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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

I think I'm finally getting over my ex....

14 replies

ston · 04/12/2021 15:39

Not sure what answers I'm looking to get from this but just wanted to write it all down so it sticks in my mind.

In July my (ex) boyfriend of 5 years broke up with me out the blue. We met at uni and are both now 24. He broke up with me over the phone (we live 4 hours away from each other) and then we met up to talk it through a week later. To say I was depressed is an understatement (look at previous threads). I am still feeling the effects of these past few months and I'm still on antidepressants which I started taking in August.

I've drunk text him twice but the last time I made sure I deleted his number so I would never do it again. I've been trying to get on with my life and he then drunk texts me last week. He said "he sees I've been living the high life - wining and dining and mingling with celebrities and going to posh black tie dinners." He said if he wanted anyone it would be me, trying to reassure me he hasn't been getting with anyone else, saying why haven't I text him, saying he wants to meet up with me when I'm next in London. I did stupidly meet up with him a month after he broke up with me and slept with him.

Suddenly today I had the realisation of how badly he treated me:

  • He would constantly patronise / belittle me. He would correct the way I'd speak (for example if I said would of instead of would have). When I met up with him he literally corrected the first thing I said. If I said the sky was blue he'd say no it's green. He would embarrass me too. We were once out with his mum and step dad at this posh restaurant and the waiter asked his mum if she would like to taste the wine. I said to the waiter I didn't need to taste it too. My ex laughs at me - apparently only one person tastes the wine to check it tastes okay?? Generally he made me feel really unintelligent and like he was better than me.
  • Gas lighting me. When we met up he said that I was the one that wanted to meet up when he knew it was him. I asked him what his mum thought of us meeting up and he said he couldn't remember. He also told me not to go study abroad at university (basically said he would break up with me if I did) and he is now saying he did not say that. Also a few years ago he said he wanted to go to Asia and just before we broke up I said oh I'd like to go to Asia and he said why would you want to go there for.
  • Made me feel guilty about asking what we were gong to do in the future like with living together etc because we were long distance. He never had an answer but just said he just plods through life and everything works out. I said no you have to plan some things as things don't just happen. Clearly he put some thought into life when he broke up with me! Also he got annoyed at me for asking if/when we were going on holiday as he didn't know if he definitely could because of work.
  • When he met up with me he told me he had lied throughout the entirety of our relationship that he didn't do drugs at festivals. He did them at every festival apparently and "everyone does it" as he told me. Belittling me again. He also told some white lies after we broke up like saying he did not go out the first night he broke up with me but he did.
  • Never organised to meet me or do anything. When I had covid and was out of isolation he was saying I shouldn't come down to see him even though when he had covid he went out to see his family straight after the 10 days. Hypocritical.

Finally, the fact I didn't even realise he so badly wanted to go travelling or work abroad (reasons for breaking up apparently). He didn't really ever discuss it with me before he blind sighted me.

No wonder I felt so insecure about myself. When someone makes you feel that small all the time, of course you're going to need constant reassurance from them. Not that it's all his fault - I obviously have my own issues too.

Suddenly he wants to know me when he thinks I'm living the high life. It says a lot about him if he thinks going to 2 black tie events is the "high life." I'm definitely not fully over him and every day is different but I think I'm finally starting to get him off the high pedestal I've put him on.

He is a narcissist and he needs someone on his narcissistic level. I think I'm too much of a nice person, and quite the opposite of a narcissist actually.

I completed neglected myself for him and maybe that's why it's a good thing he did this.

OP posts:
GlitterSquid · 04/12/2021 15:43

How good does it feel to FINALLY see the wood for the trees? That the pennies are dropping for you left, right and centre.

You're right to be angry with this manipulative void of a human being. Hold on to your anger, it will serve you well.

pheonixrebirth · 04/12/2021 16:28

It would seem that your doing to well on your own and he doesn't like it. Didn't you know your supposed to be wailing, sobbing and begging him to take you back?🤔
But you have cracked it and know what he's about!👏👏👏👏
Swerve any attempts of contact, even texts, it makes it harder for you.
You are a good person and when you finally click and realise you've been dealing with a narcissist it's freeing.
But also on a side note, take good care of yourself. It can take a very long time to recover from a relationship like this as the damage they do is so toxic, I am still trying to unpick everything I went through Thanks

SunflowerTed · 05/12/2021 00:25

Yes I remember your previous posts 🙄

Ilovemycatsomuch · 05/12/2021 00:29

m.youtube.com/watch?v=p1cEvNn88jM

Good for you and I hope you have a happy future.

frozendaisy · 05/12/2021 01:55

Sounds like you are thinking clearly.

