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Dumped again…feeling lost

93 replies

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 11:23

My apologies for the long post, I don’t want to drip feed. So I’ve been in a relationship for just over 4 years, we don’t live together. In those four years I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve broke up, majority of the time it’s me telling him somethings upset me and he’s gone on the defensive straight away, rather than hear me, he’s seen it as an attack and always twists it round so I end up defending myself, he’ll also bring things up from the past and play the victim, absolutely no accountability whatsoever, then I’ll get the silent treatment, phone calls will be ignored, texts will be ignored, then he’ll take me off all his social media…I’ll just add, we’re not kids, we’re 50 year old. A lot of the time I’ll go crawling back just about begging him to give us another go, I do this because my anxiety kills me, I feel completely lost and feel like I need him to make me feel better. It’ll be good for a little while then the same pattern repeats itself.

Three year ago July 2023 during one of our breaks up he went on a dating site, chatted to someone and went on a date, we were only apart 9 days. I went back and he ghosted her, no explanation just blocked her everywhere. We fell out again in the november, he got in touch with her again then once again ghosted and blocked her when I went back. I knew nothing of this at the time. I found out the following year…she posted him on one of these are we dating the same guy Facebook groups, I’m not on any of those groups but a friend seen it and showed me. I contacted this woman and that’s how I found out. I was upset and hurt to think he replaced me so quickly! When I told him I knew and had seen all the messages between them (he did literally lovebomb her) his reply was “I wanted to feel wanted” and blamed me for it because I wasn’t giving him all of my time.
Since then this woman has posted him quite a lot on these groups. He knows he’s been posted and he knows by whom. I’ve defended him on those posts every single time which has caused her to message me quite a few times telling me I need to get rid of him, he’s a liar, a cheat ect ect.

Some examples of why he’s gave me the silent treatment just so you have an idea…his birthday one year, the previous year he had a day out with his adult kids, just the three of them, I was working. The year after I wasn’t sure what he was doing, I was looking to book in for a tattoo, I could get the day of his birthday or the day after. I rang and asked what day we were seeing each other, he spat his dummy out with me and gave me the silent treatment for over a week.
The following birthday (this year) I text and asked what was happening, the reply I got was “so you’re doing this again are you. Don’t bother I’ll spend it on my own” I ended up leaving the presents I bought him at his front door. I got the silent treatment again but this time I didn’t go chasing, he actually contacted me after 11 days.

Four weeks ago he was a bit off with me, I asked him what was wrong, he said I’d been cold and hadn’t text him much the previous day, I said I thought he was working and he could have text me. Ended up ringing him to clear the air and he said so is there a new rule where I can’t text him whilst he’s at work. I said no of course not, he kept going on about this rule, I asked him to stop, he didn’t, I said please stop or I’m putting the phone down, he hung up on me. And the silence began again. Now in the middle of this silence another one of those posts went on that group about him. Only this time there was a comment from his mates bit on the side ( his mate is married but has another two women on the go). In her comment she didn’t mention my name but it was so obvious her comment was directed at me, basically she accused me of putting the post up about him, threatened me and called me a thick c*nt!
When my friend showed me the post I rang him and said that had nothing to do with me, he said he’d asked her to delete it. Then 10 mins after the phone call he text and asked me to promise that post was nothing to do with me and my phone call set alarm bells ringing and was too much of a coincidence. I was so upset that I’d been the one to defend him at my expense on every other post about him and he could think that. He even said how I didn’t have his back but his mates bit on the side did. I’ve defended him on all other posts about him
We did end up talking (it was a week today) and got back together. Obviously the comment directed at me wasn’t sitting right. He had screenshots of this post and I asked him to send me them, he said no, I asked why, he said just no.
Yesterday we met for a coffee, I asked why he wouldn’t send me them, he had no problem showing me them last week. He said no good would come out of it. He’s knows her comment hurt me, I asked him just who’s back he had, mine or hers…his reply was both! I was gobsmacked! He went for his usual attack and defensive, I walked away and told him it comes to something when he puts his mates skanky tramp above me.
He rang a few times, it was heated, I tried to explain that I felt like she was more important to him than me and that we was ok with her accusing me, threatening me and insulting me. He said no, you’ve gone in a strop because I wouldn’t give you the screenshots.
I have emailed this morning, thinking give him time to calm down but he hasn’t even opened it.
I am so tired of this, I can’t say how I feel because it starts an argument, I get the blame for every argument and now I’m left feeling like this.

OP posts:
allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 12:06

SilenceInside · 05/11/2026 11:59

What is the anxiety and overthinking about? Is it about this bloke, or about your life in general? How does contacting this chap again help with the anxiety and the overthinking?

If you know that's likely to happen, can you prepare for it and be ready to remind yourself that this is not about this man but about your feelings and that getting drawn back into contact is not helpful or good for you.

I suffer with really bad anxiety, the situation with him does make me spiral. I’ve had counselling and trauma bond was mentioned. I just can’t stop thinking/feeling that I need him to make me feel better. It makes no sense does it

OP posts:
Idontjetwashthefucker · 05/11/2026 12:09

Why the actual fudge are you defending him on that Facebook group?

GreyCarpet · 05/11/2026 12:09

Why are you telling her she is wrong about him and posting to defend him when you have written a really long post here yourself detailing how bad he is?

SilenceInside · 05/11/2026 12:10

Logically you know that contacting him again actually doesn't make you feel better and drags you back into these kinds of crazy pointless conflicts. Of course that doesn't help when you are anxious and feeling out of control.

Can you totally block him, delete his number(s), email addresses etc, destroy any paper copies etc so that getting back in contact with him is very much harder to do? Leave any groups online that you are both in etc etc. Total digital separation, as much as possible.

Do you have any in real life that you can talk to when you feel anxious and are tempted to contact him again? Or can you plan a distraction activity that will help you feel calmer?

OMGDidYouSayThat · 05/11/2026 12:10

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 12:00

I know all of that but I just can’t seem to help myself. I hate being like this and just want the strength I need to shut him off completely

I'll use my favourite quote 'Nothing changes, if nothing changes'

My assumption is that for some reason you feel like you won't be able to do better which is why you stay (it's easier to stay than to try and find someone decent). Am i right?

If i am right, you're wrong, you will definitely find someone better, it may take time but you'll be way better off than you are now...you don't live together and have no kids etc so it couldn't be easier to leave this crap relationship.

whippersnapper55 · 05/11/2026 12:11

He isn't making you feel better though is he? You need to deal with your anxiety and learn to be comfortable with yourself before being in another relationship. This one is doing you no good at all.

Wildfairy · 05/11/2026 12:12

Read your op back, it’s like two teenagers indulging in petty drama, can neither of you see it, are neither of you embarrassed by it, or do you both enjoy the drama,

GreyCarpet · 05/11/2026 12:16

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 12:06

I suffer with really bad anxiety, the situation with him does make me spiral. I’ve had counselling and trauma bond was mentioned. I just can’t stop thinking/feeling that I need him to make me feel better. It makes no sense does it

Have you considered that he is the source of/a large contributing factor to your anxiety?

Seriously, anxiety is a bitch but you do need to take some responsibility for this. He can only treat you badly because you allow him to.

I'm 52 and I can tell you this man would not be treating me like this because I wouldn't let him. That's not because I have magical powers that could change him or because I'm better than you and he'd just treat me differently, I just wouldn't have him in my life and so he wouldn't have the opportunity.

I just can’t stop thinking/feeling that I need him to make me feel better.

Well, he's not going to, is he? So why don't you take steps to make yourself feel better instead?

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 12:26

SilenceInside · 05/11/2026 12:10

Logically you know that contacting him again actually doesn't make you feel better and drags you back into these kinds of crazy pointless conflicts. Of course that doesn't help when you are anxious and feeling out of control.

Can you totally block him, delete his number(s), email addresses etc, destroy any paper copies etc so that getting back in contact with him is very much harder to do? Leave any groups online that you are both in etc etc. Total digital separation, as much as possible.

Do you have any in real life that you can talk to when you feel anxious and are tempted to contact him again? Or can you plan a distraction activity that will help you feel calmer?

