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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

Need to not message him

400 replies

toastedsandwiches · 04/11/2021 08:07

My DP and I split up yesterday. I'm utterly and totally head over heels for him.
We've been together a year and get on so well. We've had some us and downs.
We've both been massively hurt in the past by other people and can be defensive because of this.
It took a lot for me to let my guard down and throw myself into the relationship, but I did.

We had plans and stuff to look forward to. We talked about living together and getting married down the line. He made me feel loved, and happy and smile. I laughed till I cried. I felt special and content. He gave me support and listened.
I supported him, I gave him my time and we were having an amazing time.
So much in common and couldn't bared to be apart.

Then I got tonsillitis, I went to bed the day before yesterday in the afternoon. I saw a notification on my phone he posted something on Facebook- a joke - aimed at me - nothing nasty - I responded.
He called me an hour later saying he was on the way around. He was livid - I hadn't replied to his text he sent at the same time as the Facebook post.

I hadn't seen the text.

He's broken up with me over it.

OP posts:
RockinHorseShit · 04/11/2021 16:32

Really? I think he’s a manipulative bastard that’s training you to jump to his every whim by way of threatening you if you don’t.

This sounds spot on⏫⏫⏫

I think you've had a lucky escape OP, there's red flags all over this. It might not feel like it now as he's broken you down with his head games & that's exactly what his antics are

You'll see this in time & will be relieved you got out without wasting more years on him. Look after yourself, spoil yourself & consider counselling to unpick why you're so vulnerable to being taken in by what sounds like quite abusive behaviour. A year in it really shouldn't be this hard.

Pinkbonbon · 04/11/2021 16:35

You'd be wise to block him now op.
The way he spoke to you yesterday, YOU should have dumped him then and there. Decent timing beings don't speak to anyone like that, let alone someone who is ill and they supposedly care about.

'Getting all brave' yeah, that's why he dumped you this time, to knock your confidence. Asshole.

Do yourself a favour and block the bastard.

Graphista · 04/11/2021 16:37

For starters - codeine REALLY doesn't work like that! I'm guessing YOU suggested meds and he played right into it!

He's highly manipulative, controlling and possessive RUN! Block him on EVERYTHING and tell him to stay the hell away!

I'd suggest you read up on future faking, manipulation, mirroring and control as well as shark cages (cos you're missing yours) . He's flying numerous huge red flags.

This in SPADES

Also

Cycle of abuse, love bombing... he's doing it all

🚩 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

Also look up limerence

You are whole on your own, another person cannot make you so - even if they ARE the perfect person for you that's a deeply dysfunctional approach to relationships in general

At ages of 40 plus this is utterly ridiculous! Plus he will NEVER change at this age - has he ever been in a ltr? Cohabited/married ?

Your heart is not ACTUALLY breaking. You're very upset but that's all you'll get over it.

If abusive relationships are a pattern for you then stay single for at least a year, get some good therapy, do the freedom programme, do an assertiveness course, build your confidence and self esteem

I'm 49 I've been single to all intents and purposes for 20 years almost, I've dated in that time a couple of relationships looked promising but fell by the wayside through nobody's fault but I am perfectly capable and happy being on my own!

It's liberating and empowering.

I'm not currently looking for a relationship but wouldn't reject someone good if they came along either.

What I won't do is put up with crappy treatment, disinterest and most definitely not abuse. Life's too bloody short!

Focus on YOU!

Do things, go places, spend time with people YOU get pleasure from that DOESN'T come with abusive strings!

I'm also the child of an abusive marriage - the kicking off because a text isn't answered immediately is EXACTLY The kinda thing my mum has had to deal with - it's not loving it's control! It's keeping you on a leash! And frankly it took several years before things reached that level of control - this guy is doing it very early on so I dread to thing what he will do that's worse!

Quite honestly I can well imagine him being the type to lock you in your (shared) home when he goes out to prevent you doing anything without him as happened to a this morning viewer.

