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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

Can't make sense of my boyfriends actions, should I trust him?

26 replies

FluentBlueHiker · 12/07/2024 06:17

Background
My boyfriend and I are in our mid-20s and have been together for a little over two years. In the beginning, we had a lot of arguments over small things because we didn't know how to comfort each other or understand why certain things about each other bothered us so much. These arguments were frustrating and often dragged on for hours with us both trying to prove our points. Things got really bad around the 1.5-year mark, with near-daily arguments making both of us fed up.

My boyfriend is generally really anxious and has abandonment issues but I and everyone I introduced him to all got the impression he's super caring and cares a lot about me. He's never taken advantage of me in most ways, never belittled me about anything, never used me for money even though he doesn't make a lot of his own money, etc. He's truly went above and beyond in planning things for me and trying to make me happy even when things were rough.

The Incident
One day, while I was using his phone, he got a text from some girl, asked for her phone back, deleted all his texts, and wouldn't let me see his phone. He said it was a girl he had hooked up with before we started dating, who he'd stayed in contact with but almost stopped talking to after we got together. Recently, he helped her with job applications because she became homeless. Although she lives across the country and I wasn't worried about physical cheating, he admitted she had flirted with him occasionally, but he "ignored it". He deleted the texts because of our constant arguments, and not wanting to give us a reason to have yet another one.

Instead of moving on, I became paranoid, constantly checking his phone and asking for proof of his whereabouts. I eventually got therapy to address my issues and stopped snooping for a month, which improved our relationship tremendously. However, I later asked him for proof of where she was, and he reluctantly complied.

Another Incident
He got a text from a female friend asking to hang out. I checked his phone and saw they had been calling each other 3-5 times a day for brief "check-ins." Weirdly, these calls were usually only 1-2 minutes in length. After the previously mentioned incident where I became really suspicious of him, he got worried we'd fall into arguing again and deleted all their phone logs. He also said after that happened, they briefly got coffee, but he hadn't seen her for years prior to that. She's also called him asking to hang out with her and their mutual friend before all of this, I heard the conversation and it seemed completely innocent.

Current Situation
Now, I'm confused. Therapy and self-reflection have helped us stop arguing completely, but I'm still suspicious of his commitment. The coffee meeting could have been cheating, this is dumb to say but the girl is less attractive than me, and their recent conversations seem normal. Our relationship is otherwise strong, and he is traditional and family-oriented, wanting marriage and kids. He spends almost all his free time with me, as he has few friends(not guessing, he genuinely just has pretty much no friends which I know is a little ironic considering he's hidden interactions from me but it's true)

How do I move on from this and believe him? Should I? After the first incident, he got easily upset when I asked for proof of his whereabouts and that our I'd become so distrusting of him. Now, he's open and understanding whenever I get concerned and handles it well. He's currently on vacation with his family in a foreign country and sends me video updates of everything he's doing and I can video call him whenever I want.

This whole situation is extremely difficult to wrap my mind around, I know in just about every similar scenario it would seem like cheating. And reading it back it almost certainly seems like it. But I wish I could get across by text the regret I feel from him and all the genuine good she's done for me over the years. His anxiety has led him to acting poorly towards myself and his family, and I don't know if this is trying to cope but cheating is the last thing I would've ever expected of him. He cries every time kids come up in movies or in discussions because we started having that conversation pretty deeply around the time the second incident happened. I'm lost and I'd appreciate any input.

OP posts:
IdLikeToBeAFraser · 12/07/2024 06:19

Why be with someone you argue this much with and you don't trust so early in the relationship?

Accept you are not compatible. Move on.

DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum · 12/07/2024 06:21

This is not a good relationship. You aren't supposed to have constant arguments with the person you love.

Guavafish1 · 12/07/2024 06:23

You're relationship seems to be riddled with argument and mistrust.

Are you happy? Do you have fun together? Is he supportive of you?

Usually the 1st year of the relationship are the "honeymoon" phase where most thing are exciting and fun.

