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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

How do we fix this?

144 replies

roses910 · 01/01/2022 17:42

So I started seeing my bf in May this year and it was great for about 2 and a half months. He had briefly told me about this girl (we'll call her Jessica) when we first started, I was fine okay with it because everytime he mentioned her, he kept saying they met a while back and nothing happened, they're just good friends. My definition of "a while back" is about 6-8 months ago but his is about 2 months ago. June came round and it's my bf's birthday and he tells me Jessica sent him a flirty comment and he tells her that his gf wouldn't appreciate that; this is when Jessica finds out about me. All this time I knew about Jessica but Jessica didn't even know my bf was dating let alone in a relationship with me. My bf is confused but lets it slide because she doesn't want to talk about it. July comes round and my bf reminds me that Jessica is coming to our town to see him and I'm surprised because I completely forgotten that he had briefly mentioned it the start of June and I thought they left it on a weird note, I tell him this but I'm like I trust you. I go on a trip out of town with my family and she visits on the days I'm out of town. He posts pictures and videos of them at an underground romantic italian restaurant that I had taken him on his birthday because he had never been there before, he had never posted me on his story, all of this made me upset. I tell him about my discomfort the next evening and I thought he invited his friend to hang out with them to ease my discomfort but this was later told to me to change up the environment for Jessica because my bf felt distant from her. Jessica leaves and I'm back from my trip. I have a dream where my bf is cheating on me with Jessica and there's a bouquet of sunflowers and roses in there. Ever since this dream, I have very bad discomfort with my bf and Jessica's friendship. I learn more and more about their relationship, how they were recent, nothing physical happened between them but they did have feelings for each other at one point. After a month and a half of breakdowns, I'm done, I feel like I've been piecing together a lot of things instead of just being told from the start the whole story about my bf and Jessica so after a lot of convincing, I tell my bf to go talk to her. And that's when he even finds out that she still had feelings for him and he ends their friendship. (He now understands my point of view on this and how it was an emotional affair, we both agree that it's a level of cheating)

Skip forward to November, I'm still hurt by my bf dismissing my feelings as just jealousy and not doing anything to ease my discomfort, he didn't think I should know that Jessica didn't know about me, he didn't do everything to not go to that italian restaurant, and some of the stuff he was saying didn't add up, so I told him I was going to talk to Jessica and he was supportive. I talked to Jessica and found out that even though they agreed to just be friends and nothing more in April, she still flirted with my bf here and there. Our conversation ended on a sour note and she had sent screenshots of the conversation to my bf (even though I had already sent him them). Jessica reaches out to my bf's best friend because they're friends and she tells her she doesn't want her name mentioned around my bf or me and that we're blocked.

I told my bf that I don't feel comfortable being friends with his best friend or being around her because she's friends with Jessica therefore her loyalties are with Jessica and I just want to remove every part of Jessica from me because a lot of things have been very triggering for me: the italian restaurant, the hotel she stayed, sunflowers, etc. My bf has told his best friend all about what's been going on and that easing my mind would ease his mind because he wants us all to comfortable and be able to hang out in group settings, but his best friend said that something similar has happened before with her friends and that cutting people off isn't the solution. Later on, Jessica removes his best friend from everything and his best friend tells him that she barely spoke to Jessica or reached out because Jessica's crazy. So I'm even more frustrated because she could've done something (cut off someone she doesn't care for) to ease her best friend and my discomfort but chose not to, even if it's a temporary relief.

We tried to break up and then he told me he was thinking of cutting off the friendship with his best friend for me but I told him I don't want him to do that nor do I want him to choose between me and her, I even said I'd take myself out of the equation because this is all too much. But he really wants to make it work. I've tried to set a boundary where I don't attend any event his best friend is at (his birthday, christmas parties etc) but at the same time I feel like I'm left out if all his friends are there with his best friend but not me. His best friend and his other friends have been friends for a long time so I don't think it's sustainable for me to be distant to her but still be friends with his friends. My bf is still confused on why I feel upset and how to go about handling these events even though I've voiced everything and repeated myself a dozen times. He really wants things to work but I feel like I've given him so many chances to him, he's weakened my trust for him so much that I have to set so many boundaries because I don't trust him to make me feel comfortable. How can we fix this?

OP posts:
Davros · 01/01/2022 20:07

He did think of this restaurant as our special place and so he did suggest other places to her but she still wanted to go to this specific place, I feel like if he said it was special because we went there on a special occasion, that might've convinced her.
I don't think Nando's counts

DroopyClematis · 01/01/2022 20:07

Stop trying to interpret dreams!

Your boyfriend is emotionally attached to this woman.

What on Earth possessed you to speak to her???

Have some self respect and walk away.

Oh my days!

roses910 · 01/01/2022 20:10

@TabithaTittlemouse well I've started counselling to help sort out my issues and my bf suggested trying couple's therapy next month but honestly from reading all these posts, I think the right course of action is breaking up and focusing on myself.

I'm studying health physiology.

OP posts:
roses910 · 01/01/2022 20:14

@girlmom21 when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry

OP posts:
Nocutenamesleft · 01/01/2022 20:18

[quote roses910]@TabithaTittlemouse well I've started counselling to help sort out my issues and my bf suggested trying couple's therapy next month but honestly from reading all these posts, I think the right course of action is breaking up and focusing on myself.

I'm studying health physiology.[/quote]
You’ve been together 7 months and it’s been suggested about couples counselling?!?

No. Just run far and fast!

Nocutenamesleft · 01/01/2022 20:18

[quote roses910]@girlmom21 when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry[/quote]
From a dream?!?

