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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:
DelphiniumBlue · 19/02/2022 11:13

Lucky escape for you, if forcing his way into your room was his idea of a good way to start a relationship, imagine how scary it could have ended up.
You haven't done anything wrong, he's the intimidating bully, not you.

affairsofdragons · 19/02/2022 11:14

@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.

Yep
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 19/02/2022 11:16

Plenty of people saying the same things - I'm just adding my voice to the chorus.

You did nothing wrong at all.
You didn't fancy him, you gave him no encouragement - and in return, he forced his way into your house, refused to leave, left you feeling very uncomfortable, then next day tried to guilt you into believing that he'd taken an OD because you "rejected him".

I don't believe he did - but even if he did take a few too many painkillers, he took himself to A&E, and was clearly well enough to throw all your stuff onto your desk the next day, so it wasn't very serious!

But again, as so many have said - this is emotional abuse, manipulative behaviour that is designed to bring you "into line" - you are WELL out of that relationship entirely! God, could you imagine if you'd actually gone out with him...

Lucky escape all round, I feel.

oakleaffy · 19/02/2022 11:17

@RockpoolGirl
Absolutely NOT your fault!
He sounds like a person with a lot of issues including a drink problem.
He sounds like a child
“See what you made me do! So there!”

Can you even believe him?
It’s incredibly manipulative to use “suicide”or the threat of it, to get one’s own way.

BlaBlaFishcakes · 19/02/2022 11:20

I'm with the pp who say he probably never attempted suicide. I think there was probably a script in his head, which you failed to follow. Well done for that! In the script, he would have told you about the "suicide attempt" and you would have seen the error of your ways and begged to make it up to him. A shag would have been had and he would have got his nasty, manipulative way.

Be proud of yourself for not falling for it.

oakleaffy · 19/02/2022 11:21

@RockpoolGirl

I don’t know for sure about the overdose- that’s just what he rang me up and told me.
@RockpoolGirl So quite possible it never even happened. He was just drama queening and guilt tripping you. Nasty behaviours from him all round.
Butterbegood · 19/02/2022 11:22

Absolutely not. It was all him. I would try to forget about him, though tricky I know as you’ve had an awful experience…

fourandtwo · 19/02/2022 11:24

I mean this as kindly as possible: the fact you’re even questioning if you’re at fault here, even with the time to reflect on it, suggests you could benefit from some therapy regarding your view on responsibility, behaviour patterns, guilt etc.

What happened has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him.

Flickflak · 19/02/2022 11:38

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

PizzaCrust · 19/02/2022 11:43

I don’t think the overdose happened, to be honest. He wanted to make you feel as bad as possible for rejecting him.

I had this to a much lesser degree years ago. Met a guy, instantly hit it off as friends and were great friends for the guts of 4 years. Constantly chatted, hung out etc. He made a move about 2 years in and I explained I wasn’t interested in like that, so we distanced for a little bit then went back to being friends. He would mention another girl he liked and I was always super supportive for him to go for it, etc. He never did, weirdly.

Anyway, at the end of the 4 years we were supposed to go to a gig together we’d bought tickets for a good year and a half before. I messaged him asking when we were gonna meet and if he wanted to grab some drinks beforehand. This was when he told me he wasn’t going with me, he was going with other people, it would be “weird” if I went with them and he didn’t feel comfortable going with me anymore.

This was about a day and a half before the gig. Tickets that cost £90 as well, so not as if it was a £20 gig situation. I lost my shit and haven’t spoken to him since.

I thought we were friends, he was just annoyed I was in a new relationship and wanted to punish me. He could have told me weeks before (could have sold the ticket) but he didn’t even choose to tell me at all- it was only when I straight out asked he said, a day and a half before. So fucking rude.

Unfortunately sometimes the “nice” guys are the ones you have to watch out for. You think you can trust them and they’re your friend, but really they’re just waiting it out and when it doesn’t go their way, a really ugly side comes out.

