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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

Constant cheating accusations - why is he so paranoid?

294 replies

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 22:45

My partner is driving me crazy. We've been together not much over a year and he seems to have major trust issues. Early on in our relationship I noticed he had a tendency to over-analyse things I said to question if I believe in monogamy (which I do) or if I had feelings for other people.

These accusations started to build over the last few months and they've got quite intense. He flat out accused me of cheating about six months ago because (after I got a coil fitted) I had discharge and had worn a thong to work that day. Since then, there have been lots of random accusations. He gets very anxious when I go out for drinks with male colleagues and there is one particular male colleague (who years back I had a crush on) that he is especially suspicious over (who I wouldn't go for a drink with one on one, because it would be disrespectful to my partner). He has demanded before that I stop going for drinks with male colleagues, that I stop speaking to this other male colleague at all, accused me of cheating because the same man appeared twice in pictures from a day out with my family (coincidental), accused me of secretly being in contact with my ex because he saw their first name on my phone (it was a song by a singer with the same, very common, first name!), accused me of hiding something because someone whose number I don't have saved messaged me, accused me of cheating because the passenger seat had been moved in my car and I forgot my uncle had been in the car...

Some of it has improved (he's stepped back from the ultimatums over me drinking with male colleagues, for example, which is part of my job) but I feel like he has absolutely zero trust in me, even though I haven't so much as glanced at someone else.

He's broken up with me a few times and we've quickly got back together, but in that time he was asking a lot about whether I had slept with someone else (when it had been just a few days!!) and whether I saw us as exclusive while we talked through our issues (which I said I did).

All of a sudden last month he mentioned we should get STD checks because he still is suspicious of his ex gf. We've been together for nearly 1.5 years and we both did an STD check before we first slept together. I would usually see this as cast iron evidence of him cheating, but logistically it's not really possible he has been sleeping with someone else. I think he must have suggested this because he was suspicious that I had slept with someone else while we were very very briefly broken up? Even though he asked me and I said no. It had only been a few days so it didn't even occur to me to ask him.

He hasn't really been in relationships before and so he hasn't ever been cheated on. There wasn't infidelity in his parent's marriage. I did cheat on an ex but that was over a decade ago and I've learned a lot from it in the time that has passed.

This is never going to change is it?

OP posts:
TheBeesKnee · 30/01/2024 22:47

I felt exhausted just READING about all that, I can't imagine how you feel living with it.

PlasticSurgeonWithASidelineAsAStuntWoman · 30/01/2024 22:48

Blimey. Why on Earth have you put up with this so long?
No, it’s not going to change. It may in fact get worse (as in my ex BILs case).
I would seriously LTB now.
It will save you a hell of a lot of trauma and hassle in the long run.

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 22:51

he's probably cheating himself and that's why he wants STD tests...and you should definitely get tested

SamW98 · 30/01/2024 22:52

Constantly being accused of cheating is usually deflection because they’re the one who has actually cheated.

But regardless, why would you tolerate so much stress and drama? Relationships shouldn’t be this hard - walk away and don’t look back

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 22:53

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 22:51

he's probably cheating himself and that's why he wants STD tests...and you should definitely get tested

I would have thought that too, and I did wonder about it, but for various reasons I'm almost certain that is not the case

OP posts:
Magnificen · 30/01/2024 22:53

This is never going to change. Love is about trust and security and feeling utterly comfortable with someone.
He isn't and you aren't.

He clearly has insecurity issues which HE needs to fix not you.

Blueeyedmale · 30/01/2024 22:53

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 22:51

he's probably cheating himself and that's why he wants STD tests...and you should definitely get tested

This when the other person is that obsessed with cheating they usually are the ones cheating themselves

MysteriousInspector · 30/01/2024 22:55

This is surely not the life you want?
Get rid.

NeurodivergentBurnout · 30/01/2024 22:55

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Seriously, run for the hills. Massive red flag behaviour. No it won’t get better. It’s relatively early days and he’s paranoid and controlling. Get out as soon as you can!

