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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:
Thighdentitycrisis · 19/02/2022 08:25

No

M0RVEN · 19/02/2022 08:25

@JeanBodel

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.

This.

Your instinct on that night was correct. He was drunk and aggressive , forced his way into your home and then into your bedroom . He refused to leave when asked, at times.

You quite rightly feared for your safety. It’s likely that he would have raped or sexually assaulted you if you had not managed to get him out of your house.

You did 100% the right thing. Everything he did was his own choice and his own responsibility.

You have no proof that he ever did take an overdose. It might be all a lie. Or it might have been just a few tables which he knew would not harm him but he did to try to manipulate or guilt trip you.

It certainly couldn’t have been that bad if he was in work the next day.

He was not your friend. He was an abusive and manipulative man. He thought he had an opportunity to have sex with you ( with or without your consent ) because he knew that you were upset about your BF.

The “ Suicide attempt “ ( real or imaginary ) was to punish you publicly for refusing to have sex with him when he felt entitled.

He will no doubt have gone on to abuse other women. You probably were not the first and sadly you won’t have been the last.

layladomino · 19/02/2022 08:25

Of course it wasn't your fault. How could it be? All you did was be friends with someone, and not agree when they propositioned you. He was entirely at fault. I know it's easy to say, but I hope you can stop this taking up headspace and get on with enjoying your life without him in it, because he doesn't deserve your thoughts.

haikyew · 19/02/2022 08:27

Classic Borderline
Look up "Borderline splitting"
Lucky escape, babe

HunterHearstHelmsley · 19/02/2022 08:27

It's awful that you've felt in any way responsible for this years later.

How dare he force his way into your home?! What was his plan if you hadn't have got him out?

It seems like he felt entitled to you. You had the temerity to turn him down so it's all your fault. That's majorly fucked up.

myyellowcar · 19/02/2022 08:28

A lucky escape there OP. Aggressive, entitled and manipulative, he sounds horrific.

Theimpossiblegirl · 19/02/2022 08:28

Reading this I felt so awful for you. He was not your friend, he was pretending because he fancied you and thought he could convince you to be with him.
Very lucky escape and absolutely not your fault.
I'm glad you are happy in a good relationship now, it would have been a disaster if you'd ended up with the so called friend.

Sally872 · 19/02/2022 08:30

He didn't kill himself and now seems to have life on track.

What could you have done to avoid it? Dated him? That's not reasonable. It isn't your fault you only wanted friendship and it is kinder to he honest about that which is what you did.

Also most people who harm themselves are going through a lot of stuff i expect it is rarely down to anyone person. His behaviour afterwards of blaming you is wrong and sounds manipulative to be honest.

Totalwasteofpaper · 19/02/2022 08:30

None of his actions were your fault.
He was and is not your friend.

He is a bloke that wanted to shag you and decided to punish you when you had the audacity not to give him what he wants...

He sounds awful and manipulative... feel sorry for the new girlfriend and be thankful he isn't in your life. You had a lucky escape by the sounds of it

pictish · 19/02/2022 08:33

I know he has made you feel terrible but think about it rationally - there is no responsibility for this on you whatsoever! He went off on one all by himself.

You dodged a bullet btw. The poor woman he’s all loved up with is in for a life of hell.

Glowtastic · 19/02/2022 08:37

Not convinced by the in OD story. Not your fault one little bit, suicide threats are the most abhorrent form of manipulation. 4 years is actually a very brief time in friendship terms and it takes a loooooooong while to actually really know someone. I can count on one hand the people I call genuine friends and I've known all of them over 10 years. Glad you're happy, a lesson learnt to be careful of people.

ThanksItHasPockets · 19/02/2022 08:39

I'd bet money there was no suicide attempt. You have dodged a massive bullet here.

