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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

Was it all a lie? I’m completely broken…

185 replies

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 07:37

10 days ago my partner of 2 years decided it was over. Unfortunately for me, since then my entire world has been turned upside down and I’m really struggling.

For back story:
My ExPartner has some pretty horrific childhood trauma in his past, of which I’m well aware of and I know he’s been to therapy for, however something inside tells me that this is a contributing factor for what’s happened.

ExP has had previously issues with alcohol, drugs and MH struggles (suicide) - these were mainly before me and he kept them under control by using the gym as a coping mechanism.

I won’t say I’m entirely innocent here because I’m not, I have a fiery character and when I believe something is wrong I will bring it up. I never believed I could be gaslighted (this is relevant)

We were in a pub 2 weeks ago having food, he was asking what I’d like for Christmas etc, when I was answering he kept picking up his phone ( I believe it was his boss texting) and zoning out. I asked him to stop it because it was rude - and here the issue started. He lost it, shouting and screaming at me in the middle of the pub. I left immediately and told him to pay the bill.

Whilst driving home we were arguing in the car as I said his behaviour was completely unacceptable, he got so irate he pulled the steering wheel and forced me to pull over the car. He got out and walked off, still shouting and screaming. I drove alongside him and tried to reason with him to be met with “oh you’re crazy and you’re trying to run me over and kill me now” - I was doing about 5mph!

He proceeded to walk to the nearest pub, sat in there for 4 hours and drank 20 pints. When he came hone I’d fallen asleep on the sofa, I was awoken to him crashing around and then sitting staring at me and saying “I’m a psychopath you know, a psychopath and a sociopath. I have someone else who lives inside me and I call him Brian, he does bad things” - I know this sounds ridiculous but I swear it’s true. I was actually frightened by him. Eventually I got him up to bed.

The next day he refused to talk about it at all, completely shut down. This obviously caused a huge argument because I said I wouldn’t be brushing it under the carpet like some of his other outbursts. That night he went out again and didn’t come home, once again drunk.

The next morning he transferred £12,000 (exactly half) out of our savings account at 8am before I’d even spoken to him. He came home a little later and said it’s over, he doesn’t love me anymore and he’s unhappy. I’m ashamed to say I lost all dignity in this moment and most certainly begged and pleaded to attempt to reason with him. But it is over, and it’s stayed that way. From that moment he’s been a completely unrecognisable character. Callous and cruel.

If you’ve gotten this far - thank you, I didn’t intend for it to be this long!

For further info, “home” is a rented house we just signed on for 6 months and moved into the week before this happened! My property was in the final stages of completion and we were planning on moving to a forever house - the mortgage was in place and sols appointed etc so the rented house was a stop gap. I’m now back at my Mam’s with a suitcase.

He’s refused to pay anything for the house and is leaving this weekend, he has sorted another house to go to. It’s going to cost me £4k to get rid of this rental house.

He was literally the most perfect partner in the world, 95% of the time. He came along when I’d almost given up hope on finding someone compatible. He was genuine, kind, considerate, I can’t even tell you how happy I was.

My friends have since said they think I’ve been love bombed and then gaslighted.

I’ve since found out that when I met him he had only returned from London 3 weeks earlier and moved back North (where he is originally from but has been gone for 10 years); he split with another girl, packed up his whole life and moved here. Then met me - within 4 months, at his suggestion, he gave up his beautiful rented apartment and came to live with me in my house.

He’s had 14 addresses in 10 years, my Mam thinks he 100% has form for this behaviour.

He has told me since that he blames me for all of this happening, that I’m manipulative and controlling. I disagree with those things - the only thing I ever recall saying no to was him going to the gym every night if the week 530-830, I said there’s no point in having a relationship if you’re not present.

He also used to say to me that I need to go to therapy when we argued, I don’t know what for though and I never did.

In one of our final conversations he said to me “this happens all the time, in every one of my relationships, they want to stop me from doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it”, I always said I wasn’t stopping him, but that’s a relationship. A bit of compromise on certain things.

I feel like my life has been a total lie, I have no idea what to believe was ever true. I’m completely broken down here, can’t sleep, can barely eat and I’m not coping. My whole life was there, planned, the fairytale!!! And now it’s gone. I’m 30 years old, no children, single and back at my parents house.

I have always been so independent, luckily I have good friends, an amazing family and a good job but I feel completely numb and empty inside. And the fear of him moving on immediately (which I just KNOW he will) is almost consuming me.

I feel like this is a story I would read in Chat magazine but it’s not fake, it’s actually my life and I’m so so devastated.

How do I ever get over this SadSadSadSad

OP posts:
Newestname002 · 30/11/2021 10:15

@pixietinkdust

OP Sorry if someone else has mentioned this but, if you haven't already, transfer what's left in your bank accounts to one(s) which he has no access to and which have unique, strong passwords he doesn't know or cannot guess.

