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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 am being gaslighted

28 replies

ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 13:58

Been in a relationship for 4 years with a guy we are both 45 in the beginning it was great but I always felt my boundaries were compromised. He is a widow with a teenage son (17) and I have a grown up son (25). Firstly him and his female friend were sending each other gross porn as a 'laugh' and she was betting him that we would mastubate over it later, I found this to be upsetting and although I have 2 male friends not once has the conversation ever turned in that way. He told me she was a married friend and there was nothing in it. There were other incidents with another female friend were she was sending him reels on instagram late at night, he told me they were friends and that I was overreacting. He would then update his stories on instagram and tag other people in the post even though he was with me at the time and not them, to me it was suggesting he was with them and not me when at the sea side. I told him it felt off and he got mad and deleted his page even though I didn't want him to do so. He said he had to consider how his mother in law would feel viewing him moving on as she lost her daughter. Which I was totally on board with. Fast forward a few years later and I found he was confiding to his brother who said I was controlling and abusive, this lead to his mother and son being involved and a big public argument. I was devastated, I went to the doctors and went on antidepressant for the first time ever. It was over the fact he bought a plot of land to build a house and was in the process of buying another plot of land were he and his son would live. He kept this from me as he thought I would assume I would live there too, I told him after being together for 4 years there was nothing wrong with wanting to live together. I have my own home and a good job so for him to assume this made me feel belittled that normal things in a relationship (moving in, getting married, posting each other on socials) were abnormal. He would ruin special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries and say I was over reacting. I have now asked for space as I am not sure I can be in a relationship were things are not naturally progressing and where I feel such hate is aimed towards me. I am not perfect, but I often feel he'll make me react in way I have never reacted before with past relationships or with friends. Please help, any advice would be appreciated

OP posts:
Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 12/09/2025 14:00

The only advice you should be receiving is to get rid of him. He's toxic..

mrandmrsrobinson · 12/09/2025 14:00

Bin

1983Louise · 12/09/2025 16:11

So when are you telling him it's over, always know your worth x

Rightandwrong · 12/09/2025 18:06

Honestly OP he sounds absolutely horrible.
Why would you want to continue a relationship with someone who sounds as though he has no respect for you? It doesn't sound as if he even likes you.
You would be much happier without him in your life.

TwistedWonder · 12/09/2025 18:10

Why are you wasting your life with a man who has shown you time and time again he’s a complete cunt? And involves his family in your private lives - they sound like they’re from Shameless

Come on find you’re self respect, drag your bar out of the gutter and tell him to fuck off

thepariscrimefiles · 12/09/2025 18:44

He is horrible. Leave him.

Bananalanacake · 12/09/2025 18:47

Don't move in with him, ever

lovemycbf · 12/09/2025 19:01

Just leave
you shouldn’t be made to feel this way.Tbh I’d rather be on my own than put up with him

GingerPaste · 12/09/2025 19:51

Why would you want things to ‘progress’ with this awful bag of shite!!

The only progression needed is ‘you’re dumped’.

ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:11

Thank you, I honestly feel as if im going mad!

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:13

I agree, I know this deep down

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 12/09/2025 21:14

Does he make you happy? If the answer is no then move on. Your partner in life should be your cheerleader bringing you up, not be the one making you feel crap. People always say you have to work hard at relationships but I disagree, you have to have good and clear communication but if it’s lots of effort then it’s not right.

ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:15

Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 12/09/2025 14:00

The only advice you should be receiving is to get rid of him. He's toxic..

Thank you, I honestly feel as if I mad!

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:16

mrandmrsrobinson · 12/09/2025 14:00

Bin

I agree, I know it deep down

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:20

1983Louise · 12/09/2025 16:11

So when are you telling him it's over, always know your worth x

Thank you, I've asked him to stop messaging me as I want space...I know deep down it's over. He's not worth the fight anymore

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:24

Rightandwrong · 12/09/2025 18:06

Honestly OP he sounds absolutely horrible.
Why would you want to continue a relationship with someone who sounds as though he has no respect for you? It doesn't sound as if he even likes you.
You would be much happier without him in your life.