That's the kind of person her is

As mad as it sounds he's like drug and I'm the addict.

Yep that's limerence NOT love

We don't live together. But he stays 6 nights out of 7.

Even aside from EVERYTHING else you ARE living together, but I take it your saying this means he contributes NOTHING financially or practically?

In addition if you get council tax single person discount you're breaching the terms of that, if you receive benefits on the basis of living alone you're also committing benefit fraud - and it IS you that will suffer the consequences if caught!

I am trying to give a balanced view that he isn't all bad.

Nobody is!

My father could be funny, charming, intelligent, interesting, skilled, an excellent boss at work, a good friend, generous...

He was also aggressive, violent, selfish, sexually abusive, cruel with words, manipulative, controlling, possessive, destructive, miserly and venomous

Put his stuff in black bags on his doorstep! When he's at work! You don't need to see him again at all

Find another hobby group/venue

RockinHorseShit · 04/11/2021 16:40

He was on some very string medication about 6 months ago when he had a bad back - codeine - it made him emotionally numb. He became very cold and said he felt nothing for me or anything. He pushed and pushed me away

Wow, what an arse. I've had codeine for injuries etc & that is NOT a side effect.

It's just a shame it didn't constipate his verbal diarrhoea, as constipation is a side effect. Definitely not being emotionally numb

He's a manipulative emotional abuser... RUN

billy1966 · 04/11/2021 16:47

He sounds like a really ugly, nasty piece of work.

You badly need to seek some counselling if you really think his behaviour is normal.

You were well and truly on your way to being an emotionally abused woman.

He was trying to tie you up in knots.

I agree with others, you have had a narrow escape but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back.

You will be very silly if you let him back in.

Flowers
beastlyslumber · 04/11/2021 16:48

Every time you feel yourself wanting to message him, read this thread. Click the links people have left for you, read through the resources. Learn from the experiences of the many, many other women who have had a run in (and worse) with a dickhead like this man.

Keep posting on here, OP. You're doing the right thing and once you get your head clear of this man, you'll wonder what on earth happened. Stay strong.

toastedsandwiches · 04/11/2021 16:48

Well he didn't go to the thing we do either - he just came over with the stuff I had at his house. Dropped it at the door knocked and left.

I told you no hoovering.

He even returned the photo of us. And jewellery I gave him as a gift.

OP posts:
Livpool · 04/11/2021 16:52

He sounds awful OP

toastedsandwiches · 04/11/2021 16:52

This blew my mind

For starters - codeine REALLY doesn't work like that! I'm guessing YOU suggested meds and he played right into it!

Yes I did - yes I've taken the blame.

OP posts:
Itsnotdeep · 04/11/2021 16:55

I had an ex like yours - I felt the same way, I was bereft when he dumped me out of the blue. He even dropped off some of my stuff just like yours. He was back 6 weeks later. (like a fool I took him back).

This isn't a healthy relationship OP. Partners aren't addictive like drugs, they don't make you whole. You make you whole. He sounds utterly manipulative.

I saw my ex treat other women just the same. Everyone fell for him, everyone thought they were special. It was just a narcissistic game to him. He discarded everyone brutally. And he continues to come back years later and he's treating his current partner the same.

Honestly you can't see it now, but you're better out of it before you get in any deeper. Just be pleased you haven't had a child with him, or bought a house.

TempleofZoom · 04/11/2021 16:56

@toastedsandwiches

Well he didn't go to the thing we do either - he just came over with the stuff I had at his house. Dropped it at the door knocked and left.

I told you no hoovering.

He even returned the photo of us. And jewellery I gave him as a gift.

Hes gone for now. The Hoovering doesnt start yet.

Hes lovebombed, devalued and now discarded you.
He will go, completely ignore you ( Discard stage)
Then give it a few weeks, then he will start to Hoover you back in.
This is when you need to be strong, the sweet tongue will be back, cant live without you, threats of suicide etc
Dont fall for it

Itsnotdeep · 04/11/2021 16:59

oh and you felt that he was your soulmate, that you could be yourself wtih him because he was mirroring you.