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 22:56

@whendidisaythat what about times you were broken up? or even if he just flirted with someone - maybe it occurred to him that you could have done the same with greater success

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 22:56

For context, I've had a few abusive relationships before. I thought I'd broken the cycle and he seems so lovely, just insecure, but maybe I'm being naive.

OP posts:
whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 22:58

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 22:56

@whendidisaythat what about times you were broken up? or even if he just flirted with someone - maybe it occurred to him that you could have done the same with greater success

I'm really quite certain, out of respect to him I won't say why but I don't think he would have had the opportunity to meet anyone and I'm positive it couldn't have progressed to actual sex

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 30/01/2024 22:59

Red flag OP, sorry but I'd throw this one back.

GrumpyPanda · 30/01/2024 22:59

🚩🚩🚩

BarbaraVineFan · 30/01/2024 22:59

FFS, leave him now. I had one like this for 9 years and it broke me. I managed to leave 10 years ago and I'm still dealing with the issues it caused for me being treated that way.

DejaMooo · 30/01/2024 22:59

He sounds exactly like my ex - I stayed with him for almost 4 years and I should have ended it after 6 months, probably earlier really looking back at the red flags. It only got worse. It got to a point where I couldn't look up when we were walking down the street together because he accused me of fancying other men that walked past us. He controlled everything I did and where I went, who I could and couldn't be friends with. He chipped away. Believe me, this won't get better, you can't change him. I could write an essay on the things he did and ways in which he wore me down. Please don't put yourself through it.

YNK · 30/01/2024 23:00

He's well on the way to breaking down your boundaries and weaponizing your sympathy for him in a covert appeal for your compassion.
It's a DARVO!

Draw a very firm line by putting him out the door and going no contact!

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 23:01

@whendidisaythat you're being very naive, either way he is or was cheating or is an absolute nutcase

if he did not cheat himself then he suspects you of cheating and believes it so strongly he actually demands STD tests - this means that he is convinced you have cheated and is now trying to prove it. This is absolutely insane thinking

arethereanyleftatall · 30/01/2024 23:02

Is this fun for you op?
For the life of me I cannot see what is appealing about someone who is anxious/needy/questioning my every move.

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 23:03

PaintedEgg · 30/01/2024 23:01

@whendidisaythat you're being very naive, either way he is or was cheating or is an absolute nutcase

if he did not cheat himself then he suspects you of cheating and believes it so strongly he actually demands STD tests - this means that he is convinced you have cheated and is now trying to prove it. This is absolutely insane thinking

In context, and given this is not the only way he is paranoid (he can interpret comments I make in the strangest ways, as though I'm against him, and does the same thing with colleagues), I think he might just have a serious mental health issue that isn't diagnosed. It's much more plausible than cheating in the circumstances of what I know of him.

OP posts:
TheCadoganArms · 30/01/2024 23:05

Been there OP, got the t-shirt, it does not get better, bin him. Relationships are supposed to enhance your wellbeing not make you miserable.

Easipeelerie · 30/01/2024 23:07

Get rid of anyone who makes constant cheating accusations - it’s a major red flag.

HalloumiGeller · 30/01/2024 23:09

My god this is exhausting!

This sort of behaviour gives me ick OP, jealousy and paranoia are such unattractive traits in a partner!

I'd be calling time on this relationship, as I couldn't be arsed with this shit, it's suffocating and he will not change, sorry to say it!

LorlieS · 30/01/2024 23:10

Has he been badly hurt before? In no way just this justify poor behaviour, but it might explain things to a degree, especially his paranoia?
I was married to an abuser and I lost all of my trust in people. I still have times now where I'm convinced my now husband is going to cheat/leave/do something awful even though I have absolutely no logical reason to think that.

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 23:12

He had a rough childhood, has never had a serious relationship before. Has very few friendships (but he did re-locate, so that is understandable). No cheating by previous partners; I just think he has no confidence in people and isn't close to anyone.

OP posts: