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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 sidelined and invalidated in this long distance relationship?

57 replies

HiddenAxis · 09/04/2026 22:15

I guess I'm looking for advice.
Me and my partner met in late 2023. We have been together for 2 and a half years. When we first met and got together, I was aware that they was in a situation ship/relationship with someone, I did not know if it was serious.
A little while later we make things official. I was happy that was until I found out from social media that they were engaged (they are Polyamorous). This did not bother me, I knew what I was getting myself into.

Now here is where it gets a bit murky. We live opposite ends of the country. I travel up and we usually spent the weekend together. Now I should have seen the signs but either I decided to ignore them or saw them too late. There has been many occasions where we have had a weekend together and then all of a sudden they have to leave to attend to their other partner. (usually this would not faze me) but we only get to see each other 2 or 3 times a year due to both of our work schedules. So having them leave while we are suppose to be able to have a weekend together is alot.

Then there is the constant calling. Now don't get me wrong I'm glad they have someone else that they can be comfortable around, every time we are together for a weekend (baring in mind its usually less than 48 hours together, that's factoring sleep as well) it doesn't give us a lot of time.

Recently it feels like their other partner is coming around but its still the same, nothing in changing. I once suggested we go away somewhere together (Maybe Spain or somewhere like that) and I got told no. They don't go out of the country because their passport isn't updated. A couple of months ago they told me they were going to France with their Fiancé to go to a concert which feels like a right kick in the teeth.

Thankfully they get along with my siblings. When we first got together I thought about joining the military and asked my partner if they would come to my ceremony if I were to join. They said no. A year later they said they would come down to the area I live in to make sure my sister was okay (she was in a bad place at the time after getting out of a toxic relationship). I should feel touched by this but I don't. It just hurts.

2 and a half years later and nothing has changed. There is secrecy around us being together. I posted about it a couple of months after we got together when it started to become serious. I wanted to inform those nearest and dearest to me. I got a message a few minutes later asking for the post to be taken down because their partners family and friends did not know... When they are with their partner communication is little to none (This has slowly been getting better but not by much).

but most of all. I told them when we first got together that I identify as a male. Regardless of this, I was invalidated for this. I am constantly called their girlfriend which does not sit right with me. They said because I had not yet had the surgeries that they would refer to me as a girl and that they did not get "male vibes" from me.

Am I going insane or am I just being gaslit?

OP posts:
Handrearedmagpie · 09/04/2026 22:18

You are going insane to put up with any of this. This is not a relationship at all. Please please cut yourself off from this person.

pavillion1 · 09/04/2026 22:20

This hurts my head even reading this … Why the fuck are you bothering?

begonefoulclutter · 09/04/2026 22:20

@HiddenAxis What positives are you getting out of this relationship?

HiddenAxis · 09/04/2026 22:25

begonefoulclutter · 09/04/2026 22:20

@HiddenAxis What positives are you getting out of this relationship?

Honestly, I don't even know anymore.

OP posts:
MeatyMagda · 09/04/2026 22:25

I mean, play silly games - win silly prizes. Don’t start a relationship with someone who is ‘polyamorous’ and then moan about the polyamory. Obviously it isn’t for you, so just move on with your life.

Catza · 09/04/2026 22:35

MeatyMagda · 09/04/2026 22:25

I mean, play silly games - win silly prizes. Don’t start a relationship with someone who is ‘polyamorous’ and then moan about the polyamory. Obviously it isn’t for you, so just move on with your life.

I'll have to agree with this.

Credittocress · 09/04/2026 22:45

Are you sure their partner knows that they are “polyamorous”, and you aren’t just an affair partner?

I think you need to work out what you actually want from a relationship, because I am pretty sure when you pinpoint that you will realise you aren’t going to get it here.

Enrichetta · 09/04/2026 22:50

I told them when we first got together that I identify as a male. Regardless of this, I w?as invalidated for this. I am constantly called their girlfriend which does not sit right with me. They said because I had not yet had the surgeries that they would refer to me as a girl and that they did not get "male vibes" from me.
Am I going insane or am I just being gaslit?

come again??!!!

This must be the Mumsnet witching hour…

FaceIt · 09/04/2026 22:58

Stop putting yourself through this.
You’ve got no ties so have some self respect and walk away 💐

Cardinalita90 · 09/04/2026 22:59

Credittocress · 09/04/2026 22:45

Are you sure their partner knows that they are “polyamorous”, and you aren’t just an affair partner?

