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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

Tired of life

39 replies

Frith2013 · 31/03/2024 16:43

Apologies in advance for the huge rant. There is literally no one in real life to tell.

I am going to change one or two tiny details to protect my privacy. Just in case I seem inconsistent later on!

Everything in my life feels like a huge mess. I feel bleak and flat and woke up crying today (as in, I was crying in my sleep) which hasn't happened in a long time.

I met a man in 2022 and he moved in last summer. 95% of the time he was wonderful. He was going through enormous stresses (think legal, family, natural disasters, death in the family, money) and at times would talk about nothing else. He didn't sleep properly and became irritable (sometimes) and often spaced out, shaking or crying. He couldn't sort of sit back and think of solutions to his problems but would come out with random ideas or be paralysed with worry and indecision.

For my part, I listened all the time, did my best to do a bit of research or take the weight off in various ways. Sometimes I got frustrated because it wasn't a very cheerful time and I wasn't really achieving much and a few times I said he needed to listen to my worries occasionally, or I would go off for a walk on my own. No nastiness on either part like shouting, swearing, throwing things or anything like that. I went with him to the GPs twice to talk about anxiety but they really weren't very helpful. Nothing was ever organised with regard to treatment or counselling.

The last 3 weeks of the relationship were appalling with him almost psychotic from stress, saying random things, walking off, sleeping in the car, going to stay at a friend's a few times. Most of the time I was incredibly patient but once or twice it got a bit much. Finally, he moved out (entirely his decision) and we met a few times for a cup of tea and it was OK (although sad).

He then turned up unannounced (very unlike him as he was always polite and quite proper about things like that) and I listened to an hour monologue of his problems and he got quite shitty with me. I barely spoke at all. He didn't apologise for anything in the past or try and hug me or say he wanted me back or that he wanted to move back. It was all a bit strange. He then tried to video call me several times during that evening but we had nothing to say to each other. I then text him to say that day had been too much and that he needed to calm down (I didn't use that term!) and sort his life out gradually. I woke the following morning to 5 messages that I can only describe as poisonous, accusing me of all sorts of behaviour. I was blocked by him on everything.

I was then targeted by a mutual friend. I can only see today that it was a "targeting". Let's gloss over that apart from to say he knew how down I was because I had even used the word "heartbroken" in a message. I had also known him for years and he did the usual spiel about always having feelings for me and I would feel better if I moved on...

I've been left in a more precarious position financially than I was before due to supporting Man 1. It will get back to normal in a few months but I have the stress of that now.

I've fluctuated between not eating at all to binge eating, which is not like me. Somehow, I've managed to put about a stone on over the past few months, which is irritating.

There are a million things wrong with my house that need attention and I don't have the know how or money to deal with all of them.

I've kept myself ridiculously busy. I force myself to go to usual weekly activities and to socialise and it's awful. People are still asking me for updates on Man 1 and are shocked that we have gone from talking about getting married to no contact at all. I've walked so far every day that cumulatively I could have crossed the UK by now! I don't smoke, drink or take drugs so there is nothing else I can cut out really.

I looked at a friend's FB post today and I saw that Man 1 had "liked" it, so I realised he has unblocked me, at least on there. That tiny, tiny thing has put me into a flat spin this afternoon.

I don't have any support. I have been on the Stately Homes thread about my family a few times, but had no reply. Yesterday I saw them for the first time since Christmas Day. It was still bonkers (of course) with my mum pleading with the Golden Child that she wanted to iron his clothes for where he was going out later in the day (he's in his fifth decade) then telling me she was going to make him a "carer" for her and my dad as he is the only person who cares about them. I pointed out one or both of them would have to be disabled to receive carer's allowance... After 3 months of peace, they have invited themselves round here tomorrow and I don't even know how they managed to do that without my noticing where the conversation was going.

My cat has the start of dementia.

I can't concentrate enough to watch a TV programme or read a magazine or to cook anything nice.

I feel very sad but so very stupid.

