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Relationships

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Worried about possible red flags early dating?

160 replies

Sheshappy123 · Today 17:25

Ive been dating a guy for the past 6 weeks (although it feels much longer and things have moved fast and we do have strong feelings for each other already) but a few things have rang small alarm bells in my head and wanted to see wether others would think these are red flags

He looks at my phone when I’m texting and asks who I’m talking to

i noticed one night that he’d looked through my phone as it was open on messages that I hadn’t looked at in ages

He was messing around like play fighting with me and put his arm hard against my throat I got upset and did cry as my last relationship was a little violent at times and I suffered abuse as a child from my mums partner, he did seem upset though and apologised and said he was worried that he’d messed it up but since then he has been quite heavy handed and hurt me a few more times

He’s is a little bossy and will ask me to go in the Kitchen get him a drink etc or ask me to pass him something that’s right next to him

he likes to slap me in the face during sex or grab my throat but he knows I don’t mind this as long as it’s not too hard

He drinks quite a lot mostly every day- goes to bed with a can of alcohol

has thrown up in my garden a few times from being drunk (I did tell him the second time I didn’t like this as it bought back traumatic memories of my mum being an alcoholic) he did kind of apologise but also kind of turnt it round on me saying are you really gonna get funny about it and why didn’t you at least rub my back (I did the first time)

he used to be addicted to cocaine but has been clean 6 months

he’s really charming and gets along with everyone has lots of friends but when on a night one he met one of my friends and she said he’s really nice but said it seems “smoke and mirrors” and just go slowly/be careful

when on a night out another guy grabbed my arm to get me to sit back down (we were with a group of people we just met) and he got aggressive to him and nearly got in a fight”

he’s told me openly that his last relationship went downhill because of drink and drugs on both sides and it becoming toxic and it came to an end when they had a fight and they both became aggressive and he accidentally hurt her, he’s not seen his children since then as his ex moved away, he also openly said she has accused him of being controlling and coercive

He openly admits he struggles with jealousy and he sent aggressive texts to one of my clients that he saw was being a bit flirty and made him block me

On the flip side he’s very emotionally open with me and admitted he’s done lots wrong and has cried when talking about things he’s gone through

He checks on me through the day and we’ve seen each other mostly every day since we’ve met, he’s good with my children (yes he’s met them, when we met each other I was with my children) he gave spending money when i was taking my kids on holiday, brings flowers and is attentive and loving.

he tells me he just wants to be loved, says he’ll look after me and his dad says he’s got a good heart

I don’t know what to think and if I’m thinking too much of things?

OP posts:
professionalcommentreader · Today 20:30

yep

Worried about possible red flags early dating?
BrickProblems · Today 20:33

I’m not even going to get into most of your post OP because there are so many red flags as everyone has said. All you really need to remember is that he has already hurt you several times. In a healthy relationship the number of times you get hurt is zero (or perhaps once in a blue moon in a freak accident like someone is changing the bed and accidentally whacks you round the head with a pillow because they didn’t hear you walk in). In just a few weeks he’s caused you hurt multiple times and I’m afraid you need to confront the horrible fact that he’s doing it on purpose. He likes hurting you. It’s going to get worse. Now is the perfect time to perform the slow fade into the hedge and save yourself and your kids a tonne of pain. Please don’t mistake him feeling sorry for himself for him having empathy for you. Please leave him.

whistlesandbells · Today 20:43

I knew he was going to be an abuser when you wrote this: ‘Ive been dating a guy for the past 6 weeks (although it feels much longer and things have moved fast)…

LOVE BOMBING, false intimacy, future faking, over sharing with blurred boundaries. He’s rotten. You’ll regret not ending it. For sure. Sorry OP.

PickledMuffin · Today 20:48

This can’t be real?!

Blueskies77 · Today 21:05

sprigatito · Today 17:29

Is this a serious post? This guy has more red flags than a Communist party parade. Get rid of him before he murders you.

This!