I personally wont put up with this balhaviour.

xTheLoudLeaderx · 12/07/2024 06:32

When you confront him, instead of reassuring you he deletes everything! You shouldn’t be going through someone’s phone though - that’s so intrusive!! If I’ve ever felt doubt I’d say to my partner X Y Z has made me feel this way, can you show me - and obviously explain how it’s taken a lot of courage to even ask, and this is very rare.
With my ex I did the same and one time he couldn’t show me, he had to go upstairs and change his jumper - that second - I didn’t need to see him phone, his actions show me everything I needed to know.
You’ve said one of the girls isn’t as attractive as you, unfortunately cheaters cheat regardless of this ! Sometimes they just want attention - yack I know. It does sound like he’s seeking attention from other women / old flames for some reason. I wouldn’t trust him from his actions. I also wouldn’t be in a relationship with someone who goes through my phone. It just doesn’t sound like what a relationship is. Where’s the good bits ?

GogAndMagog · 12/07/2024 06:55

You know being in a relationship should make you happy?

This is not happiness, or anywhere near it.

thatstakingalongtimetoboil · 12/07/2024 06:57

Nono of us can tell you if his cheated or not but the point is this relationship is way too much hard work after such little time. You obviously have massive trust issues and he has problems of his own. I don't think you two are good for each other. Why don't you both just work on yourselves. You will make each other very unhappy. Checking his phone all the time is crazy. You either have to trust him or call it a day.

LoudSnoringDog · 12/07/2024 07:01

Jesus Christ. 2 years in and it's like this. Is this what you want for the rest of your life?

Bin him

jubs15 · 12/07/2024 07:02

You don't need therapy, you need a new boyfriend. He is testing out replacements for you in plain sight and gaslighting you when you confront his dodgy as hell behaviour.

FluentBlueHiker · 12/07/2024 07:11

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 12/07/2024 06:19

Why be with someone you argue this much with and you don't trust so early in the relationship?

Accept you are not compatible. Move on.

I know it doesn't seem like it from the post, we were both quite immature at the beginning and did not know how to handle our constant frustrations at each other. I don't know the right way to put it, we'd end up just arguing because we couldn't see eye to eye on the smallest bits.

He truly is incredibly supportive of me and our connection is the best I've ever had, and she's said the same to me. We get along well in every other aspect, especially now. The only thing in the way is the mistrust I have.

OP posts:
BowlOfNoodles · 12/07/2024 07:13

Sorry love but if a man was going this to you going through your phone 📱 demanding 🫴 tye location of another man! And wanting to know he's exact movements he'd be called a control freak/abuser and you'd be being told to ring womens aid. You are out of line here.

Cerialkiller · 12/07/2024 07:17

You said that with therapy and working on yourself things have improved. But what has he done to improve things?

Have arguments stopped because you stopped raising issue you have with his behaviour? Have you had to bite your tongue to have a peaceful life?

Now it might have been both of your or more you that was causing the toxic environment in which case well done for working on yourself. However your description of him doesn't paint a very pretty picture of him so suspect at the very least he has some problematic behaviour that you are well within your rights to take issue with.

Can you picture yourself in 5-10 years still doing this? Can you imagine having children with this person and them being a reliable parent and partner? If not you need to leave. It all sounds exhausting.

EVHead · 12/07/2024 07:27

I think you need to continue with therapy to understand why your view of relationships is off.

“He's never taken advantage of me in most ways”: he shouldn’t be taking advantage of you in any ways.

“He said it was a girl he had hooked up with before we started dating, who he'd stayed in contact with but almost stopped talking to after we got together.” “Almost” = he was still talking to her. And whatever else they were still doing.

“they briefly got coffee” “Briefly” = they had coffee. At least.

These things demonstrate a bad relationship. Get out of it asap.

Luio · 12/07/2024 08:17

Constantly checking someone’s phone and needing to know their whereabouts plus video calling them on holiday so that you can reassure yourself that they are where they say they are is really bad. You don’t trust him and it is very controlling behaviour. He hasn’t got an awful lot to lose now.

