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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

Just a rant about avoidant soon to be ex

9 replies

Charlottedancer · 09/04/2024 12:40

Been with someone for almost 3 years. It probably took a year to catch on that he could talk a good game but not follow up. He's not a bad person, just lots of future faking, excuses, breadcrumbing and laziness.

It's now taken another 18 months to realise its not me or my fault. Low self esteem, a sucker for trying to fix someone. I've been working on identifying these traits and changing my behaviour. Working out why I've always buried my own needs. I know where it's come from and it's taking time to work through it.

I think I've been addicted to his treatment. It's reflected back how low I've considered myself to be. He leaves my messages unread for over 24 hours. He never makes any plans. It messes with my head and i used to question if he even wanted to be with me. I've spoken up numerous times about how it makes me feel, what my needs are, what I need to make me feel loved. It really isn't much. But I can see he can not or will not give me what I need. He says he can, if i try and leave, he gets panicky and begs to stay. He gaslights alot. A lot of victim mentality. Says he loves me like no one else does and knows me better than anyone. I can see its so toxic. I am lonely and wasting my best years on someone I may or may not see on any day.

It sounds awful when I write it, but I want accountability for my actions now. I think the wake up call was something he said the other day when I said I was struggling with the little contact again....explaining how it made me feel dismissed and not important to him. He said...I wonder do you have a chemical imbalance. Isn't that lovely and such a cliche. It's always the crazy woman narrative.

Just posting for support, words of wisdom for those that have raised their standards and disentagled from this nonsense.

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 09/04/2024 12:51

Good on you, realising it’s not you that has problems. Isn’t it sad that your partner cannot cope with what you’ve asked from a relationship, which in reality doesn’t sound that difficult to do, as you don’t seem to be asking for the impossible from him.

Pinkbonbon · 09/04/2024 12:57

I would be careful that there isn't a thin line between accountability and blame.

Also, that you aren't using 'trying to understand why', to stay longer.

Similar to how abuse victims get into a cycle of 'if I could just find the right words to make him understand/do xyz'.

It sounds like you're doing that. Looking inwards thinking it might fix a HIM problem.

Which actually, isn't insightful, its...stalling.

You say you know its him, not you?
Then leave.

Charlottedancer · 09/04/2024 13:07

That you for replying.

That's resonates and I feel that's where I am stuck at....the trying to understand bit so it'll change.

I broke it off a few months ago. I dont have any close family and the loss I felt was extreme. Couldn't leave the house, couldn't eat or sleep, couldn't stop crying. Then I let him back in again! Hoping it was all changed again.

I think there's an element of this sunking costs thing that I've seen mentioned on her. I've invested do much of myself and so much time. I've hung on, stuck, hoping it will change, being told it will change. I do love him, I believe he loves me. He just can't meet my needs in a relationship. I can't change that. He can't change. It's just sad. I need to pull the plaster....

OP posts:
Charlottedancer · 09/04/2024 13:10

Mindymomo · 09/04/2024 12:51

Good on you, realising it’s not you that has problems. Isn’t it sad that your partner cannot cope with what you’ve asked from a relationship, which in reality doesn’t sound that difficult to do, as you don’t seem to be asking for the impossible from him.

Thank you. I've spent a long time ignoring what I need to feel safe and loved. Just some quality time and a message. Its like I can't quite get to him. He's pulls you in deeply, then pushes away. He comes from a huge and horrible history of childhood abuse and I think this pattern is common.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 09/04/2024 13:24

Try not to think of it as sucken cost falacy.

You now know what you DONT want. Many people never really figure that out. You also have a better idea of how to spot bs from assholes moving forwards.

I'd guess...leaving is hard now because you feel like you've lost your own voice. Like you're in a fog somewhere hearing it call to you but...his voice was louder, has been louder, for a long time. So you've followed it. And now you're struggling to find your own again.

But it's still there you know. And you hear it now. So you need to let go of his and hold onto yours for all that you can. And start putting one foot infront of the other and follow it out of the fog.

Give yourself permission to go.
You got lost for a while. But now it's time to leave. Because if you stay here you'll always be stuck in the fog. Start taking steps.

Charlottedancer · 09/04/2024 13:54

That's all so true and invaluable advice, thank you so much and just what I needed for this next bit.

❤️

OP posts:
Emmylou22 · 09/04/2024 15:23

Sounds like you are done this time round. Trust me, lean into the painful feelings. Tell yourself and trust yourself you will move past the temporary feelings and life will be better on the other side. If you continue or take him back again, things won't get better. The only way forward is out of this relationship.

commonsense12 · 09/04/2024 16:30

Take him for who he is, not what he could be. Apply that to every avenue in your life.

ThisIsaNiceDress · 09/04/2024 16:38

Been in a similar place, tried to voice my needs in the hope I’d be understood. Didn’t ask for much at all. Put my heart and soul into the relationship. Then he left me. Apparently he didn’t like being told he is not doing things right…

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