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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

Is she not interested

48 replies

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 06:54

Hi all first time posting here and looking for some advice from a female perspective.
My girlfriend and I have been dating for nearly 8 months now and all going well in fact just came back from a lovely trip away.
However I felt she was very cold and not communicated so I asked if she was okay. She said no as she feels she needs some space and suggested we only see each other about once a week she does have attachment issues I do not think this is enough for a realtionship? But I feel it's very hot from my end and cold from her although sometimes she can be affectionate,she also makes me feel as if I am worthless at times and not needed but I do love her.
I am so upset I just want her to be happy but I feel I walk on eggshells sometimes.

OP posts:
HermeticDawn · 17/07/2023 07:01

So in fact it’s not all ‘going well’ and your ‘lovely trip away’ wasn’t lovely at al?Shes cooled on the relationship and wants to see less of you, and that’s not something you want? Talk to her, but it sounds like this may be dead in the water.

Backstreets · 17/07/2023 07:04

Sounds like she didn’t much enjoy the trip. Did something happen?

Agree seeing each other once a week isn’t much for a relationship and she’s possibly wanting to phase you out. I’m sorry.

Jongleterre · 17/07/2023 07:07

How can it have been a lovely trip away if she was distant and then said she wanted to see less of her?

Perhaps you are over invested in the relationship and it shows and it's too much for her.

She's been honest and let you know that she's not keen.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 07:12

I asked her if she wanted to breakup but she said not at all just making it less. It's all so confusing and last night she stayed the night with me and we went out for dinner and she said she had a lovely time

OP posts:
Slothmomma · 17/07/2023 07:15

A trip away after seeing someone a similar amount of time was enough for me to want to cool things so I could evaluate my feelings. Things ended. I think she's probably wanting you to make the decision for her.

TwinsPlusAnotherOne · 17/07/2023 07:15

She doesn't want to be with you. She just thinks you'll take it terribly so is phasing her departure to minimize the drama.

Masterofhappydays · 17/07/2023 07:21

I disagree with some of the previous comments.

I have attachment issues (I was adopted from Romania in the 80’s, so that’s my excuse!). I was the same with my boyfriend - now husband of almost 20 years. At the beginning of our relationship I couldn’t handle the feelings and needed time to process them. I asked to see him once a week and I pushed him away when I felt like I was getting too close and attached to him. Mainly because I needed space to process feelings and not feel suffocated from the overwhelming feelings I felt.

Obviously with his patience (he’s a saint) and some time for me to process those NEW feelings, things worked out really well.

So she may need exactly what she’s asking for…some space! Just go with the flow if you think she’s worth it and see what happens. I don’t think she wants to break up with you though because she would have taken the offer of calling time on the relationship if so.

Masterofhappydays · 17/07/2023 07:23

Oh what I was going to say, is sometimes people with attachment issues self sabotage relationships as a coping mechanism. May or may not be the case in your GF.

Good luck

C1N1C · 17/07/2023 07:32

Masterofhappydays · 17/07/2023 07:21

I disagree with some of the previous comments.

I have attachment issues (I was adopted from Romania in the 80’s, so that’s my excuse!). I was the same with my boyfriend - now husband of almost 20 years. At the beginning of our relationship I couldn’t handle the feelings and needed time to process them. I asked to see him once a week and I pushed him away when I felt like I was getting too close and attached to him. Mainly because I needed space to process feelings and not feel suffocated from the overwhelming feelings I felt.

Obviously with his patience (he’s a saint) and some time for me to process those NEW feelings, things worked out really well.

So she may need exactly what she’s asking for…some space! Just go with the flow if you think she’s worth it and see what happens. I don’t think she wants to break up with you though because she would have taken the offer of calling time on the relationship if so.

Interesting perspective :). I don't want to hijack the post, but I'm curious how you would have behaved had he broken it off because he thought you were trying to phase it it out? Glad things worked out for you though!

Truth be told, I don't think we can tell. I've known relationships where less time means less interest, and clearly there are times when it does actually mean temporary breathing space. Or the third option is that she's just playing games (a typical younger than 20 mindset) wanting you to 'chase'.

