as the victim of an alcoholic's temper and poor choices then it's possible your drunk behaviour triggered a fear response in him, which was then compounded when after he'd gone away as quietly as possible, you then stormed out and slammed the door.

Of course that's pure guesswork on my part.

Aquamarine1029 · 16/05/2021 22:20

I think your drinking is playing a much larger role than you realise. I think it's possible that your behaviour is much more caustic and off-putting than you think it is when you're drunk.

Littlepaws18 · 16/05/2021 22:23

Oh I had one of these. He spun me a picture of our future life, we had what I thought was a perfect relationship. Then we had our first argument (both at fault, but I did over react). He left sent a text saying he needed time to think it out and it was a very emotional time for him. He said he would contact me in a month! A MONTH!!!!

I literally took him for his word and waited and waited and literally when that month was up (to the day) I contacted him and he was like, no it's not for me. He kept me hanging.

Met someone else.... who was a whole other crazy story, then met my soulmate.

In between all that first bloke came back twice and I told him not happening if after one argument he goes AWOL for a month I couldn't feel secure in that type of relationship.

He I'm sure is lovely but he's too high maintenance and insecure move on x

Aquamarine1029 · 16/05/2021 22:23

He said I was on a mission to get drunk, it's true I was tipsy, but felt good & happy.

Why on earth were you on a mission to get drunk? That's something a teenager does. Do you really not appreciate how miserable it is to be sober and be stuck around a drunk person?

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/05/2021 22:23

If I'm being truthful maybe I do have a tendency to be overdramatise, I need to calm down and think things through, the alcohol did not help for sure -I don't usually drink much.

I think it's really good that you can admit this and it's something you should work on for the future, whatever happens with this particular relationship.

Even now in your posts you're catastophising, with talk of losing your future happiness etc. Chill!

This is a horrible thing to have happened but it's not the end of the world and it's a learning exercise. If there weren't other issues between you it's unlikely this would be the end, so either it won't be the end OR it will be and there will have been other incidents / conflicts / incompatibilities that you didn't register before.

It's really tough to be with someone who has a tendency to be over dramatic and I think sometimes the person who is like that forgets that their partner is allowed to tap out for that reason alone, if nothing else.

It's quite sensible of him to think that if you react that way when tipsy and worried, you'll react very badly if drunk and actually have a reason to be upset. Not everyone is cut out to handle that dynamic, which can be exhausting.

Try not to catastrophise so much Thanks

duodunical · 16/05/2021 22:24

You've had a name change fail OP. I presume this is the remainer guy, I think he's far more of a drama llama than you pet, he's got issues.

Fabiofatshaft1 · 16/05/2021 22:25

We’ve only had a snapshot. The guy sounds like an easy going guy. I like to think I’m pretty laid back myself......

But drama, no thank you.

FranklymydearIdogiveadamn · 16/05/2021 22:26

@Aquamarine1029

He said I was on a mission to get drunk, it's true I was tipsy, but felt good & happy.

Why on earth were you on a mission to get drunk? That's something a teenager does. Do you really not appreciate how miserable it is to be sober and be stuck around a drunk person?

He said I was on a mission to get drunk...I didn't see it like that..it was Friday night, I had one too many but I wasn't hammered or anything. I don't usually drink. Im not saying it didn't play a part tho
youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/05/2021 22:27

There has been no other incidents, this is the first one, but a big one.

Ah just saw your other thread after a PP mentioned it.

This isn't the first issue and it's clear you having conflicting styles of conflict (if that makes sense!) which I think makes relationships unsustainable.

FranklymydearIdogiveadamn · 16/05/2021 22:28

@duodunical

You've had a name change fail OP. I presume this is the remainer guy, I think he's far more of a drama llama than you pet, he's got issues.
I think we both have issues, mine maybe bigger
Smellycat56 · 16/05/2021 22:30

I don't think you're particularly at fault here. He acted distantly and went off to bed in a huff. You asked him what was wrong and he gave you a load of bull about making unreasonable comments that you weren't even aware of. He said he was leaving before you packed his bag (that bit was a bit OTT on your part granted).

Between you it seems like an issue that could have been easily resolved has been over dramatised. Slamming a door and packing a bag aren't cardinal sins though and I think he sounds a little manipulative as if he's placing all of the blame of this row onto you.

If it were me I would apologise one last time and tell him you will give him the space he needs but leave the door open. The ball is in his court then. But don't beg or pester him. It's really not just your fault.

Perdigal · 16/05/2021 22:37

Honestly I see this totally that the boyfriend is a manipulator and that you did a few things because HE had behaved OTT and you were a bit fucked off at him (rightly so).

He's a gaslighter and a will become more controlling over the years is my hunch . Get rid -

it just isn't this hard when it's a soul mate.
Repeat that 10 times !

OhDearMuriel · 16/05/2021 22:41

Christ on a bike you're not even allowed to get tipsy now - if you get back together remember not to have alcohol.

Think about it, do you really want to be with someone who gets so so hurt and offended (by fuck all) that he has to slink off upstairs to sleep in the spare room.

What an utter jerk.