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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

Is it def over or is there a chance?

180 replies

Louise123uk · 06/11/2025 21:02

I’ve been with my fiancée for 3 and a half years, I’m F/41 he is M/30, we’ve been engaged one. It’s been a great relationship, we are best friends, but not without challenges. He suffered a brain injury before he met me and navigating all the professionals in his life and the fact his parents dislike me as I’m older than him has caused issues but we’ve always said it’s made us stronger. He lives independently but has issues with memory and things like impulsivity. I have supported him with all his needs, put up with abuse from parents and give him extra money abd pay for our activities.

Recently in last few months he has started going out drinking every night he isn’t with me and his occupational therapist has said he is in self destruct and has specialist counsellors trying to help. He really hates being told what to do though and all these ppl in his life but always said I’m his refuge in all that.

I have been told by the professionals tbough that I need to call out his drinking and that we can’t all just keep saying oh it’s his brain injury so I have been nagging quite a bit as asked to do.

On Monday this week his ex of around4 years started send me messages he had sent her saying he thought she was beautiful and missed their times together. She’s been nasty to me before in messages and def was trying to break us up. I was upset and messaged him about it but he refused to speak to me and went to pub and did same thing Tuesday abd yesterday but did tell me he loved me and all was ok.

I kept thinking though shouldn’t he be the one messaging trying to tell me his side abd apologise as that’s what I’d be doing so I kept on bombarding him with messages saying I love him all was ok but I’d like to hear his side and then we move on no matter what was revealed- wrong now I know, too needy and emotional. Anyways fast forward to today abd still no call but he was answering my texts, not giving me much explanation but saying I love you I don’t know why I did it, maybe I was just a bit sick of life and all those professionals in my life but that it’s not you.

Stupidly! I didn’t leave it and said to his last I love you, ok but do you love me as much as ever and he said no probs not as much as ever as you piss me off a lot and went on to explain I see you like them all now as you nag and bring up stuff I’ve done. He then text we are over and goodbye. I tried to protest I was sorry for going on about messages to his ex and that I loved him but he just kept saying goodbye. He then said stop messaging me we are over and blocked me on all socials abs messaging apps.

I am freaking out abd in shock, I mean I was willing to move on all I wanted was a brief explanation but now I hate myself as up until about 2pm today I was getting I love yous still and then I must have pushed him over the edge - I mean I know men don’t like a nag and he has got a lot going on and to put up with and he has lost a jet set lifestyle pre accident 6 years ago, so I hate myself so much as if I had just shut up I would still have a relationship…

Obvs no one knows but do you think there is any chance he didn’t mean it abd might unblock me from what I’ve said? I mean I’ve snapped over text it’s over before recently with how nasty he can be while drinking but I’ve always said sorry seconds later abd never blocked him (yes I know is something you should never say ashamed I ever did).

I just want him back so much, he is my life and we have a great life doing stuff together I thought up to now, I don’t have many friends and thd ones I do have busy lives with husbands and kids… I’ll literally have work and my dog and the odd trip out maybe once every couple of months with a friend fir them to tick the keeping in touch box and I am head over heels in love still

OP posts:
Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:43

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 07:38

Why do you need to go round at all @Louise123uk?

Well it was all very out the blue on Thursday, so to genuinely see how he is, I think face to face may feel different though he might not let me in and know I can’t use my key don’t suppose, and even if it’s over we were best friends as well… and if I wait then I think it would be weirder… also have some stuff there

OP posts:
JillyGiraffe · 08/11/2025 07:46

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:36

Only reason I thought going today is I genuinely do think seeing in person might make things more normal but yes at same time want to give space but say I wait to next week or week after it’s more a legitimate risk he could already have someone else there

Don’t go at all! Send someone else to get your straighteners if you really need them. For your own benefit, do not see or talk to this man again! Do you have a friend or family member you can ask to read this thread and help you move on from this relationship?

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 07:51

Send a letter/stick a note through the door - brief and to the point - asking if he can box up your stuff and either you can pick it up at a specific time or he can drop off or he can give to a go-between friend. Sorry OP you don't get to pop round to see how he is - he's blocked you. If you are genuinely concerned about him, and aren't making it an excuse to see him 🤔, then talk to his parents. I wouldn't meander into stalker territory if I was you

DaisyChain505 · 08/11/2025 07:51

Louise123uk · 06/11/2025 23:04

We have fun all the time, loads of days or and laughs even just watching Netflix. He just went off the rails a bit cos his career aspirations are slipping away and all the intrusion in his life is getting crazy intense so what I did I now see I see wasn’t hrlping but it took this to stop abs make me think, really hate myself

You can have fun, watch Netflix and have days out with practically anyone.

