Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Feeling rubbish about boyfriend

50 replies

Moon47 · 04/10/2023 06:34

My boyfriends had a year of drama and chaos. He was struggling to find a home in January and up until August he's been working and staying in digs and at hotels at weekends. It's been expensive, Stressful and not alot of fun..I've stuck by him. I have loaned him money. I washed his clothes for several months at mine. I took him meals and was there to listen and help. By pure luck a man was willing to rent him a flat. So he's now had a home for 7 weeks. He's now got no work due to a work disagreement. I've once again lent him some money. He's due a tax rebate any time now. He was majorly down at the weekend so I helped him sort a tele. We cooked food and he cheered up.

Monday I went off to work..same again yesterday. Both days he was constantly texting me about his tax return and how he couldn't stop checking. I jokingly said is that how you feel waiting for my messages. He said on a serious voice I used to but I don't now no. I asked him what he meant. He said its not exciting now and we talk about "your work" and stuff. This is how he always is. I dont often talk about my work. But if someone's told me something interesting or something nice happened I might talk for a minute. But I've noticed he's always saying "I'm trying to work out why I need to know this"

On top of this we used to sleep together everytime we met up. The last 3 weeks he's shown little interest in me. I agreed to walk down to his last night. I walk 30 minutes each way whenever I see him. He never meets me now. I got there last night. At 7.40pm he was ready to go to sleep. I felt myself getting irritated because I'd been there 1 hour and 45 minutes. He spent half an hour laid on the floor with the dog and then we went through to the bedroom.i tried to express I felt a little down and felt we hadn't been having any sex lately. He said I was putting pressure on the relationship and pushing him away. Before I knew it he was telling me I always do this. I started to cry and told him I've had a draining week and I just wanted a cuddle. He continued to get mad. This is regular with him..so I walked home in the dark at 10pm. He didn't pick up the phone. Didn't text me back and it's now morning.

I'm overwhelmed with so much stuff I've seen lately. I worry now he won't return me money he's had..I dont know why he's ignored me. I feel like shit. All i tried to do was request abit of closeness. He also said he misses the phone sex we had when we first met and complained I never have time for that now. I pointed out I'm often with him now and rarely have time to myself. Plus we are real now.

I just feel hurt and confused.

OP posts:
Moon47 · 04/10/2023 08:09

I don't know where to turn. I feel pathetic and alone. My kids dont see him. But yes he's taken my time. Everything feels so heavy and I feel like something will click one day. I feel so pathetic like I said above. I know eventually I will find that inner strength.

He's still not been in any contact and it's 8am. Who could sleep through and not care about the person they "love" leaving like that.

OP posts:
samestyle · 04/10/2023 08:11

Stop being his saviour, he should be able to look after himself, you are going the extra mile to the extreme and he knows this, taking full advantage of your kindness and using you. All this effort is making you sad, you get nothing in return, walk away from this relationship, put all the focus on yourself and make yourself happy.

Oldthyme · 04/10/2023 08:12

Have a break from him.
He’s dragging you down and sucking the joy out of your life.
Concentrate on your new job and put him on the back burner. He’s a millstone around your neck.

Set up some boundaries and leave him to his love affair with his dog.
If you enjoy taking your power back, dump him.
Be true to yourself.

FetchezLaVache · 04/10/2023 08:12

@Moon47 - your body is screaming at you to throw this one back! For goodness' sake, do it. Sounds like your friends have seen through him too. Can you lean on them for support, maybe arrange for some of them to come round for a bottle of fizz at the weekend to help you keep strong and make you delete his number?

FetchezLaVache · 04/10/2023 08:20

He's still not been in any contact and it's 8am. Who could sleep through and not care about the person they "love" leaving like that

Please promise us that you won't text or ring again. The longer he leaves it, the more likely you are to see that he really doesn't care about you. He doesn't love you, he doesn't even like you, he just sees you in terms of how useful you can be to him and it's no coincidence that he's being a real cunt to you now he doesn't need you quite as much.

Moon47 · 04/10/2023 08:25

Yes I agree I've bent over backwards to help. For example if I didnt pay for his hotel rooms he ended up on the street. Nobody wants to see someone they love alone in the dark. Twice he ended up on the streets and I was traumatised.

I really really want to get to that place but I also really want to walk away knowing he has a purpose and he's happy. I dont like the thought of him alone and depressed. His family have all walked away from him now too. He seems to affect us all like it.

I am switched on to everything but almost numb and just going through the motions.

He even claims I'm messy and I have barely anything at his flat.

OP posts:
Moon47 · 04/10/2023 08:28

I promise I won't contact him first now I messaged a long message last night which I wouldn't normally. I can't really predict this as by now I would usually have heard. Its all triggering my anxiety..

OP posts:
gertrudemortimer · 04/10/2023 08:52

Jesus Christ op! Dump him, you will lose nothing and gain your confidence and self esteem back. You've been very kind to him and he sounds like a really manipulative piece of work. I listen to my bf talk about tunnels/construction for hours! I never cared about it before but I love listening to him talk about something he is good at and interested in. It's like your bf doesn't want you to have any joy. Why are you always going to his house too? He is jobless I'm sure he has the time. Sat at home wallowing is clearly not doing him any favours, anyway it doesn't need to be your problem anymore. You're far too kind hearted for his person and he's trying to destroy that.

IWasFunBeforeMum · 04/10/2023 08:55

You're better than this.

Mellowautumnmists · 04/10/2023 08:56

Your anxiety will be greatly reduced if you walk away from this one.

CatChant · 04/10/2023 09:02

Dump, dump, dump.

He is not worth one millisecond of your time.