I have no one. My children are grown up, friends i haven’t seen for years. There’s just me and my cat. God I sound pathetic. All I have is work, I’m a very private person so talking to someone at work is a big no. I won’t be contacting him. I have blocked him now, I think I’m just wanting to know how to get through it when the anxiety spirals and overthinking hits. In the past I’ve reached out to him to make it stop but I can’t keep on setting myself up for this. I am literally on a rollercoaster with him. I know what I have to do, it’s doing it that I’m finding so bloody hard.
It’s ok saying just leave him, I wish it was that easy, but 4 years of being discarded, pulled back, discarded again and so on has damaged me. It’s sort of conditioned me. My counsellor mentions trauma bond, I honestly do believe now that’s what’s happened. But how the hell do I break that bond. I hate this, I just want to feel content…or even ok, I’d settle for ok

OP posts:
allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 12:30

GreyCarpet · 05/11/2026 12:16

Have you considered that he is the source of/a large contributing factor to your anxiety?

Seriously, anxiety is a bitch but you do need to take some responsibility for this. He can only treat you badly because you allow him to.

I'm 52 and I can tell you this man would not be treating me like this because I wouldn't let him. That's not because I have magical powers that could change him or because I'm better than you and he'd just treat me differently, I just wouldn't have him in my life and so he wouldn't have the opportunity.

I just can’t stop thinking/feeling that I need him to make me feel better.

Well, he's not going to, is he? So why don't you take steps to make yourself feel better instead?

God yeah without a doubt. I know I need to forget him, but how. As I said in a previous reply, I have had counseling, trauma bond was mentioned a few times and I do genuinely feel that’s what it is. He is literally an addiction. I don’t even think I love him now, I’m addicted to the prick

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 05/11/2026 12:32

It seems like you're focussing on your counsellor naming your behaviour as a trauma bond, and then viewing that as a fixed unalterable condition that you can't improve or break free of. It's just a description of your previous behaviour, it doesn't have to be how you carry on now. Breaking all contact is a first step, the next step is finding ways to break through the period of time where you start to get anxious and want to contact this chap again. So prepare a game plan for when that happens. Can you contact your children, not necessarily to talk to them about this but as a distraction from it? Can you reach out to old friends and see if you can rebuild the friendships? Or start a new hobby that involves other people and see if you can build some human contact there?

worreidaboutdpnow · 05/11/2026 12:41

Please go absolute NO CONTACT this is what helps to break a trauma bond. Ive been there and no contact does actually work. It took me a good six months to stop missing him. Its now over a year and I am coping fine. I went from crying every night for a whole 2 months.
My situation was slightly different as he was a physically abusive alcoholic who went to prison, so I had no choice in not contacting him. But I feel so much happier in my life now.
Do you still want this same shit all your life? You deserve so much better.

Please do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself more and be grateful you no longer have this absolute childish cunt of a man to try and please.
Please just please yourself now.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 05/11/2026 12:49

suffer with really bad anxiety, the situation with him does make me spiral. I’ve had counselling and trauma bond was mentioned. I just can’t stop thinking/feeling that I need him to make me feel better. It makes no sense does it

Sounds like classic anxiety behaviour, where you cling on to the one thing that actual fuels the anxiety.

What do you need to feel better about?

GreyCarpet · 05/11/2026 12:50

It seems like you're focussing on your counsellor naming your behaviour as a trauma bond, and then viewing that as a fixed unalterable condition that you can't improve or break free of. It's just a description of your previous behaviour, it doesn't have to be how you carry on now.

Exactly this.

It describes what has happened. It doesn't describe you or determine your future.

It gives you knowledge and language to begin to address it. It's not something that you now have to just accept.

I won’t be contacting him. I have blocked him now, I think I’m just wanting to know how to get through it when the anxiety spirals and overthinking hits.

Ok. Practical steps.

Spend time outside. Sit in your garden, go for a walk in the park. Spend time in nature. It's peaceful and humbling.

Take deep breaths and remind yourself of why he isn't good for you and that you deserve better

Create a mind map of who you are as a person, your values, your interests, who you are. Focus on the life you want to have

Watch a documentary on iplayer.

Set yourself goals - they can be anything from drinking your first coffee of the day in the garden listening to the birds singing, noticing the changing seasons, take a candlelit bath, buy a new book (and read it!)