That isn’t what makes a strong lasting relationship.

@Louise123uk You are over 40 now, this isn’t a relationship in your early 20s where you can waste precious time because you’re infatuated with the boy. You may or may not want marriage or children in the future but if you do, this isn’t the husband and father of your children and you’re not getting any younger.

You need to take the rose tinted glasses off and stop focusing on the wrong things like he’s great to have fun with and think deeply about with a future life would look like with this man.

Would he be someone you can lean on and depend on in tough times or is it just you mummying him all the time? Would he be a responsible parent and a good role model for children?

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:51

JillyGiraffe · 08/11/2025 07:46

Don’t go at all! Send someone else to get your straighteners if you really need them. For your own benefit, do not see or talk to this man again! Do you have a friend or family member you can ask to read this thread and help you move on from this relationship?

Why send send someone else though, on Monday morning when I saw him we were normal with each other and there wasn’t a row when we split so surely he should at least be normal with me

OP posts:
JillyGiraffe · 08/11/2025 07:53

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:51

Why send send someone else though, on Monday morning when I saw him we were normal with each other and there wasn’t a row when we split so surely he should at least be normal with me

To help yourself to move on.

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:54

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 07:51

Send a letter/stick a note through the door - brief and to the point - asking if he can box up your stuff and either you can pick it up at a specific time or he can drop off or he can give to a go-between friend. Sorry OP you don't get to pop round to see how he is - he's blocked you. If you are genuinely concerned about him, and aren't making it an excuse to see him 🤔, then talk to his parents. I wouldn't meander into stalker territory if I was you

Edited

Surely it not stalker territory going round once when it was out the blue and I do have stuff there

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 08/11/2025 07:54

Louise123uk · 06/11/2025 22:46

It’s due to the fact I’m the one who pushed him up say it by asking so many questions and bagging so much, some times I was downright ratty as hell, now I’m thinking it through properly I should not have been like thst

You shouldn’t have to put up and shut up in a relationship when someone is acting in a way that is disrespectful or hurtful to the other party.

You’re saying this has all happened because you reacted to what he was doing when really it’s happened because he was doing it in the first place.

You don’t have to sit and smile and just put up with any old behaviour to keep a relationship. If the respect and love is a two way street, one person will listen to the other if they come to them saying they’re not happy with something that’s happening.

Newmama29 · 08/11/2025 07:55

With all respect OP, I think you are truly delusional & are refusing to acknowledge the majority of this thread. People are wasting their time trying to give you sound advice & you’re wasting your own time even posting this thread.

JillyGiraffe · 08/11/2025 07:56

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:54

Surely it not stalker territory going round once when it was out the blue and I do have stuff there

What exactly do you want to do there? Stand at the door and pick up your things, or go in and act like everything’s normal, find out if anyone else has been there, tell him you love him and that you’re sorry?

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 07:58

JillyGiraffe · 08/11/2025 07:56

What exactly do you want to do there? Stand at the door and pick up your things, or go in and act like everything’s normal, find out if anyone else has been there, tell him you love him and that you’re sorry?

Well just see how he is and what happens and yeah if he isn’t friendly just pick up my stuff

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:05

Well just see how he is and what happens

He has ended your relationship and blocked you. Turning up unwanted to "see how he is" is edging into stalker behaviour.

Freysimo · 08/11/2025 08:06

You're obviously determined to go to his today no matter what anyone says, so go, but be prepared for more heartbreak. OP please have some dignity and leave him alone. If he wants to contact you he can.

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 08:11

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:05

Well just see how he is and what happens

He has ended your relationship and blocked you. Turning up unwanted to "see how he is" is edging into stalker behaviour.

Even if at very least it is to get my stuff, yes I am deep down hoping seeing me will soften things or at least bring more clarity but I do have stuff there, we’ve been completely entertained in each others lives over three years…

I think he would probs be too apprehensive to unblock as he had said he was hating himself for his behaviour with the texts and he probs will be worried I would go on again even though I’ve learnt my lesson on the going on score he doesn’t know that

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:20

I give up.