BakedTattie · 01/01/2022 20:21

Wtf did I just read

Vapeyvapevape · 01/01/2022 20:24
Confused
Fenella2000 · 01/01/2022 20:27

OP, the relationship isn’t the main issue. The problem is that you are suffering from pretty severe anxiety and emotional instability. You’re right that it’s a good idea to work hard on that first, because it is likely to get in the way of any relationship you have. I wish you the very best of luck with your counselling.

There is no reason for the level of sneering/rudeness people have expressed here - it’s awful and I’m sorry. You are clearly struggling with your mental health (I was the same at your age, turns out I had undiagnosed ADHD), people shouldn’t be so bloody judgmental!

Reila24 · 01/01/2022 20:29

Op why are you trying so hard to save this relationship?

As pps said couples counselling at 7months with no babies or marriage in the picture is crazy and should scream red flag to you

What is going on

girlmom21 · 01/01/2022 20:30

[quote roses910]@girlmom21 when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry[/quote]
You definitely need to separate from him and get some proper counselling.

2ndtimemum2 · 01/01/2022 20:31

Op this situation isn't for you, if your having an extreme response to dreams your not in the emotion capacity to be in a relationship. Maybe focus on your counselling and overcoming your trust issues so you can handle adult situations better

PointyMcguire · 01/01/2022 20:33

I honestly can’t get over the fact you say “when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry” when talking about a dream!

Seriously if this is how affected you are by something that did not happen I suggest you ditch relationships altogether and work on yourself for a while as this is so beyond the realms of normal behaviour.

Ladybyrd · 01/01/2022 20:39

Your "bf" has issues. It's either some passive aggressive BS where he gets a kick from keeping his "friend" hidden in plain sight and making you feel like crap about it, or he really is just hedging his bets.

This isn't the makings for a lasting relationship. Not a happy one, anyway.

Branleuse · 01/01/2022 20:39

Youre blaming jessica and his best friend instead of the actual guy, for stuff that any twat would know not to do.
your boyfriend appears to be one of those guys that likes to surround himself with a harem of women and play them all off against each other.
Hes not the one. I think move on before he fucks with your head even more

PaddleBoardingMomma · 01/01/2022 20:41

[quote roses910]@girlmom21 when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry[/quote]
....you didn't go through anything?

Fenella2000 · 01/01/2022 20:42

@PointyMcguire

I honestly can’t get over the fact you say “when I see sunflowers or pass by the restaurant, I struggle to breathe, angry because I'm reminded of what I went through, detached from my surroundings because I'm reminded and sometimes I break down and cry” when talking about a dream!

Seriously if this is how affected you are by something that did not happen I suggest you ditch relationships altogether and work on yourself for a while as this is so beyond the realms of normal behaviour.

I’m sorry but this is an example (among many in this thread) of an unacceptable way to talk about mental health issues. “So beyond the realms of normal behaviour” - yes, OP is pretty clearly struggling with her MH, you don’t need to stick the knife in and make her feel like a freak.

It is important that OP recognises this is a problem which very much needs to be worked on. But you CAN overcome feeling like this if you are willing to balance taking responsibility/working hard on it with also trying to be kind to yourself.

Lennybenny · 01/01/2022 20:46

I have a feeling there's been a name change because this rather bizarre post reads like one about someone sleeping with her head on his chest....same weird long winded story that's not a story and has too many random bits like dreams and best friends.

Unsure33 · 01/01/2022 20:48

Way too much drama .

You sound about 14

Vapeyvapevape · 01/01/2022 20:49

@Lennybenny yes I agree

PointyMcguire · 01/01/2022 20:55

@Fenella2000 but the OP doesn’t appear to realise that they are remotely accountable for her behaviour. Instead she’s fixated on controlling the behaviour of those around her and justifying her actions because nobody feels emotions as strongly as she does and society can’t recognise that Confused

Lennybenny · 01/01/2022 21:07

@TheHoptimist

Could you ask for some paragraphs as a splitting up gift

Sorry but no way are you writing about adults
This is teen drama
Once you finish your GCSEs and start life it will all seem very minor

I laughed way too much about the paragraphs bit!
Puffalicious · 01/01/2022 21:11

[quote PointyMcguire]@Fenella2000 but the OP doesn’t appear to realise that they are remotely accountable for her behaviour. Instead she’s fixated on controlling the behaviour of those around her and justifying her actions because nobody feels emotions as strongly as she does and society can’t recognise that Confused[/quote]
Exactly! It's not obvious to me at all that she has MH issues, it's obvious that she's emotionally very, very immature or, in reality, a very very young woman. She is presenting as completely ridiculous- that's not being unkind, it's true. Her idea that everyone must 'be kind' when she is blatantly controlling her boyfriend and who he can be friends with is laughable.

OP invest in counselling not a relationship which has no basis.

supersop60 · 01/01/2022 21:16

I voted YABU for persisting with this relationship. Love should make you feel like you are walking on air, not fighting battles all the time. Especially in the early stages. I think you are secretly enjoying the drama.

Toiletbrushanswer · 01/01/2022 21:25

If you are being genuinely "triggered" by something in a dream around the time that you were going through a (sorry but) non issue then i hope you realise how very bad your MH is and seek help for that and realise this "relationship" will not be helping you. I would also suggest that you look at your own behaviour and realise that it is controlling and unhealthy for both you and your boyfriend. I am not saying this to be harsh. I have had very poor MH and know how caught up you can become in non events. What you need to realise is that its all over nothing and that your inability to deal with these things can be helped by getting the right treatment. End things with bf and take some time to work on yourself, supported by a gp and whatever therapy/medication they suggest and look after yourself. Plenty of time for healthy relationships in the future. Good luck OP