You’re much better off without.

tkwal · 19/02/2022 11:51

No you're not in any way to blame. Tbh you dodged a bullet by not rebounding on to him

Justilou1 · 19/02/2022 12:06

This is the ultimate in cruel, manipulative, coercive behaviour. He was trying to guilt you into a relationship he knew you didn’t want. This is a well-known tactic of domestic violence perpetrators. You had a lucky save. Don’t feel guilty. He was not your friend, as he had a vested interest all along - and his friendship came with some pretty dangerous strings attached.

RantyAunty · 19/02/2022 12:16

It was never your fault.

100% he lied about taking an overdose.

He was never ever your friend. He was a fake friend/orbiter just waiting for the chance to get in your pants.

Be glad the manipulative weirdo is out of your life.

Iusedtoliveinsanfrancisco · 19/02/2022 12:38

Ask yourself why one drunken night years ago bothers you now. Sounds like he’s moved in why can’t you? Maybe like the poster above says get some counselling.

goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 19/02/2022 12:59

OP I am work in a hospital with people who are suicidal. There is no way after an attempt that they would be able (or allowed) to go to work the next day. It sounds like this man is manipulating you because of his male pride. His actions were a massive overreaction. Don't let him stay in your head. You have done nothing wrong.

partystress · 19/02/2022 13:05

Knew before I clicked this friend would be male. Just another way of abusing and controlling women.

lopape · 19/02/2022 13:10

He was not your friend! He was just pretending to be one until you got together and was massively pissed when he found you don't want him even when single. He's a piece of shit and you don't deserve to feel bad at all!

I'm angry for you for what he's put you through!!

noirchatsdeux · 19/02/2022 13:11

When a friend of mine took an overdose, she was in hospital for a week.

He's a liar, was never a real friend and you should count your lucky stars every day he is no longer in your life.

LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 19/02/2022 13:29

You don't sound to have done anything wrong. It is sad when a friendship breaks down but this sounds to have been one you are much better out of.

He might have been misreading your signals (and seen the occasional drunken flirty behaviour as more meaningful that you did) but that still wouldn't give him the right to demand sex of you the day you turned him out.

Even if you had fancied him -and he had been right about your feelings for him- you still had a perfect right to turn his drunken demanding self away on that night or on any other occasion.

Real or not, his suicide attempt does sound like a 'getting back at you'- so about making you suffer rather than responding to pain.

Random789 · 19/02/2022 16:31

Oh my goodness, OP, I know that a lot of poster have already answered your question, but I couldn't not respond, given how awful this 'friend's' behavour was. No, OP , it was not your fault and you did nothing remotely whrong. This guy obviously just has extreme difficulty taking reposnibility for his own feelings. What a jerk.

I really hope this thread helps you to let go af any preoccupation with this period in your past, and smoothes away any misplaced sense of being in the wrong. Flowers

ThistlesAndUnicorns · 19/02/2022 18:56

Not often everyone agrees on MN so please let go of any misplaced guilt.

You had a lucky escape x

TheCatterall · 20/02/2022 00:06

Doubt he even made any attempt on ending his life.
My ex pretended to take an overdose and got wheeled away to hospital as they have to act as they have regardless. He was asking for a lift home the next morning. Jog on matey. Nurse I spoke to said if it had been a serious or severe attempt he would have been in hospital for a number of days.

I reckon B said it to guilt trip you and it’s worked. You did nothing wrong and honestly I’d it’s bothering you this much all this time later than I’d chat toma service to help resolve this internal struggle.

Amortentia · 20/02/2022 02:49

This man was never your friend. He was stalking you without you realising, until you eventually gave in and had a sexual relationship with him. He’s a creep.

NameGoesHere · 20/02/2022 06:57

Another vote for no, not your fault. It was his choice/decision, if it even happened.

Ijsbear · 20/02/2022 15:15

You might miss the friend he seemed to be, but it was never the whole story. What lies under the surface with this man is very, very murky. He tried to predate you - no decent man comes onto someone who's just split up - and he forced his way into your bedroom. You reacted the right way and got rid of him, so he set out to punish you.

Thingsdogetbetter has it down to a T.

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