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What is going on here

589 replies

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 04:36

I have been with my BF for about 9m now. Both in our 40’s. I usually stay over at his for a few days a week and recently he gave me a spare key and I brought clothes round and he cleared me a space on his wardrobe.

Generally things have been going well, supposedly in love and everyone I meet around him tells me he seems a lot happier than he used to be, and he’s said he’s happy.

It’s become a regular thing that he wants to go out drinking locally, and when we do, we often get into some kind of disagreement. This is always about something I have said or done that’s apparently embarrassed him when he says I’m drunk.

A few times I’ve apologised for whatever it is I’ve allegedly done, and a few times he’s apologised for me for being unreasonable and we have let it go.

I’ve had a few acne spots lately and when I do, he will keep asking me why I have a spot and asking me if I’ve picked the spot and will keep pointing out the spot until it goes away. I’ve explained they are hormonal and they make me feel a bit self conscious. Last weekend I picked him up from the pub (I was sober) and I had a spot on my face. He kept pressing the spot and laughing. I asked him to stop and got visibly irritated and the next day he said I was beautiful even with spots and hadn’t mentioned it again.

We had a good day together yesterday after a bit of a shit week where we have both felt unwell. He wanted to go out to the pub so we popped out for a few drinks yesterday.

He likes to go to a bit of an old man type pub, the football was on and other old men at the bar so it’s not exactly fun all the time. A guy in the pub sitting behind us had a big dog with him - I love dogs - so I got chatting to him and ended up stroking the dog. The dog wanted to play fight, it was gentle and fun, so I crouched with the dog for 5 mins or so, play fighting, dog rolled over and I tickled their belly etc, and BF turned round from the bar and said ‘ok get up now’. I got up and went back to the bar and he snatched my vape out of my hand and said ‘you vape too much’.

At this point if felt irritated but didn’t want to cause a scene so I went a bit quiet and he said look let’s not fall out and gave me a hug and a kiss.

We walk home and get food and get a bit amorous iykwim, and then later he asks me why I got irritated earlier. I said look sometimes you can pick on me a bit and sometimes it hurts my feelings.

This suddenly escalated wildly. He told me that he was going to get the CCTV from the pub as basically everyone in the pub was tutting and staring at me when I was ‘basically shagging the dog on the floor’ and it was embarrassing which is why he asked me to get up. He then did an impression of me which I can only liken to someone with cerebral palsy, and when got upset about this he called me a ‘spastic’ and Harvey Price and told me to get out of his house and our relationship was over. I wasn’t able to drive at that point so I went to the spare room.

He came to bed and slammed his door so I went in to try to talk to him and make peace, this made it all worse he asked if I was ‘bipolar’ as I had ruined his lovely day and was always ruining things, said he wasn’t coming on our planned weekend away (to meet my family for the first time) and told me to get all my stuff out. He said he had asked for space and I hadn’t given it to him and we should talk about it tomorrow.

I packed my bags with all my stuff from his room while we kind of shouted at each other, me saying I didn’t understand why he was being so mean, and him saying he didn’t tolerate ‘this kind of thing’. I said I should be able to raise an issue without getting shouted down and he said he didn’t want an embarrassing girlfriend, I said he seems to care more about everyone else but me.

I went to the spare room and I am here alone now until morning when I will get ready for work and take my stuff and leave as I don’t think I have much other choice? I’ve had a few glasses of wine so can’t drive, but I don’t believe was particularly drunk. I’ve seen him absolutely paralytic before and it wasn’t a nice sight. I’m not sure even with drink this behaviour is forgivable, and I would make myself look desperate to try to talk this through with him tomorrow.

I feel so sad it’s come to this ☹️

OP posts:
khakipant · 19/10/2026 07:38

Pinkissmart · 19/10/2026 07:35

He’s a wanker.

Also, no dog ‘wants’ to play fight.

Off topic but you haven’t met my golden retriever he’s obsessed with play fighting.

sending love op, that relationship was toxic af! Take time to properly process and heal x

Jerrybalanitis · 19/10/2026 07:39

Get rid of him and pay to see a decent doctor. Grown adult women with hormonal spots need hormonal treatment. If PCOS spots you have my sympathy, so painful. Mine cleared up with medication and weight loss. Your spots are filled with better stuff than him.

Redfluffyblanket · 19/10/2026 07:39

IME people's true character comes out when they've had a drink. A nasty drunk is masking and pretending to be someone they're not the rest of the time, rather than the other way round.

I'll bet he's also pretty unpleasant under pressure.

Yes, much better off out of it.