OP you didn't have to learn any lessons. Sounds like you were doing the rignt thing. You sound like you are prepared to be his doormat so you can be together. I think just turning up unannounced is a BAD idea. I would let him know beforehand that you want your stuff and you could always ask him to meet sometime to get some clarity but don't be surprised if he turns you down.

But we've all gone on and on and on now...

DaisyChain505 · 08/11/2025 08:21

@Louise123uk you’re ignoring all of the really insightful questions and advice that’s been given on this thread.

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 08:28

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:20

I give up.

OP you didn't have to learn any lessons. Sounds like you were doing the rignt thing. You sound like you are prepared to be his doormat so you can be together. I think just turning up unannounced is a BAD idea. I would let him know beforehand that you want your stuff and you could always ask him to meet sometime to get some clarity but don't be surprised if he turns you down.

But we've all gone on and on and on now...

How can I ask for my stuff in advance though I’m blocked

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:40

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 08:28

How can I ask for my stuff in advance though I’m blocked

I have already said; send a letter or stick a note through the door.

Or use a go-between

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 08:43

Mothership4two · 08/11/2025 08:40

I have already said; send a letter or stick a note through the door.

Or use a go-between

Edited

If I’m at his door though anyway… he lives in a flat and has no letterbox. A letter thru post seems really formal as well and to be honest I’m still thinking we aren’t at that kind of stage… I mean there was no row as such so even if never friends why couldn’t it be amicable enough to speak

OP posts:
NessShaness · 08/11/2025 08:48

How big is the age gap OP? Sorry if I’ve missed it.

Ohnobackagain · 08/11/2025 08:48

@Louise123uk kindly this seems to have run its course. It also sounds like he has wanted out for a while but has got used to you paying for things. The brain injury isn’t the reason for a lot of what’s going on. Honestly, I know it is hard now but you will feel better in time. Make arrangements to get your stuff back and then block him.

manicpixieschemegirl · 08/11/2025 08:49

I’m going to be brutally honest here. You have no self-worth and I think you saw a vulnerable, much younger man and thought if you met his needs, he’d never leave you. He saw you as a carer/mother figure and took advantage of your desperation. Perhaps subconsciously on both of your parts, perhaps not.

Either way, this is an incredibly problematic and unhealthy relationship and I echo other posters who have suggested you seek therapy.

Louise123uk · 08/11/2025 08:59

I’m waiting on the initial assessment call fir counselling and then I go on the waiting list, it’s long!

age gap is 11 years but it’s never bothered us nor anyone else but his parents who have disliked things about everyone he has dated.

I wasn't clinging on to him everyone including his care professionals has said what a great couple we are.

i can’t arrange to go round in advance as I am blocked.

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 08/11/2025 09:14

You’ve got a key, so I assume you can get in to the block. Knock on the flat door. Ask if it’s a good time for you to rush round and collect your stuff. Do that and leave.

If you knock and he’s not in, go in, collect stuff, leave key with a note saying you e just called in to get your stuff on the kitchen table.

Do not do what we can all see you are wanting to. Do not go round with the hope that ‘it’s softer in person’ and you get back together.

FoxLoxInSox · 08/11/2025 09:16

As someone who’s worked clinically with people with acquired brain injury I feel quite uncomfortable about all this. You are 11 years older than a vulnerable person, who you yourself say has cognitive defects including poor decision-making, impulsivity and recklessness. This is indicative of someone who should be being cautioned against getting together with someone 11yrs older - and yet you dismiss his parents’ concerns as rubbish.

You forget that his parents, unlike you, will have seen the ‘before TBI’ him and the ‘after TBI’ him, and are therefore in a better place than you to know the difference in him and what he would/wouldn’t have wanted/consented to in terms of a romantic or sexual relationship relationship, and are trying to uphold this now that he makes reckless decisions that aren’t aligned to his previous personality? As you’re 11yrs older than him there will be subtle parental power dynamics going on, which complicate the vulnerability he now has. ….So can you really not see why they are uncomfortable about your relationship???

With respect OP, you yourself come across as very young and naive, and unable to take on board written feedback. I’m wondering how you both met… was this via a brain injury support group perhaps? Do you have difficulties of your own? If so, this will further complicate any situation.

Please step away from this brain-injured young man, and live the life of a 41 year old.

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