And the constant messaging and time spent with you, discussions of marriage? Gosh it's such a pattern they all follow.

AngusThermopyle · 04/11/2021 17:04

Sounds like you've had the luckiest escape ever.

toastedsandwiches · 04/11/2021 17:05

I'm now waiting for him to come and pick up his car from my driveway.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 04/11/2021 17:16

Yeah you're still in the punishment/devalue/discard stage. Hoovering usually only starts when they realise you aren't chasing after them to come back. Or when they've been trying their luck with someone else and that doesn't work out/ends.

Time will tell.

Don't go out when he comes for the car. Leave him to it. Change your locks as soon as possible, just incase.

Notthesamegirl · 04/11/2021 17:26

OP - get out, don’t look back. I, too, found my soulmate, spent every free moment together, was told I’m the one, had tons of conversations about the future…he was just AMAZING. Until he wasn’t. He wasn’t even actively abusive, he would go through depressive/anxious states where my needs didn’t matter. And the the sun would come out again and I’d be told I’m the best thing ever.
He dumped me unceremoniously and coldly after 5 years. He was on Tinder 2 weeks later.

Those guys - who put you on the pedestal but then drop you like a piece of garbage - are the worst kind.
I know it doesn’t feel like it now but one day you’ll be counting your lucky stars x

whistleryukon · 04/11/2021 17:26

You really need to not date for a while after this, OP, because it truly sounds like you would be a lamb to the slaughter and so easy to manipulate and control.

Even just from a few posts here, everyone can see that he's just a massive prick and one day you will too. You will look back and be embarrassed and want to shake yourself. Because he isn't all of the romanticised language that you are using. He's just a man. One who sounds like a loser, immature, and obviously emotionally abusive too. You have been making excuse after excuse for his behaviour and tying yourself up in knots trying to please him, like an obedient little lap dog. You have centred your entire world around him within less than a year. It's all so unhealthy.

And now he's coming back and forth picking things up and dropping things off. Who knows whether it's to give you the opportunity to beg and plead, whether it's part of his little push and pull routine, or whether he's already out. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you don't humiliate yourself by breaking and trying to rekindle with him, because then you'll end up as a bit part in this circus show again.

Shuffleuplove · 04/11/2021 17:26

Is this man a plumber from Winsford?

toastedsandwiches · 04/11/2021 17:29

@Shuffleuplove

Is this man a plumber from Winsford?
No
OP posts:
Zilla1 · 04/11/2021 17:30

He won't feel relief, OP, just fury that he can't control you. Just don't expect the words he says to bear any relation to what he is really feeling. You might never have seen his real personality, just what he wants to present though possibly the closest might be the time he used the spurious excuse of codeine to treat you coldly.

Don't hurry him, it might take a bit of time before he tries to reel or hoover you in.

Hen2018 · 04/11/2021 17:37

Keep going, OP.

ChargingBuck · 04/11/2021 18:06

He said I was getting gobby - getting all brave etc.

Grin Grin Grin

What a ridiculous little turd he is.
How very dare you Use Your Words & not be kowtowing to him anymore!!

Well done for continuing the activity. That was brave, & shows him (& all your hobby buddies) that you are a person in your own right.

colabottlejelliesarethebest · 04/11/2021 18:10

I'm with @HollowTalk

Get a grip of yourself woman! How on earth are you not a whole person without him?

He's just another human and he isn't going to coming galloping back to sweep you up and whisk you off into the sunset

colabottlejelliesarethebest · 04/11/2021 18:11

You were fine before you met him you'll be fine now he's gone. Woman up

WickedWitchOfTheTrent · 04/11/2021 18:23

Why are you waiting for him. If he's got his keys just go out for a bit.