Latenightreader · 19/02/2022 08:41

You did everything you should have done. I expect he thought you would beg for his friendship/affections and when you didn't respond he sulked himself away. Alternatively he may well have been so embarrassed by his behaviour that he decided to steer clear. Either way you have avoided a far worse situation. Well done.

TracyMosby · 19/02/2022 08:41

He is obviously a liar.
He was never your friend.

Did you report him to HR?

mammoon567 · 19/02/2022 08:41

Absolutely NOT your fault sweetheart, nor do you have anything to feel bad or guilty for. If he can't handle you as just a friend then that isn't your problem, its his.

Saying you're the reason he attempted suicide is manipulator tactic 101. People are responsible for their own actions and their own feelings, sounds like the trash took itself out.

I know losing a friend is hard but if he reacted in such a way to you putting VERY reasonable boundaries down then it doesn't sound like he was much of a friend to begin with x

PJsAndRainyDays · 19/02/2022 08:41

People don't generally take an overdone and then be totally fine the next day - do you know if this is even true as it sounds like a lie to me?!

Either was he sounds awful and it's not your fault.

user1471504747 · 19/02/2022 08:42

Sounds like bullshit OP.

There’s no way he took an overdose, ended up in A&E, and was discharged early enough to be able to get to work and do that.

Unless his “overdose” was on strepsils he probably never had one.

Sounds like you’re better off without him. How are your mutual friends about it?

Thingsdogetbetter · 19/02/2022 08:44

He was a typical Mr Nice Guy misogynist. The reason he was a 'good' friend while you were with your ex was because he saw you as your ex's property and out of bounds as chattel. The second you broke up, you became fair game and thus owed him for the years of friendship like a good little submissive grateful girl.

This guy got drunk and felt entitled to barge into your home, your BEDROOM, because he decided you didn't have the right to reject him. Because you owed him. You should consider how far he was willing to go to 'claim' you and that getting him out of your home asap was what keep you safe.

Once he sobered up (a&e overdose story is bollocks! Had it been a serious attempt he won't be capable of turning up for work after having his stomach pumped and a psy evaluation. If he went at all!) he needed to make himself the good guy in his own narrative and the meant making you the bad. Big dramatic 'you're a bitch after all I've done for you being a friend for years and you didn't pay me back by being my gf/having sex with me' temper tantrum shows how fucked up his thinking was.

However, this flounce off was the best result for you! This guy was not safe to be around! He's manipulative, predatory, dramatic, self-righteous and rewrites history to suit his agenda. He was never your true friend.

AlternativePerspective · 19/02/2022 08:45

Overdose my arse. I bet he regularly uses that one on the woman he’s with at the moment though. Poor woman.

You’re well rid.

334bu · 19/02/2022 08:46

Not your fault ! Forget him .

Georgeskitchen · 19/02/2022 08:47

No, not your fault. He sounds like an over dramatic attention seeking pain in the arris to me. You're well rid of him tbh

Hydrate · 19/02/2022 08:50

No, he is unstable. It was his own doing, attempting suicide.

WouldIwasShookspeared · 19/02/2022 08:50

No.
Absolutely not.

Did you pin him down and shove pills down his throat?

No. He did it himself. If he was even telling the truth. For all you know he lied. Or he took 6 anti histamines or something. To try to manipulate you and punish you for daring to not fall at his feet.

Your crime was not wanting to be his .
girlfriend. He was never entitled to a relationship with you and you should thank your lucky stars that never happened. He would have been very abusive. Someone who thinks that because they are interested in a person, that that person must give themselves over and how they actually feel does not matter is not someone you want in your life.

billy1966 · 19/02/2022 08:51

@CloseYourEyesAndSee

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.
This.

Put this out of your head and never waste another moment on him.

This was all about him and on him.
His behaviour was disgusting.

I'm so sorry it has stayed with you, let it go now.

Flowers
notanothertakeaway · 19/02/2022 08:52

OP, I hope you are reassured to hear these answers

I agree with PP that he was manipulative and trying to make you feel guilty for rejecting him