OP posts:
Ihadenough22 · 10/08/2024 14:46

It's good that you got away from this man. He was adding nothing to your life. He was unwilling to become an adult. He was unwilling to deal with his problems or get help with his issues. He behaved like toddler when he did not get his way. He wanted you there to listen to his problems and possibly help him out financially. You did mention that you got into debt because of being with him. Then he so called friends were asking about him when they knew you had split up. The reason they were doing this was because he was trying to get back with you or because they did not have to listen to or deal with his issues.

A few years ago my friend was involved with a man like this. She had supported him through a few bad patches. They were both over weight. She said to him why don't we lose some weight together before we end up with health issues like diabetes. He said then so what if I end up with this. He was blowing hot and cold on her. He said that he wanted a family at some stage as well. My friend decided to lose weight to improve her own health.
He went off and met another woman and had a baby with her. My friend was very upset at the time.

She has heard several things about him over the past few years. He now has high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. His life is very messy and a lot of of his problems could have been avoided if he listened to advice.
My friend is working on herself and has improved her own life since he left it. It was hard when it happened but looking back now she is in a far better place.

Just be glad you got away from him and work on improving your own life.

Frith2013 · 12/09/2024 20:46

Here again because I miss him terribly this week. I don't know why now, particularly.

Still in debt with utility bills (and overdrawn). Still repairing bits round the house.

Feeling bleak and lonely.

I need to remember that this was a man who lied about EVERYTHING. Big lies (terrible, going on for months), small lies, lies about inconsequential stuff.

Vain and always stopping at any reflective surface to fiddle with his hair.

Would stop and challenge men to a fight if they so much as looked at him funny.

Terrible relationship with family members, always having horrible heated conversations over the phone.

Strange attitude towards things that normal people just get on with - such as completing paperwork, getting to places on time, being told what to do by his boss.

Pretending to be ill.

Mimicking me using a silly voice.

Threatening to beat up my son.

Refusing to tell his family about me as they would disapprove.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 09/10/2024 20:19

And...

He's just WhatsApped me, from what must be a new phone.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 10/10/2024 00:00

Obviously the WhatsApp was saying who he was (new phone number) then an immediate demand, this time for information.

One sentence, after 8 months of silence. No please, thank you or how have you been.

I didn't reply but pondered what to do. Within 2 hours his profile picture had gone from next to the message so my "punishment" for not replying quickly enough is presumably that he has blocked me !

I haven't blocked him because I thought that in itself might send a message. I have deleted the message so I can't see if his photo reappears and I won't have to keep looking at it when I open the app.

I won't reply.

It reminded me that he was always like this. Demanding and rude. Trying to get my attention (or the attention of anyone) constantly. If you didn't reply to a message you would get 10 more messages then phone calls. But if I did something "wrong" I would be silenced, blocked or told not to contact him ever again. He would wait 3-4 weeks then message as though nothing had happened.

OP posts:
Inspireme2 · 10/10/2024 00:18

Talk to someone you can in real life.
Let the leach know you are done with him and his problems.
A stone isnt to much and start looking after yourself.
Change your phone number.

Frith2013 · 10/10/2024 00:21

I've tried blocking him on WhatsApp but I can't. Maybe because he blocked me first? Anyway, I've deleted WA completely, so that should stop him!

I've also blocked his number so he can't text or phone me.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 28/11/2024 22:26

Ooo, 6 weeks of silence!

2025 will be a better year.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 14/03/2025 15:13

Exactly one year to the day from the last time I saw him (in person) and spoke to him.

That day was very weird. He came to my house (I was out) then found which cafe I was in and turned up there. He did a 1.5 hour monologue about his woes and followed me as I walked home. (45 minutes walk, hence the 1.5 monologue!) I remember I thought of asking 2 men at the next table to help me but I had walked there so they couldn't walk me to my car but would have had to drive me home. It seemed too much to ask!

As far as I know, he is still unemployed and living in temporary accommodation. I heard that a woman flew over to see him from his home country (not a relation) and nothing would surprise me.

