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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:
HomeHomeInTheRange · 19/02/2022 08:53

Do you know for sure he did take an overdose / end up in A&E? He can hardly have been that ill (and taking hangover into account) if he was able to then get back home, sort out CDs etc and turn up for work.

Either way, an aggressive act wholly designed to damage you, not him.

He wanted to punish you for refusing a relationship with him, and has done so by instilling long term feelings of unease and guilt.

He’s bloody lucky you and your sister didn’t call the police, forcing his way in like that.

What a nasty piece of work.

Schlerp · 19/02/2022 08:54

He wasn’t your friend in the first place.

This over reaction at rejection disrespects the value of your friendship. The friendzone concept (and the entitled hissyfit when it’s confirmed) places your actual friendship below your perceived fuckability.

You are in NO WAY at fault for his actions. Do not feel any guilt or give him any headspace. Friends don’t do that. He’s an arsehole with a bruised ego.

WutheringHeights66 · 19/02/2022 08:55

No of course it wasn’t.

Toanewstart23 · 19/02/2022 08:56

Op

He “attempted”. I imagine it was with absolutely zero intention of actually doing anything

Drama llama

Move on and forget about it

PinchOfVom · 19/02/2022 09:01

This didn’t happen op

Guarantee he’s made that up

He wouldn’t be able to go anywhere 24 hours after an overdose - he’d still be under observation

RealBecca · 19/02/2022 09:04

He was never a food friend. He posed as one to get into your knickers and acted abusive when he wasnt given his own way. The definition of someone who perceives themselves as a "nice guy" when what they mean is they do what they think they need to to entitle themselves to you and pose as a victim.

Hshuznw · 19/02/2022 09:04

Yeah he’s lying about the overdose. It didn’t happen. He’s an abusive prick who is trying to make you feel like shit. You did absolutely nothing wrong.

RishiRich · 19/02/2022 09:05

You didn't do anything wrong. He did. He:

  • approached you romantically when you were at a vulnerable point
  • broke into your house
  • scared you
  • swore at you
  • tried to manipulate you
  • intimidated you at work

What an absolute bastard.

Butchyrestingface · 19/02/2022 09:06

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.

BULLSHIT did he OD and manage to make it into work the next day to throw everything all over your desk.

You've dodged a bullet there.

CaptSkippy · 19/02/2022 09:07

OMG OP, this is horrifying.

I think it would be a good idea to talk to both the police as well as HR about this. He could pose a danger to you and your sister in the future. Save all the evidence of his recent interactions. Ask your sister if she will go to the police station with you. You didn't happen to take a picture of your desk by any chance did you? If you did, make sure you save that as well.

It might also be a good idea to get a door camera.

peboh · 19/02/2022 09:08

Absolutely not your fault!
Also I don't buy for a second be tried to kill himself. If that was the case he would have been held in hospital for a minimum of 48 hours, awaiting a psych assesment.
You've been duped. Do not feel bad in the slightest. He pushed your boundaries, and when you were firm he decided to hit you in the jugular and make it hurt. You're so much better without him in your life.

LynetteScavo · 19/02/2022 09:11

You did absolutely nothing wrong. You did exactly the right thing when he invaded your house.

You can't be held responsible for his actions or his poor mental health.

You are better off without him in your life. Nobody needs that much drama.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 19/02/2022 09:12

Thank goodness you had the strength to push him out the house. He didn’t take an overdose by the sounds of it.

CandyLeBonBon · 19/02/2022 09:14

Op I was in hospital for similar reasons many years ago and in my experience he would've been kept in overnight for observation and would've needed a psych evaluation before discharge, as a pp has stated. When I was discharged I felt like death (excuse the pun) and I couldn't have gone to work as normal (and didn't).

To echo other comments, It sounds like he was manipulating you, in which case you were well shot of him.

It sounds very traumatic though. I'm sorry you had to experience that.

Try not to give it any more head space if you can. Thanks

EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 19/02/2022 09:14

Please don't give these lies any more room in your head. It's easier said than done but I agree with PPs who doubt his story.

Dubious story, misattribution of blame.

You know he doesn't merit this level of attention from you.

NeverAgainSam · 19/02/2022 09:19

You did nothing wrong.

And, please get any thought of blame out of your head with "one or two flirty comments" which seems to suggest you are even vaguely questionning if he could have thought you were leading him on.

Even if you had flirted with him for years, even if you had given him every come on in the book - you did nothing wrong.

At any point, in any situation you can say "No, Not interested".

I am with PP. He showed his true colours barging violently into your house and made up the suicide attempt to re-frame the story and save face. Without it he 100% would show himself as a potential sexual attacker. By adding in his supposed overdose he "excuses" himself.

Well rid.

Please do not question yourself.

FinallyHere · 19/02/2022 09:20

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'm very sorry this has happened to you.

I hope you can get clear that he was not a good friend and that his attempt was everything to do with him and nothing to do with you.

It really is that simple.

Drop this burden of guilt he tried to put on you. It doesn't belong to you, it was just part of his textbook manipulation

Enjoy your lovely life, that's what you deserve.

Shelby2010 · 19/02/2022 09:22

And even if you had spent the whole night snogging him, he still wouldn’t have been entitled to barge drunk into your house & bedroom. He knew he was in the wrong hence the made up ‘suicide attempt’.

tara66 · 19/02/2022 09:23

He was very drunk and not in control of himself and maybe did not know what he was doing- except perhaps the next day when he threw your things on your desk. He broke into your house - what did he expect - a grand welcome? He seemed to have made a quick recovery from hospital visit and just turned very nasty.

konasana · 19/02/2022 09:24

@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 is exactly it. Did he really take the drugs and end up in A&E? How do you know for sure?
RubyRedRoses · 19/02/2022 09:24

@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^^
UserBotLurking9to5 · 19/02/2022 09:25

Agree with the PP, even if you were interested in him which you weren't, he had no right to just barge past your sister and storm in to your house uninvited.

He sounds extremely manipulative.

RockpoolGirl · 19/02/2022 09:26

I’m relieved to hear other people saying it wasn’t my fault. He doesn’t know where I am now, I’ve moved away so there is no risk of further problems.

This has played on my mind for the years since it happened. I always did suspect that he was a bit unstable because of some other behaviours, but never did I suspect that something like that would happen. It was a massive shock. And yeah I guess I could have called the police over it.

OP posts:
RockpoolGirl · 19/02/2022 09:26

I don’t know for sure about the overdose- that’s just what he rang me up and told me.

OP posts:
RockpoolGirl · 19/02/2022 09:27

I knew he had a mental health breakdown a few years prior that was fairly heavy so I didn’t think he was lying about the overdose but maybe he was, I dunno.

OP posts: