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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

I don 't know what's 'normal' any more.

47 replies

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:01

Decades ago I did a creative degree where we were put into groups of 4 to work on a project. I was 24 at the time and had been with my DP for 4 years.
He became fixated on a young man in the group who had a passing resemblance to him and suspected that I was having an affair.
I was not. And I must stress this as it would be pointless of my to write any of this unless I am being 100% honest. It struck my friends and I as absolutely bizarre at the time, but it got to a point where he was checking constantly and once even appeared at a house we were working in and threatened to knock the door down. We broke up over it and I moved out into a friend's house, where he was convinced I was still conducting an affair with this person. The guy in question was nervous but persisted in the project on the advice of friends, but was willing to call the police if anything like that occurred again.

Fast forward 18 months or so - we eventually got back together. Yes I know this was stupid of me. But nothing like this ever happened again, and we seemed to grow into a decent relationship afterwards and put it behind us. Over the years I have been terribly unhappy, and only have myself to blame for sticking around. He has never fully committed to me as a partner so we never had children, bought a house together or any of the usual trappings of a big relationship.
I am fine about the kids and house, as those were never a strong urge for me, but I do now regret not leaving sooner. All of this time he insisted we were great and would live together eventually.
But as it turns out he always looked after himself, with only an illusion of including me. As the years have gone by he has withdrawn from me more and more, doing most things alone or not even including me in plans. He insists that he does and that I am reading him wrong Confused
Whenever there is an argument he will occasionally mention the 'affair' that I never had and says it ruined his life and sexuality. He has not had intimacy with me, or anyone else, for 7 years now. He squarely blames this young guy from decades ago. Yes, it's just mindboggling. He acts as if no time has gone by and still has deep resentment. Then he will shove it aside and get on as normal. I am increasingly uncomfortable with this.

My problem is, because he is mostly quiet and nice, it feels difficult to get my head around it. Every bone in my body says leave, I have wasted enough life on this man, but he denies creating distance between us, even as I see it happening. There have never been any threats, or verbal/physical abuse.

Where we currently live is absolutely awful and I have wanted us to move for many years. He has excuse after excuse as to why he can't join me, but I am ready to get out. I am at my wits end with feeling lonely, even though he is always physical there. He has refused to come on holidays I have booked for one reason or another, and it often leaves me feeling that my mind is falling apart.
I know that I am stupid for putting up with this, and I know that I don't need permission to leave.
The last time we spoke about the lack of intimacy, he insisted he was madly in love with me and sexually attracted to me, and always had been. So I asked him why we lived this way, and he replied that due to the guy from decades ago, he could not fix the problem. I said any normal man would seek help for it, but he said it was impossible.
Along with so many other things that would take forever to write down, he is barely like a romantic partner at all nowadays, but insists everything is fine. WTF?

OP posts:
username3678 · 18/10/2024 14:07

I'm not sure what your problem is. Are you trying to work out why he keeps going on about the non affair? If so you're wasting your time.

You should never have got back together and are wasting your life with this man. You're hanging onto his every word rather than listening to yourself. You've known for years that you need to end the relationship but you stay.

My advice is to move, ignore what he says and dump him.

Daleksatemyshed · 18/10/2024 14:08

Move on Op because he's never going to, he's made your fantasy affair an excuse for everything.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 18/10/2024 14:08

He’s saying it’s fine for him. But it isn’t for you OP and your feelings matter too. Holding onto resentment about an imaginary affair for so long is really not normal. It sounds like a great excuse for him to avoid intimacy and to excuse his poor treatment of you. It’s really unfair and something is needed to move this forward.

Ivegotaboneinmyleg · 18/10/2024 14:09

This is a horrible situation. He is essentially blaming you for something that didn't happen and, because of the thing that didn't happen, he has withdrawn all intimacy!
He has said the obvious out loud himself: "He cannot fix the problem". If the problem (that he has created our of something that didn't happen) is unfixable it is not "fine" and you have a choice in the future of this relationship: Continue to put up with this or leave.

I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do. 🏵

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:10

Sorry, my post was already long and I didn't want to overdo it. I sometimes second guess myself and wonder if I am the one who is hard work. He has told me that when I try to talk about the relationship it makes him stressed and hurts him. It can get you thinking you are the crazy one. My post was to try to work out if I am possibly at fault, or if my suspicions are correct and I am being played.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 18/10/2024 14:10

Good gracious just end it and move out! No need for angst.

JubilantTurquoiseGerbil · 18/10/2024 14:11

Please leave 💐

EarthSight · 18/10/2024 14:17

I couldn't be with someone who was convinced I had an affair, or had done something I hadn't done.

All of it seems like such a heavy weight on your shoulders. I think you're falling into a trap by thinking that just because someone is quite and polite, that they're 'nice'. That really isn't the case OP.

The whole thing seems broken and odd to me, and I think you've wasted enough of your time on him already.

effemnva · 18/10/2024 14:17

There is no real relationship. I think you know that. Please don't waste more time. Just put an end to it.

OnaBegonia · 18/10/2024 14:19

Wasted decades on this nasty prick , leave, you only get one life.

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:22

I apologise if this seems pathetic to MN. I appreciate that at this moment I look weak.

It has become more and more apparent to me in recent years, so I suppose I have not up and left by now because I have second guessed myself. As simple as LTB might be the obvious thing on mumsnet, it is sometimes hard to see the wood for the trees when it's happening to 'you'.

It has only recently become obvious to me as I look back on it all. I do feel unwanted and confused, and as time goes by I want to break out and get myself a new life. I am slowly getting stronger.

I see now that he has been growing away from me inch by inch, protecting his own money and future, and finding excuses as to why we can't properly commit (house, money, holidays, etc). He is so incredibly convincing and gently spoken about it all, but I feel lately that I am being messed with.

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 18/10/2024 14:23

TheShellBeach · 18/10/2024 14:10

Good gracious just end it and move out! No need for angst.

Yup, this. Life is short and you have wasted enough on this twat already…

TwistedWonder · 18/10/2024 14:25

I think it’s pretty obvious this isn’t a relationship in any way shape or form. I don’t see you’ve been played or messed about - he’s shown you clearly who he is and that nothing will ever change.

For what ever reason you’ve chosen to waste your life on this no hoper, finally give yourself the love and respect you deserve and walk away from him. Don’t get sucked into the sunk costs fallacy - make the rest of your life better away from this loser.

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:25

Forgot to say, and this is quite important, that I have come to suspect that his decades old resentment is tied to him punishing me now. He would never admit this, and insists that he adores me and can't see what I am complaining about.

If I mention that he has become distant, he either stares at me and won't say anything, or flatly denies it in one sentence. He doesn't eve waste much time trying to reason about anything, just flat denials. I have become suspicious that it is all actually deliberate, and that he withholds conversation and sharing stuff on purpose. He is far from a drama lover, but now I am not so sure.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 18/10/2024 14:28

Don't waste any more time on this arsehole.

username3678 · 18/10/2024 14:30

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:10

Sorry, my post was already long and I didn't want to overdo it. I sometimes second guess myself and wonder if I am the one who is hard work. He has told me that when I try to talk about the relationship it makes him stressed and hurts him. It can get you thinking you are the crazy one. My post was to try to work out if I am possibly at fault, or if my suspicions are correct and I am being played.

Ok. You're not at fault there's something wrong with him. The imaginary affair, his aggression, the lack of commitment and the continuous gaslighting have made you doubt yourself.

It's not you, he's telling you black is white and you are doubting your own experience and feelings. Gaslighting makes you think you're mad.

You have to trust yourself and stop listening to him. It doesn't matter what he says, things aren't going to change and you're unhappy. Please get away.