SkulQuestions · 19/10/2026 07:39

Ah! Why did you leave the pie? Who cares whether he thinks you are petty?! His opinion has no value.

Be Petty. Take the pie. He doesn't deserve it. You do. I do. The dog does.

Obviously, it's too late. I am just bemoaning the loss of a good pie and that he gets to have it.

CarrieMoonbeams · 19/10/2026 07:39

Well done @Bunkbed80 , I had a knot in my stomach reading that so I can't tell you how happy I am that you're out.

I actually agree with @3luckystars (and others I'm sure, this thread is moving quickly!), I think he will try to come back, all presents, apologies, "I'm going to stop drinking", "you'll break the kids' hearts, they were so looking forward to Halloween", "Christ, you're too sensitive" etc. I was brought up in a household like this and it crushed us all. Stay strong!

Nosdacariad · 19/10/2026 07:41

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 04:54

He’s never been like this to me sober. This is the first time he’s ever been this horrible to me to this degree.

Usually he is reasonable to some degree even when he’s annoyed with me and we have sorted conflict out quite well.

He seems to be furious that I ruined the lovely day, but I was 100% the reason he had a lovely day in the first place because I went out of my way to make it lovely.

In hindsight, It did not help that I kept going back to try to talk to him, I couldn’t leave it alone as I desperately wanted to resolve it, so I think he became this awful to get space from me to get me to go away. So I feel partly like some of this is my own fault?

I don’t know what to do, we have a weekend booked to travel to meet my family, it’s in his name, I don’t want to go now and we have other plans, and everything is a mess.

Alcohol just releases his inhibitions, there is a pattern of emotional abuse here.

He is not a safe person to be around and I hope you can get somewhere safe (emotionally and maybe physically).

Nothing you did in your story was a reason or excuse for his conduct.

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:42

Pinkissmart · 19/10/2026 07:35

He’s a wanker.

Also, no dog ‘wants’ to play fight.

Well this was a large female dog and when I bent down to stroke her, she rolled over and gently pawed at me, to get belly rubs, then she was rolling around on the floor excited and playing. I have had dogs before, it looked like play to me. I reciprocated and made small talk about what a nice dog she was and talked to the dog. The pub was boring.

Apparently during this time the entire bar staff and all the old men were mortified and looking at him like I was some kind of crazy lady and he felt like he needed to intervene. I’ve also embarrassed him every other time we have been out in some way or the other, my voice, moving around, talking to people etc. he always has an issue. So this is what he brought up he can’t take me anywhere as I’m so embarrassing. However not so long ago he got so drunk I had to carry him home and he could barely speak or stand and he was as loud as fuck. I assume it’s because he’s male and I’m female.

He also makes comments about the way I talk, that I’m clumsy etc.

OP posts:
Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:43

Jerrybalanitis · 19/10/2026 07:39

Get rid of him and pay to see a decent doctor. Grown adult women with hormonal spots need hormonal treatment. If PCOS spots you have my sympathy, so painful. Mine cleared up with medication and weight loss. Your spots are filled with better stuff than him.

I don’t need a doctor I get a few cysts now and then. Currently have clear skin. I’m not always ovulating, I’m on HRT but thanks

OP posts:
Summerishere123 · 19/10/2026 07:44

SparkleHorse82 · 19/10/2026 05:03

Oh my goodness OP. Please read that back. And end the relationship immediately. Send a polite text. Post the key through his letterbox when he’s not in, get your own locks changed and block him on everything. Then go away for a few days if you can so you won’t be home if he calls round. He’s an awful, awful man and he’s warming you up from some seriously dangerously abusive behaviour down the line.

I agree with every word of this! He is not a good person!

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:45

CarrieMoonbeams · 19/10/2026 07:39

Well done @Bunkbed80 , I had a knot in my stomach reading that so I can't tell you how happy I am that you're out.

I actually agree with @3luckystars (and others I'm sure, this thread is moving quickly!), I think he will try to come back, all presents, apologies, "I'm going to stop drinking", "you'll break the kids' hearts, they were so looking forward to Halloween", "Christ, you're too sensitive" etc. I was brought up in a household like this and it crushed us all. Stay strong!

I really can’t see this happening at all to be honest. He really seemed to absolutely HATE me last night and I think he has too much pride.

He’s really stuck on the fact his ex took the piss out of him and now he has ‘boundaries’ and I’m always violating them. All he did was rant about her during our argument too

OP posts:
mrschocolatte · 19/10/2026 07:45

So glad you got away OP. At your lowest point remind yourself you were the one that got out. You had the power in that moment so remember that and let it fuel your confidence and belief that you have definitely made the right decision.
This man is no good. He will only get worse, as he sounds like he is testing how far he can go with you with his shitty behaviour. Don’t overthink your reactions and responses. That was self preservation. You don’t deserve to be his punching bag.