Edited

I tell him this, I would never put up with this behaviour from previous relationships or from friends. But he'll twist things. It's hard as I don't confide with many people as I just wanted honest opinions x

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:28

TwistedWonder · 12/09/2025 18:10

Why are you wasting your life with a man who has shown you time and time again he’s a complete cunt? And involves his family in your private lives - they sound like they’re from Shameless

Come on find you’re self respect, drag your bar out of the gutter and tell him to fuck off

Thank you, I would never tell friends or family my personal affairs unless it was something serious as I know they would take my side regardless. I told him a grown man shouldn't go running to family and they have already cast me as a money grabbing mental gf. Never experienced this fall out ever before. By the way I often pay for gigs, weekends away...I earn more money than him! X

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:34

TeenLifeMum · 12/09/2025 21:14

Does he make you happy? If the answer is no then move on. Your partner in life should be your cheerleader bringing you up, not be the one making you feel crap. People always say you have to work hard at relationships but I disagree, you have to have good and clear communication but if it’s lots of effort then it’s not right.

Nope he doesn't make me happy, I often feel I have to set myself on fire to keep him warm. It's really hard work which is a shame but I can't do it anymore. He'll often say these are little things but I really don't think they are...there's nothing little about his mother coming onto to in a supermarket shouting the odds against me...its weird in fact x

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:35

lovemycbf · 12/09/2025 19:01

Just leave
you shouldn’t be made to feel this way.Tbh I’d rather be on my own than put up with him

Good point, I loved being on my own, I did more on my own than whilst ive been with him x

OP posts:
AllrightNowBaby · 12/09/2025 21:43

ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 21:34

Nope he doesn't make me happy, I often feel I have to set myself on fire to keep him warm. It's really hard work which is a shame but I can't do it anymore. He'll often say these are little things but I really don't think they are...there's nothing little about his mother coming onto to in a supermarket shouting the odds against me...its weird in fact x

Omg! Just No!
His Mother came at you in a supermarket shouting the odds.
Dear God, just get out of there and good riddance to him and his horrible family.
Eurghhhhhh….

TheDayWeGotMinnie · 12/09/2025 21:46

Sending a hug OP. I think you know the answer. It sounds like you are losing a big chunk of yourself trying to accommodate his, quite frankly nasty, ways. Bin. Off. You will be happier.

ThreePears · 12/09/2025 22:16

He is absolutely horribly disgustingly vile. Please just dump him.

ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 22:23

Yip never in my days have I had any sort of fall out like that. It was because I asked who he was texting on my birthday night out (which was organised and paid for by me) he erupted and caused a scene saying I was controlling, told him I had to wait at least 4-6 hours for a response via text off him but when he is with me his phone is glued to his hand and he responds to others straight away. His mother found out (probably coz he told her) and she shouted top note at me in public saying he can do better and made me out to be a nob. She constantly falls out with people which is quite the opposite for me. I always try and take people as they come and understand there's 2 sides to every story. The more im writing this the more clarity I see x

OP posts:
ThisCoralViewer · 12/09/2025 22:31

AllrightNowBaby · 12/09/2025 21:43

Omg! Just No!
His Mother came at you in a supermarket shouting the odds.
Dear God, just get out of there and good riddance to him and his horrible family.
Eurghhhhhh….

Yip never in my days have I had any sort of fall out like that. It was because I asked who he was texting on my birthday night out (which was organised and paid for by me) he erupted and caused a scene saying I was controlling, told him I had to wait at least 4-6 hours for a response via text off him but when he is with me his phone is glued to his hand and he responds to others straight away. His mother found out (probably coz he told her) and she shouted top note at me in public saying he can do better and made me out to be a nob. She constantly falls out with people which is quite the opposite for me. I always try and take people as they come and understand there's 2 sides to every story. The more im writing this the more clarity I see x

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 12/09/2025 22:36

@ThisCoralViewer wow , he’s a classic prick , with a horrid family - and yep you can do better - doubt he can