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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

Help me have the courage to leave.

14 replies

Lunluna09 · 13/04/2024 09:05

Apologies in advance if this is long. I've been in a relationship for two years with someone I've known since I was quite young.

I seem to gravitate towards unhealthy relationships, I was diagnosed as neurodivergent last year so I'm not sure if this is a contributing factor, I am also extremely anxiously attached and struggle with abandonment due to previous emotional abuse when I was 19/20 (I'm now 30).

From the start of this relationship was red flags I didn't see, he told me he was a recovering gambling addict when we caught up as friends before we dated. Two weeks into dating he started asking me for money, which I naively gave, as he'd tell me a story about why he needed it and id feel guilty and I blindly just trusted him which is another issue I struggle with. Quite quickly I caught on to this and stopped giving him money and also asked him to stop asking me as it made me feel guilty and the way he'd do it would be manipulative. He'd pretend he needed money because he couldn't get a bus pass, or wouldn't have any food. But he still to this day asks me every week.

He also moved himself into my house pretty quickly, and due to the gambling he never has any money after paying the basics which means it falls on me

When we argue it is always very much defensive on his part, I will try and explain how I feel or how he's hurt me and he tells me he doesn't think he's done anything wrong and that I'm being unfair and having a go at him. It quickly turns into him turning it around on me, saying he wants to end things but then when I try be strong and not run after him he changes his mind.

Id say 99% of the issues are caused by gambling. His mood is persistently miserable, but he refuses to seek help and says it's pointless. It's the same cycle every month. Payday comes, he blows all his money and his mood is suic!dal for two weeks, goes on the sick at work, won't get out of bed, won't get any help, as payday starts to get closer the mood slightly improves but by this point I'm feeling completely neglected because hes just been locked away in my bed for weeks, and he doesn't seem to understand why i'd be feeling that way. As payday looms again I just feel in a constant state of abandonment and then dread for the weeks ahead.

He always has an issue with my ND traits, he says I'm rude and being nasty when I try to explain myself and I've honestly never hated myself more than I do in this relationship. I feel like an awful, awful person. I genuinely don't mean to be nasty, I can be quite passionate and my tone can come across wrong sometimes but I honestly don't do it to be nastyI. I'm so sad and unfulfilled, I feel like noone else will ever want to deal with me because I'm so unbearable. Last night we had an argument and he stormed out of the house at 10pm and didn't come back.

I know this is my chance to finally get the courage to tell him to leave, but despite everything part of me is panicking and wanting to apologize that he thinks I'm rude and ask him to stay.

Knock some sense in to me please 🥺 I don't have many friends in real life and I'm struggling.

OP posts:
tuliplav · 13/04/2024 09:06

do you or he have any children?

DriftingDora · 13/04/2024 09:19

He also moved himself into my house pretty quickly

No, you allowed him to move into your property. How did you ever think this was going to end differently?

orangetulipsinbloom · 13/04/2024 09:23

This is your chance to be free!
You will always come second to his addiction. This is your chance to free yourself from someone who is a massive drain on your financial, emotional and mental resources and who adds nothing positive to your life. Imagine a life without this millstone around your neck, imagine a life where you feel good about yourself and are being loved and cherished by someone who adores you and doesn't need to make you feel bad about yourself to get more money out of you. Imagine a life with no anxiety and walking on eggshells for fear of his moods.

Wishing you courage and strength, you can do it! When he crawls back, calmly explain it is not working for you and he needs to pack his things and move out. Enjoy the first day of your new life!

WalkingaroundJardine · 13/04/2024 09:30

What’s stopping you from asking him to leave? He sounds like a nightmare. And from what I have heard gambling is an extremely difficult addiction to treat and it would be better if he was on drugs. If you don’t make him leave you might end up penniless too, through one way or the other.

HappyintheHills · 13/04/2024 09:33

He claimed he was a recovering addict but is clearly in active addiction, causing harm to you.
You did well to ask him not to ask for money but he didn’t comply because he cares more for himself.
Can you lock him out? Gather his stuff up ready to go and message him that enoughs enough and he isn’t welcome back.

HeidiWhole · 13/04/2024 09:36

You poor thing - I want to hug you. I have ND adult children and can see how this situation arises so easily.

Ask yourself if you want to keep feeling this way for another 50 years or so? He will not change without significant intervention and even then it's not guaranteed. It sounds as though he's not up for changing.

You could be free of this misery tomorrow, next week, in month, however long it takes you is fine but someone who loves you would not subject you to this.

Do you have anyone you can turn to IRL who would help give you the courage to kick him out and stand firm?

weredormouse · 13/04/2024 11:42

Well done for reaching out here. Could you seek support in real life too - friends, family, a therapist?

Gamcare are the national provider for gambling harms and are there to support you as someone affected by others’ gambling.

Their helpline has been mixed for me, but their online group for women affected by others is great, and they can arrange free therapy for you too (what’s offered depends on which area you live in).

08088020133 is their free helpline number to get referred.

It sounds like you know what you need to do regarding the relationship - no soul searching needed there, but do seek emotional support for yourself even once the relationship is over, as it’s a heavyweight emotional burden. And you’re worth it!

As someone tangled with a gambler and self diagnosed as ND myself, I’d also really recommend working on your own boundaries.

This podcast is nice (and free!) https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-talk-boundaries-with-mary-brown/id1652370223?i=1000584557608

and this book is on Spotify (included if you have an account)
https://spotify.link/PzGP7WdbLIb

Wishing you strength and freedom

Let's Talk Boundaries with Mary Brown: 1 | How I Became The Boundaries Coach on Apple Podcasts

‎Let's Talk Boundaries with Mary Brown: 1 | How I Became The Boundaries Coach on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Let's Talk Boundaries with Mary Brown, Ep 1 | How I Became The Boundaries Coach - 7 Dec 2022

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-talk-boundaries-with-mary-brown/id1652370223?i=1000584557608

Lunluna09 · 13/04/2024 13:53

weredormouse · 13/04/2024 11:42

Well done for reaching out here. Could you seek support in real life too - friends, family, a therapist?

Gamcare are the national provider for gambling harms and are there to support you as someone affected by others’ gambling.

Their helpline has been mixed for me, but their online group for women affected by others is great, and they can arrange free therapy for you too (what’s offered depends on which area you live in).

08088020133 is their free helpline number to get referred.

It sounds like you know what you need to do regarding the relationship - no soul searching needed there, but do seek emotional support for yourself even once the relationship is over, as it’s a heavyweight emotional burden. And you’re worth it!

As someone tangled with a gambler and self diagnosed as ND myself, I’d also really recommend working on your own boundaries.

This podcast is nice (and free!) https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-talk-boundaries-with-mary-brown/id1652370223?i=1000584557608

and this book is on Spotify (included if you have an account)
https://spotify.link/PzGP7WdbLIb

Wishing you strength and freedom

Thank you for the links I will check those out x and thank you everyone for your comments

OP posts:
Sobaditsfunny · 13/04/2024 22:31

Well done for reaching out. I think the PP links and advice are great-especially the read around boundaries.

Keep in mind that you have a right to say no and a right to ask him to leave your home. I expect he will try to stay or try to convince you he will change so some support in real life to keep you strong would be very helpful.

Do you have someone who can help you tell him to leave then ward off his pleading?

Candyrushsaga · 14/04/2024 14:33

Don’t ask him to leave, just kick his sorry arse out. Or if you’d rather put his stuff outside the door that is fine too. Do it at payday.

Pinkbonbon · 14/04/2024 15:57

Change the locks whilst he's gone.
If he's on the tenancy, end it/get your name off it ASAP and move.

I'd move anyway tbh. Incase he gives your address to debt collection as his.

Meadowfinch · 14/04/2024 16:07

I said, "this isn't working for me. I'm not happy, I feel increasingly claustrophobic so we're over. You need to move back to your mum's/find a bedsit. You have until the end of the month."

If you can't cope with another two weeks of him, you could wait until he goes out and then pack all his stuff, leave it in the garage or shed, with a note saying "I can't cope with your gambling and financial abuse (because that's what it is) so I need you to leave."

Having a friend or sibling to stay as gate keeper is a great idea.

Pinkbonbon · 14/04/2024 17:36

I'd be inclined not to let him back in once it's ended tbh. Desperate, abusive men are dangerous. Where he stays is none if your concern. Getting him gone and protecting yourself is
L.

grapeomelette · 14/04/2024 19:04

You can do this OP. You know, absolutely, that your life is not going to change until you get rid of him. Do you want your life to be like this 5 years from now? 10?

Just rip the plaster off. You're stronger than you think. Good luck. Mumsnet has your back.

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