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:46

SkulQuestions · 19/10/2026 07:39

Ah! Why did you leave the pie? Who cares whether he thinks you are petty?! His opinion has no value.

Be Petty. Take the pie. He doesn't deserve it. You do. I do. The dog does.

Obviously, it's too late. I am just bemoaning the loss of a good pie and that he gets to have it.

It was the best pie I ever made too, he loved it. So he can eat it and think about what a fucking loser he is.

OP posts:
AgentJohnson · 19/10/2026 07:49

There was loads of red flags and I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Giving this particular man the benefit of the doubt isn’t as noble as you think it is. Giving this man the benefit of the doubt was your excuse to stay and for your sake, you need to understand why. If you don’t, the chances of you going back to this wank stain or engaging with other wank stain’s, is depressingly high. You sound confident now about not going back. However, your posts suggest a desperation for him to give you a sign, however small and inconsequential, for you to stay with him. Even your refusal to block him screams ‘I don’t want to shut the door on this man’.

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:50

He has responded to my text. I went the dignity way rather than nasty, and he’s just said yes we aren’t compatible have a nice life. I knew he would do this. He won’t fight for this I could tell. And no apology

OP posts:
HowardTJMoon · 19/10/2026 07:50

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:45

I really can’t see this happening at all to be honest. He really seemed to absolutely HATE me last night and I think he has too much pride.

He’s really stuck on the fact his ex took the piss out of him and now he has ‘boundaries’ and I’m always violating them. All he did was rant about her during our argument too

I hope he stays away for your sake. But I do recognise my ex's behaviour in your ex's and in the stories I heard in Al-Anon (the friends and family offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous) The cycle of awful drunken arguments and abuse followed by promises and wheedling their way back in when they sober up is very common.

SkulQuestions · 19/10/2026 07:51

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:46

It was the best pie I ever made too, he loved it. So he can eat it and think about what a fucking loser he is.

What kind of pie was it?

It's the season for good soul food as the weather gets colder.

ThatCyanCat · 19/10/2026 07:52

he said look let’s not fall out

Oh I really think you should and I'm glad you have. Never see the bastard again. You should have taken the pie too.

HowardTJMoon · 19/10/2026 07:52

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:46

It was the best pie I ever made too, he loved it. So he can eat it and think about what a fucking loser he is.

If you send him a final text of "Enjoy the pie 😉" that might make him paranoid that you've done something to it.

MyFriendNorman · 19/10/2026 07:52

You must have hear of "in vino veritas"?
One of my life rules is, never stay with a mean drunk. My DH is an incredibly affectionate drunk, a bit like a Labrador. All alcohol does to him is remind him of how much he loves us all and make him soppy.

This guy sounds like a grouchy chihuahua, small minded and snappy.

Please don't be with someone who wants to diminish you.

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:52

Guys honestly he’s not coming back he’s done with me. He made that very clear. He hasn’t even apologised.

OP posts:
HowTheLight · 19/10/2026 07:53

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:30

I genuinely don’t think he will be back I think he knows he’s gone too far.

Good, obviously, but it’s irrelevant what he does, OP. It doesn’t matter if he crawls back with a bouquet of roses, a profound, apparently sincere apology, and a diamond solitaire — he’s not important here. You are.

Wheesht2 · 19/10/2026 07:55

My horrible BIL blames his ex for the way he acts with his girlfriend, the truth is he is a controlling dick and I want to tell his girlfriend that it wasn’t his exwife that was in the wrong but him.
I am so glad you got away, you deserve better.

Bunkbed80 · 19/10/2026 07:55

To be honest now I am looking at this another way that maybe he did this to break up with me. As I’m quite nice and lovely to him and he has been pushing at me so much, he wasn’t able to just say nicely this isn’t working, he likely created a whole drama to make sure I wouldn’t want him back because he knew he didn’t really want this. I do think maybe he was going along with things with me at a pace that he didn’t actually want but he’s a coward and didn’t actually want to tell me

OP posts:
LeahCariad · 19/10/2026 07:56

Prepare yourself for a barrage of text messages. He seems accepting in the cold light of day, but IME once he's had a drink/chance to process, they will start.

I could be completely wrong and I hope I am, but be prepared for them to be nasty.

Naerub · 19/10/2026 07:56

Why would you consider staying in this relationship? Do you have low self esteem?