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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

Why can’t I let go of him - I know it would never work.

6 replies

Reboundzucchini · 11/08/2022 19:55

I was with my DP for just over two years and it was always a bit volatile. We’ve never lived together and have two children each. My children have never had much to do with him and vice versa as we have our children 50/50 with our ex partners. I’ve never wanted to blend families and my ds didn’t like my dp much so I’ve not pushed it. It’s suited us both tbh. We both agreed that trying to bring the children into it would make life very difficult.
90% of the time it was great, great connection, great sex, felt loved and cared for and it was all good.
But once or twice a month he’d sort of suddenly flip and be really nasty. It would happen out of nowhere as far as I could see but later it would transpire that something else had stressed him out - usually work - and the upshot was it would fall onto me. I believe he may have ASD as he finds people and socialising overwhelming and often these flip outs would coincide with him being busy at work or socially. It was like he could only hold it together for so long.
When he’d change he’d be very much the victim and behave like no one else had ever had problems. He never wanted solutions and I learnt that quickly. He’d rant for sometimes two hours at a time and I’d say nothing because I knew whatever I said would be wrong.
usually he’d say we should split up at some point during these rants and then the following day he’d say he didn’t mean it, it was because he was feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes I’d go to see him, thinking everything was fine and he’d open the door to me and just walk off. Then he’d start going on about something entirely unrelated to us but it would end up becoming personal.

I have seen him be like it to his children and colleagues too, but I feel I got the brunt.

About two weeks ago it happened again. I’d gone to meet him for dinner and he was arsey and then when we went back to mine it continued. He monologue went on for ages about how hard his life was etc etc and then it became more personal (apparently I don’t appreciate how easy I have it because I find being friendly comes naturally and I get on with people) and it went from there.
I finally reached a point where I could stand it no more and said we should have some time out.
He has tried to be in touch since and tells me he loves me and wants to be with me and I’m finding it hard because I love him too.
He just makes me so anxious. The angry ranting makes me anxious. The not knowing how he’s going to be makes me anxious. The fact he will change from one hour to the next makes me anxious.

I know it can’t work, but I’m so sad about it.
How do I move beyond this, my instinct is to see him. I miss him so much.
Help me be strong.

OP posts:
Speechdelaymamma · 11/08/2022 20:01

It's never easy when feelings are involved. For me, when I left my son's dad, I put my son at the forefront of my decision. I didn't want him growing up around something so volatile. It helped me leave when I hadn't been able to before (my son was 3 months old when I left).

For you, you're blocking finding someone who is genuinely right of you and treats you the way you deserve to be treated by giving your time to a man who is a clear narcissist. Life is hard for everyone in varying degrees. It's not your fault you enjoy socialising. And it's certainly not fair for him to use you as an emotional punching bag.

In my experience, bad experiences in relationships often escalate rather than get better. If he's like this now, he's probably going to get worse.

Why does your son not like him? I think for me that would be a warning sign enough.

Reboundzucchini · 11/08/2022 20:05

He doesn’t like him because he’s witnessed my dp be unpredictable. DP takes every little thing very personally, things I’d not even really give a moment’s thought.

DP was struggling with setting up something on a spreadsheet for work and totally lost it. Wasn’t shouting but was doing the ranting about how he is so intelligent so why was he having such a problem and then he threw his pens and pencils across the room in temper.
most like a temper tantrum.
My ds witnessed it. I have to say it is behaviour like that which has made me keep my dc away from him. I don’t want them to see it.

OP posts:
Mums1234 · 11/08/2022 21:09

It's the ending of dreams which makes it so sad. You've invested 2 years hoping it would work, now you think it won't. That is sad and of course its hard to let go.

Reboundzucchini · 11/08/2022 21:16

I just feel I need to stay strong.
I miss him so much but I don’t think it’ll ever be any different so I either accept that and live with it or bail out.

His behaviour makes me anxious, I feel when he’s stressed it all gets pushed out onto me and then he’s fine afterwards but it takes me a couple of days to recover from it.

OP posts:
Mums1234 · 11/08/2022 21:20

You've been together 2 years, you can't switch your feelings off immediately. The heart takes longer to catch up with the mind.

It's so much easier said than done though.

Reboundzucchini · 11/08/2022 21:22

Initially I felt relief because I’d had a good few days of him being unreasonable and ranting at me about various things.

Now I feel sad. It’s the right thing though, I think? The behaviour isn’t reasonable?

OP posts:
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