Orio2023 · 04/10/2023 09:09

But I've noticed he's always saying "I'm trying to work out why I need to know this"

He is a rude condescending bastard.
Stop going round there. Stop exposing yourself to his rejection. And stop trying to help this abusive parasite.

Knitgoodwoman · 04/10/2023 09:15

This man has slowly destroyed your self esteem and mental health and you won’t see it until he’s dragged you all the way down. Please leave Op, it’s distressing to read to be honest.

PandaPouch · 04/10/2023 09:18

You've become his mum.

Feliciacat · 04/10/2023 09:20

Moon47 · 04/10/2023 07:59

I'm really confused by the whole thing. He's not violent. He does this thing where he gets mad and tells me I do all this stuff, which I feel I dont do.

I went back to work in January and It involves me going into loads of different houses and meeting different people. I also work with my old school friends. So it's been a lovely new start for me. He's so so rude whenever I talk about anything. He literally tells me he doesn't care or need to know about anyone else but me. But how can i talk about my day etc If I can't talk about people and stuff.

I am not a big tik tok user at all. But maybe 3 times a week I'll flick through for air fryer ideas and I am prone to the humour on there in some places. But I never use it around him . He said to me last night what are we gunns talk about if I listen to you, tik tok?

He says I have insecurities and issues and he thinks that's why I'm always starting problems.

He says I'm constantly starting about one thing after another. This again isn't fair. I've questioned him in recent weeks about a new instangram account. The fact his sex drive has majorly dropped and I expressed hurt that he has no interest in what I say. This blew of to him saying I used your work as an example.

He said last night he wants to feel close to someone not always be arguing. I said someone? Not your actual partner? He said you know what I mean but that's a typical woman comment.

He says I waffle. He then in the next breath said he would have no reason to continue living without me. I'm his rock. I've got him through this year. He even tells his neighbours etc I'm his rock.

But my biggest fear is I am the only person he has and that pressure is on my shoulders that If I go he will have nobody and will end his life or gwt worse

It sounds like he’s breaking your spirit so you won’t leave. I spent my 20s thinking I was a piece of shit because my ex treated me extremely similarly to what you’re describing. I felt sorry for him so I stayed. He kicked me to the curb as soon as he found someone else though. I think there’s a very high chance of you ending up the same.

I am very sorry for the situation you’re in. You sound like a wonderful, caring person and this is why you don’t want to leave. It’s understandable. However, people need to have boundaries in place to realise they can’t fix others. You’ll never fix him and he’ll only break you more the longer you stay.

Summerhillsquare · 04/10/2023 09:32

Is he ex forces OP? Major headfuck anyway, he's treating you like he hates you.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 04/10/2023 10:06

Another MNer once said, "Women are not emotional support animals for dysfunctional men", and this needs repeating. You are NOT his therapist, you are NOT here to fix him. Stop being a martyr and start being as supportive to yourself as you've been to him. Develop good boundaries, one of which could be not financially supporting him.

TheDogthatDug · 04/10/2023 10:23

Forget about this loser. You say you are feeling pressured because something awful might happen to him, you are putting yourself under this pressure you are not responsible for him in any way.

winterchills · 04/10/2023 10:37

He's used you! Get that money back and get rid of the looser!!

Newestname002 · 04/10/2023 10:38

@Moon47

You really deserve a better "partner" than this one. You've gone further than the extra mile to help him, paying from your limited funds to keep him off the streets, washing his clothes, making his flat comfy etc and he increasingly treats you like dirt beneath his foot, whilst he's made use of you and your money (which he'll soon need again to pay for his dogs and his flat if he's again out of work).

Please stop trying to understand him and justifying him, eg "He's not violent." and spend the money you'd have spent on a future with him by paying for a few sessions with a qualified therapist as to how you can not only permanently get out of this situation but also recognising anyone like him in the future. Listen to your friends - they see him for who he is.

If he threatens suicide don't take that burden on yourself but call the police to do a welfare check on him instead.

I also agree with others who've said he'll never pay back the money you've lent him - do not throw more good money at him, he's not deserving. He's already ghosting you - follow his example - block, delete and get on with your life. 🌹

Orio2023 · 04/10/2023 10:45

I feel majorly stuck and I can't seem to make a choice it's like I'm going through the motions and my heads screaming this isn't real. You can't trust him. He's always twisting things. I am constantly anxious. Going over over it. I keep saying to myself this has to end one day. There's no point. But I'm never ready. I can't ever do it. I've tried once before and fell into the deepest depression.

You know logically he’s no good for you but you don’t seem able to separate from him. You know something else is going on that seems out of your control.

Consider the possibility that your attachment system has become dis regulated by trying to connect with an emotionally unsafe person. This can play out as obsessing about a person. Feeling anxious and abandoned and sometimes like you might die if you can’t see them.

It sounds like your attempts to connect with him are met with rejection or mocking. So you might try harder and the only relief you get is by contact with the person who is hurting you. That relief, as you have experienced is short lived. Songs are written about this agonising state of obsession and anxiety and presented to us as love. It is not love. It is our attachment system in distress.

This system can be soothed by pouring all the care that you’re wasting on him into yourself. By creating emotionally safe connections with others and not self abandoning.

Bananalanacake · 04/10/2023 10:59

Well done on not letting him move in with you.

4thIRMmeB · 04/10/2023 15:24

how long have you been seeing eachother?

how much money does he owe you?

Duxelle · 04/10/2023 15:27

What do you find attractive about this bloke? I got the ick reading this.

Mydogisamentalist · 05/10/2023 15:03

Sorry for the weird comment but he sounds exactly like somebody I know! His name doesn’t start with D does it?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread