Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

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:
neednicerpants · 03/03/2024 14:59

Oh god, I don't normally comment on posts like this but this has had me internally yelling LEAVE!!

Do it today. Don't waste anymore time with this abusive man - he does not love you, he will not marry you - this is likely a huge contributor to your depression. He didn't bottle the Caribbean proposal because of his insecurities, he did it to keep you under his thumb. Run run run run run run.

determinedtomakethiswork · 03/03/2024 16:41

Did he actually pay for the ring?

He sounds absolutely horrible! Never mind the future faking which is unforgivable, he sounds absolutely dreadful.

If I were you I would get away from him as fast as possible and I would bet you my house that your depression would lift as others have said.

Coldfinch · 22/10/2024 23:49

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 01/03/2024 17:06

This 'proposal' is a carrot he is using to try to get you to behave the way he wants. Every time you do something he doesn't like you'll get the 'oh, what a shame, must try harder, I was about to propose but now I won't. He's training you to always want to please him.

This!! With bells on. You’ll recover from everything when you drop-kick him to the curb. What a loser. I really feel for you and hope you get to find a job you enjoy and one day get back to running a business. Please don’t let him undermine your happiness 💐

Lavenderblossoms · 23/10/2024 00:14

Gently... why are you still with this nobbead? Give him the big heave ho!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page