This person is not your friend (even if he was before ) and cannot be trusted. Protect yourself financially before you do anything else. 🌹

Camii · 30/11/2021 10:17

You were deceived and sadly it seems he is quite slick at making a swift exit. I think you know deep down that this is a pattern and he has done this before.
It sounds like he manages to create a likeable facade and then it comes crashing down.
Horrendous for you but you will be ok!
It's like a double loss the person you thought you knew is gone and the relationship is gone. You are entitled to grieve.

ValerieCupcake · 30/11/2021 10:18

I only know he had 20 pints because it came up in our joint bank account

He couldn't possibly have drunk 20 pints in 4 hours. He must have been buying rounds for mates or something surely.

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:19

@Camii you’ve hit the nail on the head there.

I miss him so much, it’s awful.

@Newestname002 I have already done this, luckily I never closed my own accounts so all of the practical financial stuff is sorted.

OP posts:
RobertSmithsLipstick · 30/11/2021 10:24

You do need to grieve.
It doesn't matter that people say you're better off without him, at this moment in time you have a whole heap of stuff to work through in your head.
It is very, very difficult, but it has to be done.

I used to wish I could be hypnotised or something so I could forget him!

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 30/11/2021 10:26

[quote pixietinkdust]@chillied I’ve decided I don’t want to be in the rented house at all, I don’t think I’d cope very well. That’s why it’s costing me thousands to get rid of him, I have to pay the landlords off.

Eventually I will need to buy my own property AGAIN Confused[/quote]
Why are you paying though? It should be both of you paying off the rent to get out of the contract. He could also live there but is choosing not to.

bubblesbubbles11 · 30/11/2021 10:29

" I’m 30 years old, no children, single and back at my parents house."

Have not read the whole thread but thank your very lucky stars for the above. You are in a better position than you think you are at the moment.

todaysdilemma · 30/11/2021 10:29

@ValerieCupcake

I only know he had 20 pints because it came up in our joint bank account

He couldn't possibly have drunk 20 pints in 4 hours. He must have been buying rounds for mates or something surely.

I thought this too! That's 5 pints an hour. So a pint every 12 minutes. He was sat there DOWNING 20 pints. Surely, if you want to get drunk you go onto the hard stuff. Also I'm shocked the pub let him do this - they do tend to be mindful of sloppy/dangerous drinking...

Unless he was buying rounds for others in the pub?

Irrelevant now though. But just more evidence of how deceitful/bat shit he really was. All of which you will recover from and come the new year, look back and realise he gave you the gift of life by running off.

IamGusFring · 30/11/2021 10:30

@pixietinkdust you will feel as if you are broken but believe us when you say you will get over this and in a year's time you will be saying Thank God what was I thinking ! We cannot get answers for everything where others are concerned although I would say that knowing his past now you pretty much have many of those . Ignore those saying you are controlling etc - you can't spent your whole life managing someone . There really are better men out there . I wasn't even married for the first time at your age . You will get there !

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:31

@NeilBuchananisBanksy I’m paying because I’m the one who told him to leave.

He gave me two options:
I stay and I pay or he stays and he pays.

I said I want rid of the rental, I don’t want to be there at all. It has nothing but unhappiness there for me since I only actually lived there 5 days and they were all turmoil!

The property is in my home town, he is not from here. I said I just wanted him to go, so he said he would but then I would have to pay for everything. Expensive lesson.

OP posts:
Camii · 30/11/2021 10:31

I know it's a cliche, but try and keep busy doing anything -go for a walk, get your haircut just stupid suggestions to get through this period of shock and disbelief.
It will get easier but right now you are in shock/ grief and, understandably, utter misery.

tarasmalatarocks · 30/11/2021 10:33

A bit like@Bluntness100 , I think this was planned— I think he created scenes so it would blow up— it’s hard to say to someone when all seems tikketty boo- this isn’t what I want— it’s much easier with ‘an incident’ . The thing is OP , these types(and I lived with one) do talk about marriage and kids etc — yet at the same time expect to live 100% doing what they want. I think the problem is they don’t actually know what they want, they are very confused individuals and a bloody nightmare in a long term relationship. I have lived in so many places over the years my father in law started putting our address in his address book in pencil— mainly because nowhere was ever right on my Hs book— and 25 years of marriage later it is still the same! I understand girls rushing for the fairytale but it quickly can turn into a nightmare with someone like this

Seesaw82 · 30/11/2021 10:35

Op

What’s your relationship history look like?

The reason I ask is that the picture you have presented if your relationship is so high-drama, shouting, criticism, arguments, rash decisions, big moves decided at very short notice. I could go on. In a nutshell - not healthy

And you’ve been together a mere two years.

