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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:
rainbowsparkle28 · 30/01/2024 23:47

As you said this is not going to change. Move on now. You deserve better and do not have to live your life with this toxicity and a partner who so clearly doesn't trust you seemingly without any good reason.

FinallyHere · 30/01/2024 23:47

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

It's projection.

However, why on earth are you allowing this relationship to continue. Throw this one back and hold out for a partner who genuinely enhances your life.

p.s. when someone breaks up with you, why would you have them back? That's your clue, right there.

Lizzyinatizzy · 30/01/2024 23:49

Get rid.
sorry excuse of a man sounds like he’s attempting to dim your light, erode your confidence and reduce you to a shadow of who you are so that you spend your life trying to appease him and being grateful for the opportunity to spend life with him.
He’s trying to teach you that life is just easier if you behave exactly as he wishes and do as you’re told.
sod that.

Tinkerbyebye · 30/01/2024 23:50

big red flags, he is never going to trust you, he will try to control you

leave

SandyY2K · 30/01/2024 23:52

I couldn't be dealing with this kind of relationship. It's exhausting.
Too much breaking up and getting back together is a sign It's not meant to be.

SamW98 · 30/01/2024 23:54

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 23:17

@LorlieS I'm not sure I'd describe him as controlling necessarily. Interestingly, he accused ME of having too much control in one of our break ups.

You honestly don’t see this as being controlling?? Really??

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...

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 23:59

SamW98 · 30/01/2024 23:54

You honestly don’t see this as being controlling?? Really??

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...

Edited

Well, my exH would constantly criticise me, insult my friends and family so that I became emotionally detached from them, gaslit me (including telling me all the time how terrible my memory was), wind me up on purpose then laugh when I was angry, influence what I wore, controlled what I ate...

In comparison, this guy doesn't seem controlling. Lol. Every time he's set a controlling ultimatum he's eventually backed off when I say no.

OP posts:
ViscousFluidFlow · 31/01/2024 00:01

Don’t waste your time analysing why he is like that just get out of there and never look back, good luck you get one life and it’s amazing how quickly the years seem to pass. Do not waste another minute on this man.

Escapingafter50years · 31/01/2024 00:05

Every time he's set a controlling ultimatum he's eventually backed off when I say no.

You see, a guy worth keeping wouldn't try this in the first place.

GingerIsBest · 31/01/2024 00:05

whendidisaythat · 30/01/2024 23:33

I kept hoping that if he continued therapy and I showed him with my behaviour that I was trustworthy, eventually he would relax into the relationship. He won't though will he

No, he won't. And basically, what he's doing here is that he is trying to make YOU responsible for HIS paranoia. He may well have a personality or mental health disorder, or both. And that may well be impacting his thinking and behaviour. But that is not on YOU to fix. HE has to fix it. And all this shit about you not being able to go out with male colleagues or needing to stay home or get an STD test are all just ways for you to try to fix him, but it's impossible. NOTHING YOU DO will ever prove to him that you are trustworthy.

PS his ex who cheated? Yeah, probably didn't happen. if you break up right now, he'll tell everyone you cheated. Trust me.

Also, FYI, this is 100% controlling behaviour. Controlling behaviour isn't always about how dinner is cooked or the bed is made. It's about any behaviour that makes you do or think or behave differently to how you would otherwise and differently to how you are comfortable.

Get out NOW while you still can.

kkloo · 31/01/2024 00:12

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.

Behind most abusive men is insecurity I would say.

Does he smoke weed by any chance?

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 00:12

kkloo · 31/01/2024 00:12

Behind most abusive men is insecurity I would say.

Does he smoke weed by any chance?

No, he doesn't smoke weed. Maybe once every few years when he visits family but it's not something he's done much (less than me!).

OP posts:
Holdingsteady · 31/01/2024 00:34

I hope you never plan to have children with this person. Ruining your own life by staying with him is one thing, but please don’t inflict this insane behaviour on a poor child.

red flags flying high here

MysteriousInspector · 31/01/2024 01:30

Doubtless there are reasons why he is like this.

So what? Doesn't make him any less controlling.

You are hoping he will change with the love of a good woman, to become the real him you know is there underneath. He won't. There is no "real him" under there. The "real him" is all in your head.

(It took MN to make me see this in my own relationship, btw. Thank god for MN!)

