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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:
SKG231 · 31/01/2024 07:40

Either he’s cheating himself and judging you by his own standards and morals or he has some serious issues. Either way you can’t continue to live like this. It is not a healthy relationship that has a future.

he either needs to admit that he isn’t acting g correctly and seek help like councelling or you end it. If neither happens you are just going to continue going round in circles being accused and belittled and it will be toxic and un salvageable.

the question you need to ask yourself firstly though is if you would like a future with this man or if it’s not really worth it.

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 07:51

I think I'm in love with the person who he can be when he is trying to impress me (like in the early days).

He is saying that I don't make him feel loved enough and we're stuck in a parent child dynamic which is why he keeps ending things.

I feel like he's just a black hole of need. Never once has he tried to look up parent child dynamics and explain what he thinks we are both doing that creates that. He will complain that we don't do anything special or fun together any more but he doesn't book things; it's left to me.

The parent child dynamic doesn't explain the lack of trust and cheating accusations. This is just him acting out and getting me to focus on his needs and satisfying him isn't it? I think I'm done.

OP posts:
OrlandointheWilderness · 31/01/2024 08:00

Bloody hell this is exhausting. I've been with DP for three years. Guess how many times either of us have accused the other of cheating? 0! Because in a good relationship there is trust!

IggOrEgg · 31/01/2024 08:02

Either he’s cheating on you, the most likely conclusion, particularly given the sti check suggestion, or he’s ‘just‘ an abusive prick. Either way, I’d be dumping him asap.

Whodrankmytea · 31/01/2024 08:04

I had a relationship like this. There were red flags like this right at the beginning but I let it drag on for a year. Please leave now while it's easier.

SamW98 · 31/01/2024 08:07

I think I'm in love with the person who he can be when he is trying to impress me (like in the early days)

But that’s not who he truly is. It’s his nice guy act to reel you in. That person doesn’t exist - the controlling paranoid jealous man is who he’s shown you that he really is, believe him.

LambriniBobinIsleworth · 31/01/2024 08:09

TheBeesKnee · 30/01/2024 22:47

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

Yeah, this.

Whattodowithit88 · 31/01/2024 08:10

I think you already know where this is heading. Leave now before your exhausted down to tatters. He won’t change.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 31/01/2024 08:10

You’re only a year in and he's broken up with you already, several times, accuses you of cheating, doesn’t like you socialising with male colleagues and now he wants you to take an STD TEST? Finish it this time for good, he’ll always be like this. It’ll wear you down.

ScarlettSunset · 31/01/2024 08:16

My very first relationship was with someone similar. I felt like I was walking on eggshells pretty much all the time. It took me a while to leave as I was very inexperienced and didn't realise relationships didn't need to be like that.

You don't need to understand why he's like that, or what he's thinking. You don't need to try to persuade him to act or think differently. There's nothing you can do to fix this situation as it's a problem he has and that only he can fix. All you need to do is get out and leave this madness. It will never improve.

Strugglingtodomybest · 31/01/2024 08:16

He's a classic "insecure abuser". He doesn't mean to be abusive, but his behaviour very much is.

As I said to a friend in a similar relationship, he well may be lovely at times, but he is destroying your self esteem bit by bit, so get out while you still can.

She did, and she's now with a guy who bolsters her self esteem and makes her feel loved and secure.

You might like to read "Women who love too much".

Maray1967 · 31/01/2024 08:17

You trying to heal him - but that isn’t your job.

If you really want to, you could give him a very clear and very firm ultimatum- any more of this from now on and you’re done. Explain that no one can live with this kind of pressure. He has to get help and change his behaviour now. I can’t see him succeeding, though, so you’d probably just be delaying the inevitable.

If you want to help him, your parting shot could be a very clear explanation that if he carries on like this he will never build a healthy relationship.

Kwam31 · 31/01/2024 08:25

Ffs OP, just get rid, he's a controlling feckin crackpot!
Stop trying to analyse him, move on.

yellowsmileyface · 31/01/2024 08:35

He's controlling. It doesn't matter if he isn't controlling in other ways. He's controlling in this way and it's unacceptable.

My ex was like this and trust me when I say you will NEVER be able to prove yourself to him. It will never be enough. Because the problem isn't you, it's him.

I think because he isn't abusive in the same way as your ex, you're not seeing the abuse. Which is a situation many survivors find themselves in.

I would encourage you to read "Why Does He Do That?" by Lundy Bancroft.

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 09:25

Do abusive men generally tell you that you're selfish and not focused enough on their needs?

OP posts:
RancidRuby · 31/01/2024 09:27

No, it won't change. In my experience it only gets worse. Bin this one.

SamW98 · 31/01/2024 09:29

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 09:25

Do abusive men generally tell you that you're selfish and not focused enough on their needs?

💯- it’s gaslighting making themselves the victim.

Classic DARVO tactics

IggOrEgg · 31/01/2024 09:32

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 09:25

Do abusive men generally tell you that you're selfish and not focused enough on their needs?

Absolutely. Gaslighting twat 101.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/01/2024 09:32

It is such a shame that you are throwing your life away on this horrible man.

yellowsmileyface · 31/01/2024 09:32

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 09:25

Do abusive men generally tell you that you're selfish and not focused enough on their needs?

Yes, because they want you to bend over backwards catering to them, desperately trying to prove yourself. But again, it will never be enough.

TheCadoganArms · 31/01/2024 09:37

OP, why the need to hyper analyse this twat, he adds nothing to your life, he sounds positively dangerous, move on, you don't need to understand him or fix him.

whatsitcalledwhen · 31/01/2024 09:37

You mention you've been in abusive relationships before. I think when this is the case it's common to have had your boundaries eroded and expectations lowered so you think someone who is 70% a wanker is a good bet just because you've been with someone who is 100% a wanker.

It isn't a good bet.

His behaviour is completely unacceptable.

This man believes you are cheating on him with multiple people. You think he loves you? He thinks you're a cheat and a liar. That isn't love.

You need to end the relationship now and get some counselling to start healing from your previous relationships so you never accept someone like him again.

Do abusive men generally tell you that you're selfish and not focused enough on their needs?

Google 'DARVO' because that's what he's doing.

Do you have kids of your own?

whendidisaythat · 31/01/2024 09:41

And I'm guessing the difference is:

Healthy partner: Hey, I wanted to talk to you about the fact that I always stay at your place and we don't stay much at mine. It feels one sided to me and it means I never get my laundry and other chores done. Can we set evenings where we stay at mine a few times a week?

Controlling partner: [day 1] I love staying at yours. It feels like home to me. [Day 2] You're just selfish by nature. We always stay at yours because that's what suits you best. Did it never occur to you that I need to get my chores done? Of course not, because you're selfish, just like your mother.

OP posts:
RancidRuby · 31/01/2024 09:44

OP, every single poster so far has told you to run for the hills. It's been unanimous, what does that tell you?

SamW98 · 31/01/2024 09:44

Tbh OP your healthy example isn’t what I’d call healthy either.

Sadly I think your history of abusive relationships has blurred your boundaries so much that you don’t know what a good relationship feels like.

I honestly think you need to take time to be single and look at something like the freedom programme to help you work through understanding red flags and working on your self esteem.

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