Block him on social media as well. It will only drive you to distraction.

Black tie events might not be the high life but they can be places to network, meet others to help you have an interesting future sounds like he's a bit jealous. But who cares about that. You keep networking.

And talk to your GP in the new year about coming off the anti depressants. If you can. He has sapped you of plenty. You don't need him hopefully soon(ish) you won't need ADs either.

Have a cosy Christmas.
Onwards and upwards in 2022.

ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 05/12/2021 08:19

Urgh. He sounds like a dickhead.

A dickhead who is irritated you're not desperate for him right now but who also thinks he can reel you back in when get he wants.

Block him. Ignore him. Move on.

Say yes to all events, get moving and have fun. And make sure you do exactly what you want to do with studies, travel etc.

AnFiadhRua · 05/12/2021 08:24

I remember you i think.

It's so great when you realise that what you've lost maybe wasnt all that after all.

Been there.

ston · 05/12/2021 09:23

@SunflowerTed

Wow you really are a horrible human being.

What do you get out of rolling your eyes at other people’s problems? Vile

OP posts:
IAAP · 05/12/2021 09:26

I would continue with the counselling and healthy boundaries etc

But I would block him on everything and anf don’t speak to him again

Anniegetyourgun · 05/12/2021 09:32

Sounds like he just makes things up as he goes, first you're not allowed to go abroad or he'll split up with you, next he's split up with you because you won't let him go abroad, wants to go somewhere but doesn't understand why you want to go there, doesn't want to be with you but when you don't run after him suddenly he misses you, etc etc. His head must be a messy place. You don't want to live there. What you miss is having someone special who actually deserves your love and respect - the man he pretended to be but wasn't.

(He's right about the would of thing though! Of you broken up with him yet? Yes, I of. Grin )

Hrrrre · 05/12/2021 09:40

Amazing @ston

You will find someone so much better. Smile

AnFiadhRua · 05/12/2021 09:53

I agree with the advice to continue with the therapy and to continue to work on boundaries. wish I'd done that at 24!

I think this guy considers himself a cut above butter milk and he fell in to a relationship with you at university but never planned to share his life with you. He is looking for somebody from a glossier posse who knows what knife to use with which fish and which non-U words to avoid. But he never did you the courtesy of letting you know that.

So, you have the pain of realising that you were on different pages for five years

That is a lot to process imo and you're doing well to have ''seen' this in 5 months.

But after 6 months without you, he misses the goodness in you, so be very careful that you don't get hoovered back in to his life even peripherally as a friend.

Being friendly might sound harmless but it would stall your progress and keep you feeling inadequate to him, as if he were the measure to compare yourself to..

I imagine that there's a concierge inside all of us (!) and when we're being eroded or disrespected, some of us start out with a doormat instead, it says ''come in let me hold your coat'' and some of us have an inner concierge that says ''no, red flag, keep that one locked out''

ston · 10/12/2021 21:40

@GlitterSquid Oh it is lovely! I'm having days where I'm seeing the wood for the trees on some days more than others but its a start! He was manipulative and I've realised that now.

@pheonixrebirth haha I think that is his problem... I was wailing and sobbing to him when we first met up and he is clearly wondering why I'm not now.

I feel I am thinking of him more now and analysing his behaviour. It has taken me months to get to this point, and see the negatives in him. Hopefully my recovery doesn't last too long. What would you recommend? :)

OP posts:
ston · 10/12/2021 21:44

@frozendaisy I do really need to delete him off all social media. I did delete his number but I guess its a bit pointless if I can still contact him and see what he is doing. I don't know why I think deleting him off social media tells him that he has bothered me, and he has won.

I'm not sure if the ADs are what is improving my mood but I feel a lot better than did even a month ago.

@ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp he definitely is. I do need to block and just forget about him. I can't believe I put up with his behaviour for so long.

Yes he even said I thought breaking up was the best thing "for now," like he can have me again whenever he wants.

@AnFiadhRua he definitely isn't everything I thought he was!

@IAAP I really want to block him but something is stopping me :( I need to let go.

OP posts:
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