Beatrixpotts · 31/01/2024 02:14

Just leave. Your first post upset me re discharge. He's abusive. Just coming at it from an angle you haven't experienced before. Wishing you the best.

Staywildmoomchild · 31/01/2024 06:23

No trust.. and it’s something that cant be mended overnight sadly, a guilty sayer is a guilty doer. For your own sanity i would call it quits as this behaviour is going to massively impact your mental wellbeing.

LovelyDaaling · 31/01/2024 06:37

There's nothing but unhappiness ahead for you if you stay with him.

SavetheNHS · 31/01/2024 06:43

This is coercive control which is abusive behaviour. It goes hand in hand with jealousy.

Using his insecurities to dictate who you spend time with. Using his jealousy and your compassion to control you.

It starts like this but it will get worse over time. It will NEVER get better and no matter what you do it will never make him feel secure about your fidelity, ever. Because it's not actually about him feeling sad or worried because he loves you so much. It's actually about him owning and controlling you.

rio2 · 31/01/2024 06:48

Im here 6 years later...
My ex constantly still brought up and my past n relationships
Accusing and after two yrs found out he was messaging women etc everything he accused me off he was doing or thinking about like stalkin his exs page on fb

Lost most my self worth and self esteem
Having to constantly worry about him, oh he's insecure hes got mh problems oh he worried to loose me oh hes had a shit upbringing and jus afraid and poor him, ive literally become a doctor and psychiatrist having to google all his symptoms walk on egg shells try to make him believe me and trust me! its bullshit i have Bpd myself but not once ever treated him like that! Leave if u can ur worth more don't waste ur life like i have feeling thinking u can change or feeling sorry for his issues !

justanothermanicmonday1 · 31/01/2024 06:53

Run for the bloody hills, OP.

Your first year should be amazing. Not this.

This is as good as it's going to get.

Wednesdaysphiltrum · 31/01/2024 07:08

Well, it's confusing. He has said once or twice that he felt like he should have more control over "our world" once the relationship got more serious.

What the fuck? This guy is insane. And highly controlling, just in a different way to your abusive H.

Tell me, what have you stopped doing to appease his pathetic insecurities?

Hotgirlwinter · 31/01/2024 07:16

Come on OP, this is utterly ridiculous.

the man is continually calling you a liar. He is saying repeatedly that you must be lying. Because that’s what it boils down to when you don’t trust someone, it means you think they are inherently deceitful. Now he’s asking you to PROVE you have been by taking an STI test.

Where does it end? He wants to have “more control” WTAF? You should be running for the hills tbh.

maybe he has had a rough childhood (who didn’t?) and maybe he does have some unresolved trauma or mental health issues but women are not therapists who must “fix” the issues of men.

You’re being given CLEAR warning about who this man is and the problems he clearly has and you are ignoring them. When he steps this behaviour up and becomes threatening, controlling and abusive you can’t say you didn’t see it coming.

Newnamehiwhodis · 31/01/2024 07:23

Wow , he does NOT sound “lovely” in any way, OP.
Please break up again and make it stick this time.

I’m curious about the whole thong to work thing. Does he check your underwear when you get home or something? I can’t figure out how else these details would become a point of contention.

if that’s somehow the case - I can’t even wrap my head around how horrifically bad that is -

but even if it’s not the case , please don’t stay with him. Don’t waste your years defending yourself. It’s never going to stop.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 31/01/2024 07:31

He’s never going to change and it’s not your job to fix him. You either carry on like this, you end it now or it drags on until you meet someone else then prove him right by cheating! Just end it now, do it for both of you as neither of you are happy.

Btw, I’m not surprised he’s not had a relationship before, as soon as anyone saw what he was like they run a mile

Hiddenvoice · 31/01/2024 07:37

Sorry but this isn’t a healthy relationship and sadly I don’t think he is going to change. He sounds very insecure and quite controlling. He would like to cut off contact to certain people which isn’t right.
I don’t think he will ever stop accusing you of cheating. He’s obviously had very difficult past relationships but he should not be putting that on you.
The std check would have concerned me, more about the possibility of him cheating than anything else. They usually say the person who is often accusing others of cheating is the one who’s cheating themselves.

Please think about the life you want, do you really want to justify your every move and action? Do you want to have to cut contact with people because it worries him? He should have more trust and respect for you. My main concern is that he will be controlling enough that slowly over time he will choose what friends and family you see but you’ll be too afraid of upsetting him that you’ll allow it to happen.

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