Notparticularlywealthy · 18/10/2024 14:32

Surprised no one has said this yet, but you don't need a reason to leave. Not wanting to be in this relationship any longer is the only reason you need.

Also, are you sure he's not been getting intimacy elsewhere? I am not experienced in this area, but it sounds like he's in another relationship, what with withdrawing, lack of commitment etc etc

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:33

Thanks everyone. I think I mentioned in my OP that I already know I need to leave, but had written here in hope of support for how muddled it has left me. I haven't had anyone to speak to about this in a long time, so do feel isolated.

OP posts:
BlastedPimples · 18/10/2024 14:36

Leave. Just leave.

Life your life without this awful burden of a person.

Stop now. He sounds bonkers with his fixation on this other bloke from years ago.

You're getting nothing from this and it's actually really damaging.

KimFan · 18/10/2024 14:40

He's insane. End it now.

LostOnTheWayToManderley · 18/10/2024 14:45

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:22

I apologise if this seems pathetic to MN. I appreciate that at this moment I look weak.

It has become more and more apparent to me in recent years, so I suppose I have not up and left by now because I have second guessed myself. As simple as LTB might be the obvious thing on mumsnet, it is sometimes hard to see the wood for the trees when it's happening to 'you'.

It has only recently become obvious to me as I look back on it all. I do feel unwanted and confused, and as time goes by I want to break out and get myself a new life. I am slowly getting stronger.

I see now that he has been growing away from me inch by inch, protecting his own money and future, and finding excuses as to why we can't properly commit (house, money, holidays, etc). He is so incredibly convincing and gently spoken about it all, but I feel lately that I am being messed with.

Doesn’t matter how long it’s taken, the scales have now fallen from your eyes. Make plans now and welcome to the rest of your life!

Sassybooklover · 18/10/2024 14:46

This man is gaslighting you, making you second guess yourself and thinking you must be in the wrong. He has zero intention of ever committing to you on any level. He's not even having an intimate relationship with you, and blames a non-existent affair, that's the product of his imagination!! What exactly do you have left?! Nothing. There is no relationship between you. He's 'nice' sometimes. You deserve better than 'nice' on occasions. Life is way too short, to be wasting any more precious time on this man. Take steps to find yourself somewhere else to live and end this charade of a 'relationship'. To me, his whole attitude is just weird, and he sounds exhausting. Find someone else, who will treat you properly.

YougoyourWay · 18/10/2024 14:50

He ‘adores’ you? Where is the evidence for that?

Don't analyse it any further. Just end it.

SadMarsupial · 18/10/2024 14:59

I am ashamed to say that in this case, I must have somehow got used to it, over the years.
I am definitely preparing to leave, and a lot is occurring to me in the process. I suppose I wanted to hear if anyone else had been through this, or something like it. I have previously tried to figure out why someone would stay with me if they want so little from me, and have some awful resentment towards me.

I am almost past wondering now, and am putting my energy into protecting myself and moving on. In the meantime, I don't think it is wrong to want tot talk, since I am quite alone in this.

Something broke for me last month.
Around bed time I developed quite intense pain in my chest. It later turned out to be from yoga, but at the time I was concerned as have a family history of heart issues. We have separate bedrooms, so I went into his to tell him I was concerned about the chest pain. He declared that nothing would be wrong with my heart and fell asleep promptly after that whilst I was still sat in the room.

He has atrial fibrillation and I would never respond to him that way if he suffered sudden chest pain. It made me wonder how secure I felt with this person. It was a kind of ultimate dealbreaker for me (on top of everything else).

OP posts:
PlainJaneSuperbrainthe2nd · 18/10/2024 15:04

I think the key thing is to accept that you're not going to get any answers. No one here knows what's wrong with him but, quite honestly, he probably doesn't know himself! You can talk and question until you're blue in the face but you aren't going to get any further and you aren't going to get answers. All you need to know is that you're right to leave and move on. It's difficult to get your head around that but, once you leave, the relief will kickstart the healing. Best of luck OP

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