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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

Am I being used and manipulated?

13 replies

ric2 · 20/09/2022 17:55

We've been together for 5 years now (dated for 5, married for 5). Earlier this summer, just before our 5 year anniversary I discovered she'd been sneaking around and cheating on me with her trainer. She had been acting off and doing things that were not her normal for several months before this and I was suspicious of her but I didn't have any proof until then (it might also be worth mentioning that she's had numerous other inappropriate relations with other guys before, just not anything that developed into something like this.) So when I did finally find out and I called her out on it she continued to lie, deny it and get nasty with me even though I had multiple sources of proof at that point. Once the initial anger from both sides faded I told her I wanted to stick it out with her and make it work. She said the same but it would take time to break it off with him because she loved him as well.

We'd go through spells of anger and flucuating emotions. We went away for our anniversary and another vacation throughout the summer and while we were away (and not talking to/seeing this guy) things were great. However, a day or two after we'd return and she'd see and talk to him again we were right back in the same boat. She'd be distant and cold and even at points claim she doesn't love me anymore. This naturally made me pull back and put up walls to protect myself due to it sounding like it's ending. As soon as I would she would stop being cold and distant and act as if nothing ever happened and we were moving passed it all. Finally, in the beginning of august things came to a head and she decided she needed space to get clarity about what she wanted to do. So she moved back in with her parents and it was only suppose to be a week or two. And then the week or two turned into another week, with the addition of no communication. That week ended and she talked about coming home. I was passing by her parents one day on my way home so I thought I'd stop by and say hi because she told me she was home. However, when I got there I found out that she wasn't actually there but out on a date with the other guy. A few days later I called her out on the lying and she claimed it was to protect me. She went on to tell me he was just perfect in every way and is everything she ever wanted and then she started talking about finding her own place. So this time my walls went WAY up and I got very distant. Again following this she started acting very sweet and loving like nothing was going on or happened and when I didn't respond in kind this time she questioned if I loved her. I told her I did but that I can feel myself being pulled away because of all this. She freaked out on me saying about how I'm giving up on trying to make this work and that marriage is suppose to be forever and all this other stuff that is basically making it sound like it's my fault and I'm the one who isn't making this work. Following all this she said she was even thinking about coming home (but now she doesn't know) because she missed me and that when she was looking for her own place she realized she didn't know if she could handle living on her own. This just made me feel so used, especially after another comment she made earlier in the summer something to the effect of, 'well what am I going to do for dinner?' when I left for the night after another argument we had. Like don't get me wrong, I would gladly welcome her home, I'd gladly take care of her and her needs, as I always have but I don't want it to be because she needs me, I want her love. I just feel so used and so manipulated and don't know how or if I'll ever be able to trust her again because of the repetitive lying. Am I reading this situation wrong? Am I wrong for feeling this way?
None of her friends or family like this guy either, they have all pointed out numerous red flags to her but she continues to ignores them. I have a very strong gut feeling that she will be back in the end after she finishes exploring this, I just don't know that I will be there, or even if I am now. I just don't know how to get passed the feeling of being used and manipulated or how to rebuild the trust between us.

OP posts:
GiantTortoise · 20/09/2022 17:57

Yes, you are being used. Ditch her OP.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 20/09/2022 17:58

This is a bin fire. Get some self respect and stop.

TimeAtTheBar · 20/09/2022 18:02

What?

Either you have a cuckold fetish (whatever floats your boat) or zero self esteem.

Ofcourseshecan · 20/09/2022 19:27

She is certainly using you, and very selfishly. She hasn’t shown any care for you or your marriage. I don’t see how you can continue.

You sound kind and loving. I hope you meet someone better.

Treacletoots · 20/09/2022 19:36

Please pull your self respect out of the gutter. She is treating you appallingly and the only response you should be considering is how to get her out of your life permanently, as quickly as possible.

I say from experience OP. When people.show you who they are, believe them. When she's being nice, what she's showing you is that she can lie to your face if it suits her. She sounds definitely narcissistic, possibly borderline sociopathic, but definitely toxic and you deserve better.

Take a look at the Freedom programme to unpick why you're prepared to accept such crumbs of a relationship and please don't do the "pick me dance" for the love of god.

You're absolutely right that if you cut the cord she will be back trying to manipulate you. But that's all it is. If she genuinely cared for you she wouldn't treat you like this.

Whilst aimed at women, I'd highly recommend you check out chumplady as well... a quick Google should suffice.

Best of luck. Many of us have been there and come out one thousand percent better on the other side.

OldEvilOwl · 20/09/2022 19:45

Why are you putting up with this shit? Tell her to fuck off

User110922 · 20/09/2022 22:04

I read your entire post but I could have easily just stopped after the first paragraph as that was more than enough. She told she's also in love with this guy. Why are you still entertaining all of this?

She even went on a DATE with him and lied about it.

She's manipulating you and making YOU feel bad for the way you are with her. But the way you are with her is because of the way SHE has behaved.

Get rid of her unless you want a marriage full of lies.

Andypandy799 · 22/09/2022 16:31

Wow that’s some fked up sh1t run a mile and ditch her

Watchkeys · 22/09/2022 17:38

Yes. And even if you only suspected it, you should be leaving. Why do you think you should stay in a relationship where you feel like you might be being manipulated? That feeling doesn't come up in healthy circumstances.

PuddlesOnFire · 22/09/2022 17:45

As everyone else has said, you should divorce her and move on and find someone who is perfect in every way for you, because she certainly isn't.

Pinkbonbon · 22/09/2022 17:45

You're manipulating yourself. Into staying with someone who...basically, is awful.

There comes a point where you have to take some personal responsibility op. If you stay in a dumpster fire, of course you're going to get trashed and burned.

Why the self martyrdom? Don't you think you deserve better? Don you think you deserve a nice human being as a partner?

Im not bringing it up to be harsh op. Simply that I worry you'll pick exactly the same sort of relationship again if you don't address your own poor boundaries.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 22/09/2022 18:39

She is using you.
She doesn't love you.
She is abusing you.
She's walking all over you.

You are being used.
You are cuckolded.
You're enabling her.

She knows exactly what she's doing.

Ditch her.

OldFan · 22/09/2022 20:41

This person is awful @ric2 Sad It's not even just one guy, there've been a fair few she's had some involvement with. You're being treated horribly.

Even if she gets back with you, sooner or later there'll be other guys again.

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