Also, he hasn’t got any friends which is not a good sign. He does appear to be enjoying interactions with other women or maybe he quite likes making you jealous. Some people like the drama and attention. On top of this he is anxious and has attachment issues which will make things much harder for both of you.

It sounds toxic for both of you. Is he really worth all this emotional effort? Your jealousy might be blinding you to the fact that he is actually a dud boyfriend.

Lostworlds · 12/07/2024 08:27

Has he really given you any reason to mistrust him? Then deleting of the messages/ call log would worry me but it does seem hes doing it to avoid an argument.

I echo everyone else here and say that a relationship shouldn’t be this hard. Your level of mistrust is high that you’ve undergone a lot of therapy to get through. It’s not healthy to feel you need to question and worry about his whereabouts and who he is talking to.
Does he reassure you or does he just delete things to make his life easier?

DoreenonTill8 · 12/07/2024 08:30

thatstakingalongtimetoboil · 12/07/2024 06:57

Nono of us can tell you if his cheated or not but the point is this relationship is way too much hard work after such little time. You obviously have massive trust issues and he has problems of his own. I don't think you two are good for each other. Why don't you both just work on yourselves. You will make each other very unhappy. Checking his phone all the time is crazy. You either have to trust him or call it a day.

This. The girl is less attractive than me, and their recent conversations seem normal.
Says who? It seems your both stuck in a drama and fighting = intensive love and passion that is not sustainable.

Girlmom35 · 12/07/2024 08:36

This sounds like an incredibly toxic relationship!
Please listen to all these posters who are trying to open your eyes.
You're making all sorts of excuses for his behaviour, minimising the things he does. But the truth is, he's a horrible boyfriend. And worst of all, he's made you believe that you're the problem!

Please know that relationships aren't supposed to be this way, and that something better is out there for you. Don't waste any more of your precious time on him.

BowlOfNoodles · 12/07/2024 08:46

DoreenonTill8 · 12/07/2024 08:30

This. The girl is less attractive than me, and their recent conversations seem normal.
Says who? It seems your both stuck in a drama and fighting = intensive love and passion that is not sustainable.

Indeed lol who's to say she's less attractive? Very immature outlook she girl might have a banging personality which is more attractive than having your phone/privacy invaded...

Tenaciousbeyondallthings · 12/07/2024 08:47

Stop phone snooping . It's abhorrent behaviour. I would dump you instantly without a backwards glance.

If you don't trust him then end it. No excuse for justifying snooping.

outdamnedspots · 12/07/2024 08:49

Things got really bad around the 1.5-year mark, with near-daily arguments making both of us fed up.

You should have ended the relationship months ago. Relationships are not meant to be this much hard work. If they are, it's a sign you're with the wrong person. You are incompatible.

outdamnedspots · 12/07/2024 08:50

And if you don't trust him, your relationship is dead anyway.

Incakewetrust · 12/07/2024 09:02

This relationship is so so toxic and sounds just like the awful relationships I had in my teens.
You're never going to be truly happy or content with this guy.
He sounds like an absolute loser.

PercyGherkin · 12/07/2024 09:06

“ His anxiety has led him to acting poorly towards myself and his family”

What does this mean? It sounds like something other than what you have described. Anxiety isn’t an excuse for poor behaviour towards others.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of whether he’s cheating, your checking up behaviour etc etc, this relationship sounds full of arguments and angst. Perhaps accept that you have both learned something about relationships and about yourselves from this one, and call it a day. Thank goodness you went no further than talking about children.

CanFishMicrowaveSoup · 12/07/2024 09:13

Other men are available. Relationships are not meant to be that hard. Imagine being in a relationship with someone who doesn't constantly set you on edge, where you don't feel the need to be controlling and you aren't anxious and distrustful all the time - it's never going to be this guy.

TealSapphire · 12/07/2024 10:14

Sounds like a very poor environment to bring children into.

twentysevendresses · 12/07/2024 10:15

You sound incredibly immature and this relationship is doomed! End it now...for both your sakes!

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