Endofyear · Today 21:15

I don't even know where to start - if this is real, you're fucking irresponsible to have ever let this man near your children! You've known him 6 WEEKS!!

This man slaps you and chokes you during sex and you think it's ok? He gets so drunk that he's vomited in your garden? He's hurt you several times 'playfighting'? He's jealous and controlling, he's a former drug user, has been violent towards his former partner, is presumably not allowed to be near his own children?

What a prize 🙄 I don't know if your previous relationships have made you this way but your bar is set very low. If you have one ounce of sense in your head, you'll get as far away from this man as is humanly possible. He's violent and dangerous.

NoisyMonster678 · Today 21:34

You could be in danger.

It is not a risk worth taking, you have children who could one day be growing up without you.

When he put his arm on your throat and nearly choked you to death, he was just testing your tolerance.

LTB

SaraOnSaturday · Today 21:43

Sheshappy123 · Today 17:25

Ive been dating a guy for the past 6 weeks (although it feels much longer and things have moved fast and we do have strong feelings for each other already) but a few things have rang small alarm bells in my head and wanted to see wether others would think these are red flags

He looks at my phone when I’m texting and asks who I’m talking to

i noticed one night that he’d looked through my phone as it was open on messages that I hadn’t looked at in ages

He was messing around like play fighting with me and put his arm hard against my throat I got upset and did cry as my last relationship was a little violent at times and I suffered abuse as a child from my mums partner, he did seem upset though and apologised and said he was worried that he’d messed it up but since then he has been quite heavy handed and hurt me a few more times

He’s is a little bossy and will ask me to go in the Kitchen get him a drink etc or ask me to pass him something that’s right next to him

he likes to slap me in the face during sex or grab my throat but he knows I don’t mind this as long as it’s not too hard

He drinks quite a lot mostly every day- goes to bed with a can of alcohol

has thrown up in my garden a few times from being drunk (I did tell him the second time I didn’t like this as it bought back traumatic memories of my mum being an alcoholic) he did kind of apologise but also kind of turnt it round on me saying are you really gonna get funny about it and why didn’t you at least rub my back (I did the first time)

he used to be addicted to cocaine but has been clean 6 months

he’s really charming and gets along with everyone has lots of friends but when on a night one he met one of my friends and she said he’s really nice but said it seems “smoke and mirrors” and just go slowly/be careful

when on a night out another guy grabbed my arm to get me to sit back down (we were with a group of people we just met) and he got aggressive to him and nearly got in a fight”

he’s told me openly that his last relationship went downhill because of drink and drugs on both sides and it becoming toxic and it came to an end when they had a fight and they both became aggressive and he accidentally hurt her, he’s not seen his children since then as his ex moved away, he also openly said she has accused him of being controlling and coercive

He openly admits he struggles with jealousy and he sent aggressive texts to one of my clients that he saw was being a bit flirty and made him block me

On the flip side he’s very emotionally open with me and admitted he’s done lots wrong and has cried when talking about things he’s gone through

He checks on me through the day and we’ve seen each other mostly every day since we’ve met, he’s good with my children (yes he’s met them, when we met each other I was with my children) he gave spending money when i was taking my kids on holiday, brings flowers and is attentive and loving.

he tells me he just wants to be loved, says he’ll look after me and his dad says he’s got a good heart

I don’t know what to think and if I’m thinking too much of things?

He sounds like a true gentleman. NOT.
My only advice is to get out now.

RancidRuby · Today 21:50

This guy is bad news. It’s only been 6 weeks and already there is a substantial list of red flags, bookended by the supposed green flag of buying flowers.

I despair.

GlobalTravellerbutespeciallyBognor · Today 21:54

I’m sorry OP but I also think these are really not good traits. You need to move on sooner rather than later.

Separately, I do also think that the time to take up new pastimes and broaden one’s horizons is when one meets a new partner. It gives perspective and balance (and potentially allows you to hedge your bets a little if things don’t work out!).

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