It has taken a year to realise how many things were complete lies. I keep looking back and wonder if anything he said was true. I think the worst was when I challenged him once and he pretended to have a seizure. My (adult) child phoned an ambulance and we went through the pretence in case it was genuine but somehow we just knew that it wasn't. He went from the "seizure" to beating his head off a wall but all the time shouting in excellent English, though this was not his first language. After that, he would pretend he was going into a seizure at the first sign that I was disagreeing with him about something - anything! He pretended to have one in a cafe once then, when I didn't react, walked out in a sulk and sat in the car. I took 5 minutes to myself then went to my car and he pretended to go into another seizure as soon as I opened the door. I know how bonkers it sounds but it was so frightening to watch.

Apologies for the ramble. He was so weird I feel I can't discuss it with anyone in real life. It makes me look like a fantasist.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 14/03/2025 15:14

And the "friend" who targeted me in the weeks after my ex moved out turned out to be an absolutely odious little shit. He was as bad as my ex but not so pretty and without the sense of humour!

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 27/05/2025 23:46

It has been a long time.

Man 1 (who lived with me) is still technically homeless, 14 months later. He has not tried to contact me again.

What I couldn't bring myself to type at the time (last July) was that Man 2's behaviour deteriorated rapidly (we had been friends for a few years) culminating in him trying to assault me. I'm tall and broad and he is short and puny and I was able to physically lift him off then kick his legs off me. We had already had sex twice that evening, not that that makes any difference but it sort of added to the shock. He then backed off very quickly, which I am thankful for as I was out of puff and out of ideas by that point.

Obviously I have avoided him as much as possible since then. I did finally get very angry about 2 months ago and texted him. I said the attempt at assault was why I had broken up with him and he very eloquently made up a completely different story (rather than just denying it). I mean different as in changing times and where I had been that day. I did a screenshot of a conversation I had with a friend describing what had happened and sent him that. I had that conversation with her the same day. I knew I would not get anywhere with the conversation but I did feel slightly better afterwards.

So, post Man 1 - I have just (yesterday) paid off the final debt that I ran up whilst he lived here. I couldn't cover my bills so was in debt with gas and electricity (and overdrawn) but it is paid off now. There is nothing more to do.

Man 2 - I just feel shocked. I've completely given up the club we both used to go to (he still goes).

It has been 10 months since I last saw Man 2 (the horrible day) and I cannot imagine ever being in another relationship.

OP posts:
PussInBin20 · 28/05/2025 09:13

Why are you still thinking and giving head space to these two idiots. It sounds like you are a bit obsessed - or traumatised.

Get yourself some counselling to rid them out of your mind - it’s no good keep thinking about it all.

Just be thankful they are gone and move on with your life.

Frith2013 · 28/05/2025 12:54

PussInBin20 · 28/05/2025 09:13

Why are you still thinking and giving head space to these two idiots. It sounds like you are a bit obsessed - or traumatised.

Get yourself some counselling to rid them out of your mind - it’s no good keep thinking about it all.

Just be thankful they are gone and move on with your life.

Why are you answering?
How spiteful.

OP posts:
TwentyKittens · 28/05/2025 13:07

It's not spiteful.

I thought this was a zombie thread since it was started in March 2024, then saw you are updating about your feelings about something which you say yourself "It has been a long time".

@PussInBin20 is absolutely right - why ARE you giving headspace to these two men? You really do need to move on, remove anything from your life that still connects you in any way, and find a counsellor to help free yourself of thinking about them so much.

Frith2013 · 28/05/2025 17:29

It's sad that my only contact with the outside world this month has been with 2 sanctimonious little shits on Mumsnet.

I'm sorry I haven't recovered from years of physical, psychological, emotional and financial abuse, closely followed by a sexual assault, in the timescale of your choosing. Sorry I'm "obsessed" with having my life - my physical and mental health - systematically disassembled.

I can't see the problem in writing 3 or 4 messages a year. There is, as I said in the OP, literally no one else in the world to tell. If you're a vile dickhead, please scroll by.

I can't even kill myself as I'm the sole carer of a disabled adult. He's also physically abusive on occasion.

There is ZERO MONEY, not even enough for a decent food shopping trip. If you'd like to cover the cost of counselling and care for an 18 stone angry man while I go, do let me know. Make sure you don't try and reason with him while he's got anything in his hand or while you're on the stairs. They're quite pointy.

Until that point, fuck off.

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