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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 feel attracted to my partner anymore

4 replies

fredandphe · 15/06/2025 06:10

Hi all. I’m 22F and have two young children with my 24M who I have been with for four years. Now, I know that is a short amount of time to have had two children with someone but please don’t judge me on that; my children are my world.

As the title says, my attraction to my partner has fizzled out and honestly I’m terrified. It’s both physically and mentally.

The smallest things he does drives me insane, he’s a very angry person and gets annoyed at pretty much anything rather easily. He isn’t violent or anything, but the moods he gets into so easily over the smallest things are so bad and is forever putting me into a bad mood. My family, my friends, his family all have seen and said something about how moody he is. I’ve asked him to get therapy for his anger, I even said to him that I don’t know how long I can deal with it for as I have my own mental health to look after.

Now, don’t get me wrong, my mental illnesses can be a lot to handle sometimes, I have OCD that manifested into really bad germophobia. I completely understand how hard that is to be around, especially because I have always been paranoid about him not touching this or that because I deem it dirty and so on. But the key difference is I have gotten therapy, twice now, to help me become the best version of myself for my me, family and friends. His promise to get therapy was just empty. And I know therapy will only help so long he complies and is willing to change.

Now with physical attraction, I think the fact he gets so angry hasn’t helped at all. As well as the fact he is really crappy with hygiene, especially dental. The whole time we have been together I haven’t enjoyed kissing him because of his breath. I’ve tried to gently tell him that he needs to do something about it. He never does.

As you can probably imagine too, I struggle with getting intimate with him for this reason too. We very rarely do anything, and last time we did I was cringing throughout it.

It’s really frustrating, I want to be attracted to him. I want to love him like I did before but there’s so many factors now that really make it difficult to do so. Like, I’m so scared if we broke up because I cant drive, I live 40 mins away from my family, and the thought of being a single parent is quite daunting. Of course he would be parenting too, but I’m like the ‘default’ parent and stay at home to care for them.

I also worry about being alone. I’m very insecure about the way I look now after having children, I have a lot if excess skin and stretch marks from pregnancy, and they make me feel unattractive because most people my age don’t have children, and the ones that do, don’t have bellies like mine and have ‘bounced back’ so to speak. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with having stretch marks or lose skin, it’s just on me personally they make me feel insecure, and that I wont be able to ever find a partner again. As well as the fact I’d have to find someone who would be okay with the fact I have two children so young, and if I can even trust them around my kids because there’s some really creepy people around.

Theres so much to factor and I feel like Ive not covered it all but I can’t think properly atm, my head just feels so noisy.

please dont judge me or my life or feelings, I’m quite a sensitive person and if you don’t have anything nice to say just please scroll away as I don’t want to deal with getting upset with internet trolls. i just need someone to vent to.

if you have made it this far, thank you for reading

OP posts:
Thatpastalife · 15/06/2025 06:22

It sounds like your checked out, angry and poor hygiene… I don’t blame you! I’d move the kids back to near your family and make a fresh start on your own with the kids, if he drives, 40 mins isnt great but do-able, you’ll probably need your families support to juggle all this. Good luck 🩷.

IceLollyMummy · 15/06/2025 06:35

You have to decide which is worse being with him or alone?

Thatsthebottomline · 15/06/2025 08:52

IceLollyMummy · 15/06/2025 06:35

You have to decide which is worse being with him or alone?

I think if I was in this position I'd find being alone quite liberating actually.

I'd get rid now because, like a volcano, that anger will result in physical abuse. He might say he'll change but he won't. I sometimes am not particularly serious on here but I am here.

This will get worse Get you and your kids safely away from this man ASAP.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/06/2025 09:19

What is the situation re the finances and property?.

How supportive / helpful are your own family here?. Can you move back closer in distance to them?. From that I would start the process of learning to drive.

I would be very brave here and start the whole process of separation; it's over anyway between you two. He is also volatile and remains so; this is also no environment to raise your kids in. They need a calm home and your home is anything but beneath the surface; it is more akin to a war zone with he conducting his own private based war against you. Therefore this is not going to improve at all. Words are cheap OP; he's basically told you perhaps what you wanted to hear. You are alone really within this relationship and that is a dark place to be in. All this man cares about is his own self and getting his needs met. The kids and you are mere collateral to him.

What did you learn about relationships when you were growing up; what sort of examples did you see?.

You are 22 so are still very young emotionally in terms of adulthood; do not make this the cornerstone of your life and your kids childhoods. You have a choice re this man, they do not and I would also think he targeted you to go onto abuse you. You were 18 when you met and barely an adult yourself. Find out who you really are without him and rebuild your life from the ground up.

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