I guess all you can do is ask her what she wants from this space. Don't assume, but be honest. Say it feels like she's pulling away so if she wants it, you'll wait for her to make the first move. Then you'll know. I wouldn't give her longer than a month though.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 07:35

She is 39 years old, and this is her longest ever realtionship. She has admitted she gets scared by commitment and that has been an issue in the past.

OP posts:
SavBlancTonight · 17/07/2023 07:59

Stop worrying about what she wants and think about what you want. If weekly is not enough for you, then you should end the relationship. I might be tempted to try it for a few weeks, but if you feel you want more, you can't force her, but you do have the tight to say it's not enough for you.

If she wants something less intense and you want more intense, then you are not compatible, and you should move on.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 10:24

Thank you for replies, I think she does want it to work but struggles with commitment. I gave the option of ending it bluntly really and she said she did not want that.I am finding it hard and maybe I need to say that as I have never mentioned that. Although I don't want to lose her, I do not want to feel the way I am as that is unfair on me. On our return from holiday which was 3 weeks ago she had been making loads of future plans regarding us and even booked in a future holiday for Christmas time. It's only now she has said that.

I have been in a few committed relationships each lasting a good amount of time, 5, 7 and 9 years each before they ended through cheating not on my part, and although they were all good nothing has ever felt this good, also no previous relationship has ever made me feel this down.

OP posts:
GerbilsForever24 · 17/07/2023 10:53

She might find you a bit intense and is wanting to see how you respond to putting in boundaries. Respect those boundaries. If you genuinely do only land up seeing each other once a week, then yes, you have every right to say to her that you don't think this relationship is working as you want more.

I am a bit concerned that your relationships apparently all end in cheating on her part. Pretty unusual.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 11:44

Could be it was my fault about the previous cheating.
For context one was with an ex and they felt bad it was only once.
One was blatant cheating.
One was more messaging and nothing actually happened although they did get together after I ended it.

OP posts:
Masterofhappydays · 17/07/2023 11:50

It’s never your fault that they cheated, that was on them. That was an unusual comment from PP.

Watchkeys · 17/07/2023 12:02

nothing has ever felt this good, also no previous relationship has ever made me feel this down

Stay away from anything in life that makes you feel this confused. Stay away from anything that makes you feel worthless. Stay away from relationships where you forfeit your own sense of peace for the other person's sake.

You are trying to stay in a relationship that makes you feel bad. You are saying that it's lovely. Why are you doing that? Why are you saying that?

You have attachment issues too: you have become attached to an incompatible partner. This usually happens due to an anxious attachment style, which develops in childhood, due to fluctuating levels of attention from (usually) Mum. Did this happen to you? Was your Mum sometimes otherwise engaged, with substance abuse/demanding sibling/illness/chaotic relationship/other high demand life issue of her own?

SavBlancTonight · 17/07/2023 12:05

Masterofhappydays · 17/07/2023 11:50

It’s never your fault that they cheated, that was on them. That was an unusual comment from PP.

I didn't blame him for his partners' cheating on him. I said it was unusual. And it makes me wonder whether OP also has some issues with how he finds/attracts partners if this is the pattern. Just because something isn't your fault, doesn't mean it isn't worth exploring why you find yourself in those situations. This is particularly true when the situation is more unusual.

We tell women on here all the time that they should consider doing work on themselves before they get into yet another abusive relationship. The abuse is not their fault, but they may well have to take responsibility to find non-abusive relationships in the future.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 12:08

I do have attachment issues I never had lots of attention from parents in general. They were not around much and my mum did not have time for me. I do agree completely that I probably have become to attached. However I really want her I do everything I can in relationships, I think in honestly that I give a lot and that probably makes it hard for the other person.
I just worry I am 45 now and don't want to live alone forever.

OP posts:
Watchkeys · 17/07/2023 12:28

The way to cure an anxious attachment style is to accept that when when things go wrong in a relationship, it's not your fault. You don't need to compete for attention: if the other person doesn't give you what you want, you ask them to. If that doesn't work, it's over. You don't need to change yourself, amend yourself, have a long hard look at yourself, do work on yourself, nothing. You are free of all that, from this moment on.

