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Relationships

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Acute anxiety in good relationship

7 replies

gingerandpeppermint · 29/01/2023 19:37

I met a guy 4 months ago on a dating app and became infatuated, connected & all round attracted to eachother. We have the same morals, goals, most of the same interests and have the same traits; sensitive, passive, passionate and creative/quirky. We're compatible for the most part but Im a classical musician and feel I cant share that side of me (a BIG part of my life!). He is an artist, though and we bond over creativity as we both love it. We're both approaching 30 and want the same things, a long term secure relationship which leads to marriage & kids. It seems we both had bad experiences in the past and this has been EVERYTHING we wanted. He is patient, kind, loving, fun, sweet, honest, placid yet passionate, intelligent, ambitious, sophisticated, funny and so selfless. I have never in my 29yrs been treated like this and up until now we had no issues.

However, at the start of our fourth month, out of nowhere i became overwhelmed. He is highly social and will go out most nights, only for a quick drink with a friend or two and if not them, his family who he is utterly close with. I am more introverted and prefer more daytime coffee dates with my friends. He has introduced me to around 20 new people all of whom are great; theyre all creatives and ive bonded with all of them. They all welcomed me into their huge circle so nicely and i fed off this throughout the first 3 months but i began to feel a little socially drained as my guy would plan nights out for us very oblivious to the fact I sometimes didnt fancy like going. I told him one night and he apologised stating he was trying to mingle me in as he was so eager to get me into their circle. I thought the issue was resolved but its happened about four or five times where I have gotten irritable/tired when we're out, mostly only when with friends. Weirdly enough, the same happens when im with my own friends, I generally dont drink much and as I work in administration Im talking to 100 people a day.

The last fortnight I have been having feelings of mild depression which is very unlike me (I have pretty bad anxiety but never depression) and I initially put it down to the time of year, my boring job and even turning 30 soon. But when Im with him I have that same feeling and keep finding myself wanting alone time as opposed to spending the entire weekends with him. Its killing me as it never hit before. It makes my stomach turn as we've done so well and I believe I can see a solid future with him unlike any other relationship. Its almost as if i cant navigate the issue, I have mild intrusive thoughts about how we rushed into things and how things are different now with no obvious reason why. I dont know whats wrong and I am feeling so stir fried about him and finally cracked today and told him I feel confused, agitated and suffocated to which he held me and responded "baby, its ok to be anxious. We did go from 0-100 on month 1 and its so normal to have doubts and fears. I love you and have never ever felt this in my life". The thought of ending things gets me in tears as I believe Im in love with him and havent been without him since September the 27th, I have mild OCD and have suffered severe intrusive thoughts in the past so hoping Im just having a spell now that we booked a holiday for june and have planned more "big" things.

I'm the problem here. He has never hurt me or done anything wrong but I'm crying when I'm with him as I curse myself for not feeling sky-high on our love as i initially was. I want to stop overthinking every thought about where we should be and just go back to when we were perfect.

Thoughts welcomed

OP posts:
Lost36 · 08/06/2023 15:57

Your fella sounds lovely and like he enriches your life. Theres nothing wrong with having separate social lives. Its actually a great way of keeping your relationship fresh! Couldnt he go out without you for a few nights so you can recharge?

Im also an introvert so i know what you mean. I need at least a week to recharge after social events!

frozendaisy · 08/06/2023 18:45

You say "when we were perfect" and they was spending every minute together, yet you don't want to feel suffocated.

Look OP you are lucky to have met each other. It's fine to say I'm staying in tonight.

I don't understand why you can share classical music with him, but you can say you need to practice, want a quiet evening with a bath and books.

No relationship is perfect. Not one.
Good relationships are compromise.

You need to believe you are an amazing woman, he's lucky to have you. His friends are nice. That's plenty, walking on cloud 9 all the time is not essential.

Have a couple of nights on alone, miss each other, look forward to summer and say you need to scale back the socialising, he can see his friends alone.

supercali77 · 08/06/2023 18:53

Its totally fine to stay in or have a night to yourself. He sounds lovely, just explain to him? My fella is a total introvert and I'm more extroverted. I know when he's had enough on a night out and I don't expect him to stay out, I also dont expect him to come out with me. And I'm happy to stay in with him as well. We also have dedicated nights to ourselves. Its essential for a person to have this kind of time. Nothing wrong with saying what you need

Idneverlietoyou · 08/06/2023 19:27

Sounds like a good relationship but get some space or your head will explode.

MaudGonneOutForChips · 08/06/2023 19:34

Why is it so difficult to accept that your social needs are very different? You’re clearly far more introverted, and need more alone time to recharge, while he likes and is energised by socialising. That’s perfectly normal. You’re not clones.

I’m more concerned about why you can’t see this, and why you seemed to become incredibly dependent on the relationship immediately.

Watchkeys · 08/06/2023 19:45

Have you told him how you'd like things to be different?

Watchkeys · 08/06/2023 19:51

Watchkeys · 08/06/2023 19:45

Have you told him how you'd like things to be different?

Sorry, I somehow missed a whole bunch of your post.

You do realise that the person doesn't have to do anything 'wrong' for it to bother you, don't you? Otherwise you'd be compatible with every single nice person out there, including the women. You're dismissing your own relationship requirements, until you explode.

How would things be, if they were right for you? Half the time you spend together now spent alone instead? Take him out of the equation: what does your ideal relationship look like? How much time together, how much socialising when you see each other, how much time alone etc?

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