Lasair · 30/11/2021 10:43

Why on earth did you agree to you paying for everything? Also do you have the money from your house sale? He didn’t take half of that did he?

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:43

@Seesaw82 my relationship history isn’t great really… unfortunately for me.

Couple of long term ones which have been ended by infidelity (not on my part)

Couple more short ones with people who turned out similar to this one but not quite on this scale.

This is the first time I’d ever felt actually secure in a relationship I think.

I bought my own house 5 years ago and lived on my own during that time though, I have a lot of friends and family and I haven’t neglected them and stopped seeing them to isolate myself or anything like that.

I absolutely accept the rash decisions, I can see now it was too much too soon but honestly it felt right. I’m always Little Miss Cautious because of things that have happened to me in the past but I was totally swept away by this.

OP posts:
AngelinaFibres · 30/11/2021 10:43

Use the time between now and Christmas to put one foot in front of the other, to sort out any domestic trivia stuff that has come about because of this. Dont expect too much of yourself. If you feel like a really good cry, have one and then go and do something nice.Plan a nice Christmas day. Then on New Year's day go for a long walk and decide how you would like 2022 to pan out. You are young and free. Do you love your job ? Do you want to buy a house that is yours? Are there things you have always wanted to do ? Can you do them ? You are old enough to do grown up stuff like getting on the property ladder but young enough to make some major changes that a future husband and children might make more tricky. Grab the opportunity OP

Bluntness100 · 30/11/2021 10:44

@ValerieCupcake

I only know he had 20 pints because it came up in our joint bank account

He couldn't possibly have drunk 20 pints in 4 hours. He must have been buying rounds for mates or something surely.

Agree, I think he was with people and buying rounds, twenty pints in four hours unless you’re a serious alcoholic is not really possible, it’s the equivalent of about five bottles of wine in four hours, so much more likely he met people and was buying them drinks. Most people would be hospitalised if they drank twenty pints in four hours.
pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:45

@Lasair he point blank refused to pay. And he knows that there is no way I’d let it go to the point of CCJ, we’re jointly but equally liable for the house.

No no, I have all the money from my house sale. It didn’t actually complete until 4 days after he decided it was over.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 30/11/2021 10:48

I'm really sorry it's all gone wrong but just wanted to say it could have been much much worse - he could have emptied those joint accounts. I've seen that happen so often on here.

I'm not sure why you'd have joint accounts with someone you hadn't known that long. In future I think you should be much more careful with your money.

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:48

@Bluntness100 - I know there’s a lot of focus on the 20 pints thing… he absolutely can drink 20 pints, he has done it before.

I don’t believe he was buying rounds in the pub, he doesn’t actually know anyone here anyway.

Not that it matters, either way he came back absolutely steaming drunk and barely able to walk.

OP posts:
Sugarntailsnluvlyspicysnails · 30/11/2021 10:50

I dont think it's just an "expensive lesson" it's also an expensive punishment. You didn't fall into line. Take heed from the other posters that have told you that they endured this kind of crap for too long and that you really have had a lucky escape.

I know that doesn't dull the pain, unfortunately only time does that, so try to see it as a count down until you are emotionally free of him rather than drowning in a sea of despair.

Of course being away for 3 hours every evening is crap. There's no flexibility. It sounds like it was always his way. With regards to whether this was planned or not, I think he's probably so practiced at walking away that he didn't really need to plan it, he just knew he could and how to go about it.

Also, 30 is young you have plenty of time to have a family, but i understand why you'd feel shaky about a relationship any time soon. You do need to look at your boundaries and walk away from behaviours that you aren't happy with.

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:50

@AngelinaFibres I’m just trying to focus day by day tbh. I’m really struggling right now just to function.

I know I’ll have to get back on the property ladder at some point, I have the ability and funds to do this. Right now I can’t face living on my own so that can be a 2022 job.

OP posts:
pastypirate · 30/11/2021 10:52

My friends have since said they think I’ve been love bombed and then gaslighted.

This is spot on. They know you well and clearly care deeply. Listen to them.

Bluntness100 · 30/11/2021 10:52

Ok if he can do twenty pints in four hours then he’s an alcoholic, no one who isn’t can drink thay much, I’m sorry, and maybe that’s part of the issue.

pixietinkdust · 30/11/2021 10:54

@HollowTalk thank you for this. I’ll absolutely take heed on this point. I honestly thought this was for keeps, I have never amalgamated money with anyone before. Infact I’ve never even lived with anyone before this.

@Sugarntailsnluvlyspicysnails I’m leaving towards agreeing with your opinion here, I don’t think it was planned. We were so happy literally the week before. It all just came crashing down within an instant. I also agree with the needing to be able to walk away when I see red flags in future. I chose to ignore them this time because I was so unbelievably happy, and now look where that’s got me Sad

OP posts: