Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Am I being ridiculous?

11 replies

MyGoldPanda · 25/06/2025 18:56

First time posting, I guess I'm just looking for some advice. My partner and I have been together for 5 years. For the most part if I try to talk about any issues in the relationship he either closes up or gets very stressed and then tells me I'm in the wrong for raising it. For the last year or so I have been feeling more and more like the love just isn't there anymore. He rarely touches me, we sit at opposite ends of the sofa, he gets on his phone when we get into bed and inevitably we end up facing opposite ways and going to sleep. He used to tell me how beautiful I am all the time but now, its so rare. I really hate how I look and I feel so down about my body and feel ugly, which he knows, so it doesn't help that he doesn't seem to look at me in the same way. We dont talk about the future, our conversations are so superficial. Over the last few months I have tried to raise to him calmly that I am feeling unloved in our relationship and that its getting me down a great deal. I feel so depressed over this. But the conversations never go well, no matter how hard I try to keep things from becoming an argument, they always do, because he will tell me I'm "getting at him" and accusing me of wanting to cause an argument. He doesn't seem to understand that I just want to fix the issues in our relationship.

When we both work from home, I often go in to see him and see how he is getting on and to give him a hug to let him know I'm thinking of him. He's often too busy to reciprocate much, which I understand. Today, I happened to have the day off while he was working from home. During his break he decided to stay downstairs and play a video game. Now the way I've been feeling recently I guess made me overeact and to mention to him that it would be nice if he spent some time with me on his break (I was off work as I have a chronic illness and was having a bad day). The conversation then turned to this issue because it's on my mind. I tried to calmly explain, but he just got more and more dismissive and told me to get off his back. I told him that it's on my mind every single day and making me feel so low and he just told me that he didn't have the headspace to discuss it (yet again), and that I was making him stressed (again). I just don't know what else I can do, he never has the headspace, he never wants to discuss it, and he always tells me I'm nagging him and causing or making up issues. He ends up being sarcastic and rather rude sometimes while I am stood there in tears basically feeling like a desperate idiot that just wants a hug. He doesnt really do comfort either, if im ever upset about anything, he stiffens up and closes down. He tells me I'm wrong to feel the way i do because he "tries", but I feel like I don't matter to him. I don't feel like I can carry on living like this, and since I can't just have a conversation with him, am I being ridiculous? Just to add that in other ways he's a good partner, like I said with my illness, he does a lot of the housework and cooking but I just want to be able to talk to him.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/06/2025 19:04

What are you getting out of this relationship. now?. How did you and he get together in the first place?. Please do no spend another 5 days, let alone another 5 weeks together.

He may do one housework and cooking but that is all he’s really doing here and it’s simply not enough.

You and he should not be together. He’s checked out of this relationship and is no longer bothered. You’d be flogging a dead horse if you persist with him.

What is the situation re the property?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/06/2025 19:06

And you cannot fix what are his issues in the main on your own. Why is this on you to fix this?. Being a rescuer or saviour in a relationship never works.

RuffledKestrel · 25/06/2025 19:09

He's checked out of the relationship, potentially got eyes on someone else and is too much of a coward to be an adult and split up. He wants you to "do the dirty work" and leave him.

It's difficult, but don't put up with his behaviour. Tell him you want to talk about your future on X date at Y time. If he still doesn't want to talk then make your plans to split up. He's not worth your time or emotional energy.

Hatty65 · 25/06/2025 19:15

You've tried. But one person can't fix a relationship when the other one dismisses any attempt at conversation about it.

I would tell him now 'This relationship isn't working for me any longer. Good luck for the future' and I'd be moving on.

Take control of your own life. You can't change him - but you can find someone better, who will communicate.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 25/06/2025 19:16

When people back away it's normal to try and get closer so I'm not sure if that's the reason why you come across as very needy. It doesn't sound like he can get much space and you seem to want constant reassurance.

You need to work on your self esteem, as you say you hate how you look. Do you have a social life? If your life revolves around your boyfriend then I suggest you get some hobbies. Therapy might help with your low self esteem.

What you're doing is pushing him further away so you need to stop.

MyGoldPanda · 25/06/2025 19:28

AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/06/2025 19:04

What are you getting out of this relationship. now?. How did you and he get together in the first place?. Please do no spend another 5 days, let alone another 5 weeks together.

He may do one housework and cooking but that is all he’s really doing here and it’s simply not enough.

You and he should not be together. He’s checked out of this relationship and is no longer bothered. You’d be flogging a dead horse if you persist with him.

What is the situation re the property?

We do get on and have a laugh but it's like we're room mates. When we first got together he was entirely different, checking in, physical affection etc, it just seems to have all dropped off. Currently we live in a privately rented house with my 2 kids (from a previous relationship). He pays the rent and I pay the bills and food. I don't know what I'd do if we separated.

OP posts:
MyGoldPanda · 25/06/2025 19:31

MiloMinderbinder925 · 25/06/2025 19:16

When people back away it's normal to try and get closer so I'm not sure if that's the reason why you come across as very needy. It doesn't sound like he can get much space and you seem to want constant reassurance.

You need to work on your self esteem, as you say you hate how you look. Do you have a social life? If your life revolves around your boyfriend then I suggest you get some hobbies. Therapy might help with your low self esteem.

What you're doing is pushing him further away so you need to stop.

I understand why I might come across as needy. I guess what I was trying to get across is that the relationship feels one sided in terms of showing love and affection and there seems to be no discussing it. Just to confirm, I don't constantly bring this issue up every day. I've set it sit for weeks and months and still he doesn't want to discuss it and nothing changes. I do have some self esteem issues, with that you're right, and have worked with a therapist on multiple of occasions and tried different types of therapy but it's a long road and hard to shift.

OP posts:
thatsawhopperthatlemon · 25/06/2025 19:35

MyGoldPanda · 25/06/2025 19:28

We do get on and have a laugh but it's like we're room mates. When we first got together he was entirely different, checking in, physical affection etc, it just seems to have all dropped off. Currently we live in a privately rented house with my 2 kids (from a previous relationship). He pays the rent and I pay the bills and food. I don't know what I'd do if we separated.

Well how did you manage before you and your two dc moved in with him?

TheAvidWriter · 25/06/2025 19:38

OP hang on a minute, wait, as I need to understand why you are not starting on yourself here and your whole focus is on what he is doing.

First off, whatever you say, do or explain your side of the story to get a different reaction from him, is never going to work, ever, he is telling you loud and clear its not in his interest, in the slightest, he mocks you, and dismisses you and treats you with contempt, he is doing this consciously, fully aware what this is doing to you, without blinking an eye.

So why the heck are you allowing this? what have you done so bad in your life that this is ok on any level? Are you to be punished? is this all you deserve?

Is this love to you?

He is telling you loud and clear, with his actions, and words, that you are to be treated in a certain way, you complain, he will do some more, all done to control you, how you react and so forth, now they are his actions, but you teach people how to treat you by what you allow.

OP, you will end up with complex mental disorder trying to implement this man into your life and finding ways to override his treatment of you.

YOU KNOW FULL WELL HE IS AN ASS.

So why stay in this?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/06/2025 19:46

Where were you living beforehand?.

Is the rental agreement in his sole nane?

And no you do not get on and you no longer laugh. You’re two roommates and he has turned against you big time.

Please do not make this dysfunctional mess of a relationship the cornerstone of their childhoods. You have a choice re this man and they do not.

mondaytosunday · 25/06/2025 20:18

I read somewhere you know a man has checked out when he stops paying attention and gets mean. You know a woman has checked out as she starts living an independent life separate from her home.
You’ve asked. If you want tell him either he works WITH you to fix thing or it’s over. Don’t say he’s doing xyz wrong, but that you both seem to be at a dead end and does he think there’s anything worth saving?
Before, get your finances sorted. Look at where you might be able to move to. If he agrees to separate he may move but you must figure out how to cover the rent (a lodger perhaps)?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread