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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

Engagement disapointment - Am i being mistreated and strung along?

154 replies

Ninam45 · 01/03/2024 16:58

Hi, During our first year together by boyfriend would always talk about "how there is no sooner time to get married". He took me engagement ring shopping and we chose a beautiful ring together. I thought things were moving fast but I thought I had met the man of my dreams, he seemed sweet & attentive.

A few months after the engagement ring shopping at my 30th birthday he planned a big trip to the carribean and planned a romantic dinner for two on the beach saying "it would be the most romantic day of my life". In my head I was wondering if that would be the day he proposes. When it didn't happen I got a little teary I said I really thought that this was going to be the trip when he proposes. Instead of consoling me he started to say very horrible things like "well none of your exes wanted to marry you" and that some of his friends waited 6 years before getting married. I thought to myself "have we lived the same past year"? He was the one that was pushing the engagement and I felt like my dreams were coming true. That night it all came crashing down and his comments crushed me. Afterwards after months of arguing he said his insecurities got in the way.

Not long after that I lost my business and suffered depression and distress, I can't get over the way he treated me so well and said all those wedding-related things just to turn on me, and it brought me down.

Now he is claiming a year on now, that he wanted to see a period of me being well and out of depression for him to want to propose to me.

The past year has been extremely tough, I went from being a successful business woman to. losing everything and adding the relationship problems has just brought me to new lows...

The past months I have started to finally recover from the depression caused by losing my business and being taken to court by my business partner by getting therapy and volunteering with animals. Yesterday we had an argument because I said he wasn't being very supportive in my search for a new job, I was a little bit anxious a job interview and he said his patience that day was wearing out as I was worries about not being able to do the interview. Initially he was trying to be supportive but then he belittled and made fun of my anxiety around the job by imitating me in a condescending way. I just lost it with him. He then went on to say after our arguments got very heated, that that well he was planning to propose to me next week but obviously now that's off.

I feel deeply distraught and helpless and I feel like he is holding the engagement over my head whilst sometimes being very nice but at the same time not being nice to me and making it out to be my fault because of the depression I have suffered the last year. I thought during an argument to bring up the thing that most hurt me a year ago and say "I was about to do it" highly distressing.

I don't know what to do or if this behaviour is a red flag and I should leave, I'm so confused. Or is it all me?

OP posts:
Picklestop · 01/03/2024 19:50

Ninam45 · 01/03/2024 17:29

Yes, I know deep down that you are all right. When things are good they are amazing but I can't get over the disappointment and the things that have been said. I feel like I should have left him the night he was supposed to ask me to marry him and said nasty things, I feel like I gave him the go ahead to continue this by staying. I do feel like a doormat. I know I haven;t been well with depression etc. and hard to deal with but I do think a lot of that has been caused by what happened. I just thought I had met the man of my dreams, I keep pointing out these things to him but it always gets turned around on me! In arguments I am brought around in circles, not heard and made to feel like he doesn't care and doesn;t understand the impact of the things he has said.

I genuinely believed he understood what he did wrong on my birthday and that we could work on things but then last night he dropped it again....

I really don’t even understand why you were waiting for a proposal on your Caribbean holiday when you have already been ring shopping! If I had been ring shopping I would be wearing the ring and planning the wedding.

Anyway. Yes you are being future faked, he has no intention of marrying you and is now using the prospect to try and control you. He sounds vile.

WarriorN · 01/03/2024 19:55

Oh my god, so many red flags 🚩 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

Run run run

martinisforeveryone · 01/03/2024 19:57

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 01/03/2024 19:49

This is the dumbest SHIT I’ve read on the internet today. And I’ve spent 2 hours on Reddit.

@PorpoiseWithPurpose I've given you thanks but if I could buy you a drink or flowers I would.

It's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on here.

@Ninam45
well done on turning it around. You can do so, so much better. I can't believe you can't see the red flags, he's doing a real number on you. Get out and move on up.

WarriorN · 01/03/2024 19:59

I can't believe he's using engagement as a manipulative tool while you've been through hell with your business and depression.

It's conditional love, not unconditional.

Unconditional love would have seen him saying "I believe in you" when you were rock bottom.

As a result, He's also conditioning you to do his bidding. Dance to his tune. Walk on eggshells.

Run run run

LifeExperience · 01/03/2024 20:00

He's dangling the hope of marriage in front of you to control you. If he wanted to marry you ha would have paid for the ring and started planning a wedding.

Prelapsarianhag · 01/03/2024 20:03

Mate, please listen, I am 71 years old and have seen a lot of shit. This man is the worst kind of shit. You know your worth - don't let this fucker play you, dump this turd back down the toilet where he belongs.

Wishlist99 · 01/03/2024 20:04

ugh he sounds like an utter creep. He’s 41 for Christ’s sake, there’s good reason he’s not married (completely different from why you’re not married to your ex boyfriends. You’re a whole decade younger).

Ditch him, you’ll be so much better off.

BlueSkyBlueLife · 01/03/2024 20:11

I’d see his behaviour, esp turning on you after spending a year talking about engagement etc…. as him showing his true colours - the ones of an abusive man.

I know you say you love him but seriously, this man is laughing at you when you tell him you need support. He is belittling you. Is that really someone you want to spend the rest of your life with?

Btw I agree that separating from him will make it much easier to recover from your depression. Yes there was some good reasons why you became depressed. But I doubt he has been helping if this is the way he us treating you.

Ellie56 · 01/03/2024 20:15

You don't need this twat in your life. Dump him and run. You deserve better. A lot better.

DrJoanAllenby · 01/03/2024 20:43

He's a nasty piece of work preying on your insecurities and it's even worse because the things you've been through have left you feeling vulnerable.

Instead of being loving and supportive he's been manipulative and thoroughly nasty.

rwalker · 01/03/2024 20:48

I’d say the first 12 months were a whirlwind all carried away
reality kicked in cracks appeared

but with the state of your relationship he’d be stupid to propose and you’d be stupid to say yes

Parentofeanda · 01/03/2024 20:57

He love bombed you

Nicole1111 · 01/03/2024 20:58

This might help you in figuring out what’s going on in your relationship.

Engagement disapointment - Am i being mistreated and strung along?
Angelsrose · 01/03/2024 21:34

Run don't walk. Please.

ISpyNoPlumPie · 01/03/2024 21:37

This man HATES you. Please don’t marry a man that hates you.

ChampagneLassie · 01/03/2024 21:44

He sounds awful to you, cruel, making fun of you, I suspect he’s eroded your self esteem to point where you are grateful when he’s nice to you. Bin him. You could find happiness with someone who cherishes you, builds you up. That is what love is, that is the sort of person you should want to marry. Please end it

RubyWinehouse · 01/03/2024 21:45

I'm confused, you went engagement ring shopping, so didn't he buy the ring? What a strange bloke.

Opentooffers · 01/03/2024 21:49

This guy felt like he was the one at the start because he was love- bombing you. These people make sure everything is wonderful, until they know they have you emotionally attached, then the abuse starts. It's a classic pattern. Next time someone pushes a fast timeline, smell a rat. Unfortunately there's a fair few in the world like this, especially when older, the trick is to spot it and get out ASAP.

WoodBurningStov · 01/03/2024 21:53

Thank your lucky stars you didn't get married to him. He's a horrid person who is using your insecurities against you, he's manipulating you by dangling an engagement in front of you, he's unsupportive and a twat to boot. He's probably a big part of your depression too

Roundtable83 · 01/03/2024 21:55

Why the fuck would you want to marry a narcissistic, controlling asshole like that? Yes, he’s stringing you along - dangling the engagement ring in front of you like a carrot for his own sick enjoyment! For the love of god, wake up and bin this loser with immediate effect!!

MCOut · 01/03/2024 21:56

You know the answer to this, he’s already showing that he’s not husband material. After the wedding, do you really want to be living with this?

SheepAndSword · 01/03/2024 21:56

He's not a life partner

NotNowGertrude · 01/03/2024 21:58

I echo all the comments

At the very least get some space & time away from him to think clearly about what you want for your future

Maybe then you can see what he's been doing to you

Nightowl1234 · 01/03/2024 21:58

You really want this arsehole to be your husband? He’ll make the rest of your life a misery. Run. Fast.

kiwiane · 01/03/2024 22:01

Crikey - he’s a dead weight - leave him - you can do so much better.