A compatible partner will, by being their natural and unfettered self, feel good for you to be around. Their natural ways will dovetail with your natural ways. There is minimal 'trying'. There is little awareness of 'trying', and, in fact, 'trying' is a bit alien, because it's so unusual. Eggshells don't happen. Feeling a 'hot/cold' comparison doesn't happen. Feeling worthless doesn't happen.

Really really really wanting her is by the by. I really want a million quid, a home gym, a swimming pool, and 3 horses. But I'm not going to spend my days feeling shit in order to get them; they're not worth it. Loads of teenage girls really really really want Harry Styles. As adults, we realise that sometimes we don't get what we really really want, and we don't stamp our feet about it because we're not 3. We get on with our lives, and manage without. And that's what you need to do.

This woman isn't even saying that in the future she will be able to give you what you want. She's being who she is, and hoping that you'll fit around it happily. She's not displaying attachment issues. She's displaying clear communication about what she wants, and she's asking you for it. But that set up doesn't make you happy, so it's time to accept that you want different things, and move on.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but learning that you don't need to change yourself, and that you need to change your people to fit you, is a big and valuable lesson. We design our own lives in the same way we design our wardrobes. If we like something, we buy it, but if it turns out not to be comfortable, we discard it, because we don't want to be uncomfortable, regardless of how much we might love the jeans/coat/shirt/whatever.

Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 16:24

Thank you all it's really helpful to get different perspectives on it all.

I have asked if she wanted to split up and it was a no but it is still seeming very cold in responding to me.
I just get confused with her booking another holiday at Christmas her making future plans, all in the last week which was all on her
I struggled with all of a sudden saying she is suffocating a bit and really trying to cut back on time.
I think what I mean is I really want her and would find it hard to lose her, as when she is more affectionate I really enjoy everything we do together and we have very similar interests.
Our holiday was all things that we both like to do from different sports to resting on the beach so it was really easy from that angle.
I just wanted to know if this was normal, I do know I have to do what is right for me. What I want is most important overall and in the past I have always been the one to make adjustments to suit which all my previous partners have said I have done.

OP posts:
Bizzle1 · 17/07/2023 16:51

Overall I think I am in a bit of am emotional mess

OP posts:
Watchkeys · 17/07/2023 17:11

I just wanted to know if this was normal

Here's the crux of the anxious attachment style: you think there's something you're meant to be aiming at. Some way of being that's regarded as 'normal' or 'right'.

Whose opinion do you respect on this? If I tell you you're an abnormal freak, are you upset or do you just think 'You don't know what you're talking about, mate.' What if she tells you that? What if 100 people here tell you that? Work out whose opinion means something to you, and work out why. If the same person told you that your arms were made of mashed potato, would you respect that?

You are giving too much credence to what other people say, and you are too willing to believe that there is something faulty about you. The only thing wrong with you is that you think there's something wrong with you. If you remove that from the equation (i.e. I don't like it when she goes cold on me, and it's fine to feel that way, I don't like it when I have to walk on eggshells, and I'm quite right not to like it, I don't like being the person who always bends to my partner's will, and nor should I like it etc) you'll start to realise the true situation here. You don't have a lovely relationship. You have a relationship with someone who treats you how you want to be treated sometimes. It's not exactly 'the dream', is it?

Bizzle1 · 18/07/2023 06:36

Well last night when I got in from work, she messaged and wanted to come round. She stayed the night and said she was worried I didn't want the relationship to work as I had responded by being a bit cold and distant, that is not what I want.
She has just left for work and said she needs her space and see how things go.
It is like a rollercoaster.

OP posts:
myNewName21 · 18/07/2023 07:26

Bizzle1 · 18/07/2023 06:36

Well last night when I got in from work, she messaged and wanted to come round. She stayed the night and said she was worried I didn't want the relationship to work as I had responded by being a bit cold and distant, that is not what I want.
She has just left for work and said she needs her space and see how things go.
It is like a rollercoaster.

She is blowing hot and cold, give her full time space and bin her off and find someone worthy of your time and affection

Name99 · 18/07/2023 09:06

Yeah she's playing games.
She's got you questioning everything, leave her to it and give her all the space she needs.