I think you need to work out what you actually want from a relationship, because I am pretty sure when you pinpoint that you will realise you aren’t going to get it here.

My thoughts too. It's dodgy as hell that there has to be that level of secrecy and suggests the other person doesn't know about you.

Plus if I read it right, you only see them 2-3 x a year? Is all this angst worth it for that?!

TwistedWonder · 09/04/2026 23:25

Does his partner know they’re polyamorous orbits he just a common or garden cheat with a semi regular fuck buddy?

The whole thing sounds ridiculous and a waste of 2 years of your life. Is this all you think you’re worth?

Hes having his cake and eating it - why do this to yourself?

Coffeislife · 09/04/2026 23:33

If you are haply to accept the basic violation of your basic thoughts, you aren't ready to be kn any kind of relationship, let alone one this complex

jellyfish798 · 09/04/2026 23:55

Credittocress · 09/04/2026 22:45

Are you sure their partner knows that they are “polyamorous”, and you aren’t just an affair partner?

I think you need to work out what you actually want from a relationship, because I am pretty sure when you pinpoint that you will realise you aren’t going to get it here.

Agreed - I think this is an old fashioned extramarital affair by someone cosplaying as poly and they're gaslighting you. You deserve better, move on with your life you'll find someone better someday & in the meantime just focus on you and heal x

FestiveFancy · 10/04/2026 00:06

As someone who is poly, I almost hope they are having an affair and that this isn't just their benchmark of acceptable polyamory. Either way OP, you deserve so much more than this. I would lay money on him having an affair, and if he's not, this is so unbalanced that it's entirely unfair on you and an extremely unhealthy polycule. And that's when you take out the fact that you identify as male and he keeps referring to you as his girlfriend.

Walk away, for your own sake.

moderate · 10/04/2026 00:13

I found out from social media that they were engaged

The only conceivable way polyamory can work is if everyone is superb at communicating. Clearly this is not even slightly the case here.

eastersundaes · 10/04/2026 02:26

Seeing someone twice per year is not a relationship - get a grip and move on

AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 10/04/2026 02:35

Of all the ridiculous posts I've ever read, this blows the rest the smithereens and then some...

HoppityBun · 10/04/2026 03:50

”I told them when we first got together that I identify as a male. Regardless of this, I was invalidated for this. I am constantly called their girlfriend”

“Regardless of this I was invalidated for this” That’s doesn’t make sense. I notice you refer to this other person as “they” but to your sister as “she”. Why are you so coy about the sex of this other person and what is the relevance of all this to your situation?

You talk about being invalidated and gaslit, but that’s psychobabble that fudges the reality that this person isn’t interested in a relationship with you. Sorry, but there it is. You’ll have to learn from this and move on. You aren’t getting and cannot get from this person whatever it is that you want from a relationship.

ArtAngel · 10/04/2026 07:10

Someone you see 2 or 3 times a year is not a relationship.

You seem quite needy / vulnerable to be wanting to let everyone on SM know that you are in a relationship.

This person will not look after you.

Seewhatsnext · 10/04/2026 07:13

but we only get to see each other 2 or 3 times a year

this isn’t a relationship. This is a penpal arrangement that meets very very rarely for sex over a weekend.

Seewhatsnext · 10/04/2026 07:14

* I am constantly called their girlfriend which does not sit right with me. T*

who by? I mean this is all incredible weird.

spending two weekends a YEAR together - that is not a relationship. It’s penpals

Seaoftroubles · 10/04/2026 07:55

This is not a relationship, It's just a very occasional hook up. I can't imagine why you would even bother! Seriously, life's too short. As a pp said l also suspect you are someone that their partner knows nothing about, hence the secrecy.

denisdenisdenis · 10/04/2026 08:00

What a mess. Cut ties with this toxic person and try some therapy which teaches you the boundaries of a relationship.

Freysimo · 10/04/2026 08:08

It would make more sense to me if I knew what sex you all were, just put he, she etc, not they. Sounds like there's half a dozen of you.

AgnesX · 10/04/2026 08:17

This person doesn't sound like a partner, and you're not a partner to them either - they're making no effort to be with you whatsoever.
This person is also disrespecting how you see yourself and not providing any support.

Cut your losses. I really don't understand why you've put up with this for so long.