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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

Friend attempted suicide and said it’s my fault

158 replies

RockpoolGirl · 19/02/2022 08:05

This happened a couple of years ago but it plays on my mind daily and I need to get it out.

My male friend and I were very good friends, he was also friends with my boyfriend and there were a group of us. As things were unravelling with my boyfriend my friend- let’s call him B- told me he had feelings for me. My head was all over the place re my boyfriend but I didn’t indicate to B that they were reciprocated because they weren’t.

Anyway. I was now single and still friends with B. At no point did I ever indicate I had feelings for him apart from once on a night out when I made one flirty comment to him after a few drinks.

A few months later we went to a bar with a few of our other friends. Chatting, having a few drinks etc. Three of us including B got in a cab back to where we lived. I said night and went into my house. I was sitting in my room looking at photos on my phone when I heard a kerfuffle downstairs. Suddenly my bedroom door burst open and B walked in. Turned out he had knocked on the front door and when my sister answered he had pushed past her and barged in!

I was sitting there shocked and then he removed his coat and started to walk towards me. I was feeling vulnerable sitting in my bedroom and didn’t know what the hell he was going to do so I told him to leave. He refused so I had to be more forceful with my words. Eventually I got him downstairs to the door and he was still refusing to leave. Because he was unsteady after a few drinks I was able to open the door with one hand and push him out with the other, shutting it behind him. I heard him screaming the F word as he walked away.

The next day I got a call from B to tell me that he had been in A&E overnight after taking an overdose of painkillers. He said it was my fault. I was horrified but felt like he had been wrong for forcing himself in to my house and scaring me so I told him I didn’t feel I was wrong for making him go.

The next day I arrived at work to find cds and books that he had borrowed from me thrown all over my desk. (We worked in the same building). It was like a punch in the stomach. I opened my email and he had written to me saying he wanted nothing more to do with me.

And that was it, he never spoke to me again.

He was such a good friend and I was gutted at the time. The fact that he told me his attempt was my fault has never left me.

I don’t feel that I messed with his head. I knew him for 4 years and there were maybe two flirty incidents in all that time, but otherwise he knew I was utterly devoted to the boyfriend I had and later broke up with.

Was this my fault at all?

OP posts:
emsmar · 19/02/2022 08:07

No way! He sounds like a fucking idiot. You done nothing wrong at all. You poor thing even thinking that!

JeanBodel · 19/02/2022 08:08

It is very common for domestically abusive men to threaten or attempt suicide then put the blame on to their partner.

These are not the actions of a good friend. They are the actions of an entitled, controlling man. In no way was this your fault.

MrMrsJones · 19/02/2022 08:09

No not your fault

He fancied you, you didn't fancy him back.

He barged his way in, God knows what would have happened if you didn't get him out.

Then he chose to try and take his own life, allegedly.

You are not at fault

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 19/02/2022 08:09

He wasn't a good friend. This was the behaviour of an abuser. I doubt he took any pills he was just trying to manipulate you.
It's sad when you find out someone isn't who you thought they were but that's all that happened here.

over2021 · 19/02/2022 08:11

Not you fault at all. The actions of a narcissistic abuser so thank goodness the feelings weren't reciprocated.

A lucky escape OP.

HowToMakeFriends · 19/02/2022 08:11

Of course it wasn't your fault, and I think you genuinely realise that. It sounds like he wasn't in a good place emotionally, even before you "rejected" him (as in this is how he will have seen it) to have taken an overdose.

I wonder if it was a mixture of pain and shame that caused him to blame you, and once that had been said, it was hard to go back on it?

Have any of your mutual friends heard from him? How do they feel about him blaming you? Is he still fragile?

But no, definitely not your fault.

Kbyodjs · 19/02/2022 08:11

No way at all! It’s never someone else’s fault and in those circumstances most people would have reacted the same way. What he did forcing himself into your home sounds really scary and the entitlement of men like him just because he had feelings for you is horrifying

Cyw2018 · 19/02/2022 08:11

Of course it wasn't your fault and what it does demonstrate is that you reasonable taste and instincts when it comes to men. You are not attracted to mentally abusive, unstable, manipulative, controlling men, well done, you're doing better than a lot of women.

Mumoblue · 19/02/2022 08:11

No!
He clearly had massive issues that would not have been magically solved by the healing power of you agreeing to go out with him.

You dodged a bullet.

LadyCatStark · 19/02/2022 08:12

He was in a&e over night and then went into work the next day? Nah, he lied to try to manipulate you presumably into sleeping with him. None of this is your fault.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/02/2022 08:13

You have done nothing wrong here. What a shit he is for making you feel like this

Vallmo47 · 19/02/2022 08:13

He’s responsible for his own actions OP. Sorry this has taken up so much of your time, I hope you are able to understand that you’ve dodged a bullet with that man.

LuluBlakey1 · 19/02/2022 08:13

He's a very unpleasant drama queen- manipulative, attention-seeking, wants all his own way and potentially quite dangerous. Never give him another thought and never speak to him again. You did nothing wrong, he did everything wrong. I bet he lied about the overdose as well- never happened, part of his manipulation and attention-seeking.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/02/2022 08:13

Your friend B here was really anything but and he further manipulated you.

It was never your fault in any way, this is all on him.

Starwreck · 19/02/2022 08:14

No it wasn't your fault, he sounds manipulative and good for you for putting boundaries in place and for having the courage to tell him no. Just because he fancied you doesn't mean he had any entitlement for you to feel the same. Please be kind to yourself, if you think it'd help don't rule out therapy to come to terms with it.

Barrawarra · 19/02/2022 08:15

Definitely not your fault. Even if you had led him on (which you absolutely didn’t), it STILL would not be your fault. Someone who blames suicide on another person is very troubled and controlling, you are lucky that the relationship was never more than it was. I can understand how you feel but I think you need to try and let this go, it was absolutely not your fault.

Borderterrierpuppy · 19/02/2022 08:16

Not your fault at all.
Don’t believe his story at all, just another man trying to manipulate a woman and failing, well done for not going along with his plan.

RockpoolGirl · 19/02/2022 08:17

@HowToMakeFriends I’m not in contact with the group of friends anymore. It got awkward after what happened with B and splitting up with the boyfriend so I did my own thing. Happily married to my husband now.

I googled B a couple of times and there’s loved up photos of him with a woman. I don’t know anymore.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 19/02/2022 08:17

You have to let that go, he was trying to manipulate you.
If you were a celebrity, stuff like that would be happening you every day Grin. After this thread, put it behind you and enjoy your life.

It’s not your fault AT ALL.

RedMozzieYellowMozzie · 19/02/2022 08:18

Have you got any proof he was ever in hospital? Seems a bit suspect that he was able to come and put stuff all over your desk the day after a suicide attempt.

Ultimately though you are not responsible for other peoples actions. You’re not responsible for him barging into your house and you’re not responsible for his overdose

RubyRedNails · 19/02/2022 08:19

Wow, have a look at the Rules of Misogyny - he ticks off a few. Of course it wasn't your fault, and he wasn't "such a good friend", he was acting like a good friend as a means to an end. He had no interest in being friends with you. You had no responsibility for his behaviour and you didn't owe him a relationship.

Friend attempted suicide and said it’s my fault
YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators · 19/02/2022 08:20

Text book abusive.
You've done nothing wrong.
Please have nothing more to do with him.
Watch out for stalking behaviours next.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/02/2022 08:21

He's a creep and he's a liar. This man was never your friend.

OnaBegonia · 19/02/2022 08:22

He took an overdose but miraculously recovered to be at work before you to dump your stuff?
I'd doubt him and think he tried to manipulate you.

Avarua · 19/02/2022 08:24

He's a creep.
He felt entitled to you and your time and when you didn't comply he had a tantrum. That's emotionally immature and borderline.