Think about what you used to enjoy. What hobbies did you have as a child? What could you do now?

Join a local litter picking group; volunteer eg some food banks do evening walkabouts supporting vulnerable people in the community in the evenings if you work all day; go to a pub and see a live band; join a community choir (yes, you can sing well enough for one of these!); take up yoga; practice mindfulness; keep a gratitude journal. You can do all of those and still be a very private person. There are literally hundreds of things you can do rather than sitting around succumbing to your own thoughts about him that will be far more meaningful and productive!

CC222 · 05/11/2026 13:00

The gaslighting and silent treatment is emotional abuse. The love bombing he did with the other woman, and probably has with you is a classic trait of a narcissist. You’re trauma bonded because his behaviour is abusive to you. But honestly, if you can just keep away from him for long enough I would be certain the majority of your anxiety will dissipate. This relationship is absolutely awful for your nervous system, it’s no wonder you’re struggling with anxiety.
Please keep well away from him, being alone is so much better than being in this toxic environment.
Seek therapy again if you’re not currently having any, the additional support would be really needed right now while you navigate moving on and working on your self esteem.
You won’t ever stand a chance of being happy with this man. It’s time to reclaim your power and find happiness on your own terms ♥️

Mom2K · 05/11/2026 13:11

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 11:53

I honestly don’t know why I haven’t walked away. I know I need to but for some reason I can’t. I do try, I last a week then the anxiety and overthinking thinking kicks in. I hate myself for it. I’ve had counselling, trauma bond was mentioned. I’m not clued up about relationships, I was with the same guy from the age of 15 to 46, spent a few years on my own then met this one

Look, you will be fine if you leave him permanently. I wasted all of my 20's with my ex H doing the same as you because I felt anxiety and thought I still loved him even though he treated me badly. I tried to end our marriage 4.5 years in and started a separation but took him back and wasted another 4 years before my sadness/attachment turned to anger and finally no longer felt anything but contempt towards him. I wasted almost 9 years - I wish I could have gotten to that point a lot sooner and not allowed my emotions to rule over logic.

Having experienced that and how much pain, and disruption to my peace it caused - I know it will never happen again. My tolerance for BS is zero.

You're in the situation presently and I know exactly how it feels. But if you can find the strength to move past your feelings and follow the logic that you know this is a bad relationship and that once you get past the initial hurt/attachment/feelings of anxiety of breaking up - if you can just trust the knowledge that you can get past this and that you will be ok, you will be happier in the long run.

I truly wish I had ended the marriage the first time I tried to do it, so I understand how hard it is. But you can do it. I'm happier now than I've ever been. A relationship is only worth it if it adds to your life. You don't need him, he doesn't add any value to your life.

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 13:14

worreidaboutdpnow · 05/11/2026 12:41

Please go absolute NO CONTACT this is what helps to break a trauma bond. Ive been there and no contact does actually work. It took me a good six months to stop missing him. Its now over a year and I am coping fine. I went from crying every night for a whole 2 months.
My situation was slightly different as he was a physically abusive alcoholic who went to prison, so I had no choice in not contacting him. But I feel so much happier in my life now.
Do you still want this same shit all your life? You deserve so much better.

Please do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself more and be grateful you no longer have this absolute childish cunt of a man to try and please.
Please just please yourself now.

Thank you. I am going no contact, I’ve blocked him everywhere now. I’ve deleted his number, photos, our chats, everything. I’m wanting to get my fitness back up, I used to run a lot but stopped when I met him (he said it was taking away time I could spend with him) so I’m thinking get myself out for a brisk walk when I start to get anxious and overthinking. I’ve sat this morning and replayed yesterdays conversation and thought is he right, have I handled this wrong, is he right to back his friends bit on the side and not me because she “defended” him on that bloody post…but no, I’m not wrong in wanting him to see what she done was out of order! I’m not wrong for expecting my partner of four year to have my back! Fuck him!

OP posts:
allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 13:16

Mom2K · 05/11/2026 13:11

Look, you will be fine if you leave him permanently. I wasted all of my 20's with my ex H doing the same as you because I felt anxiety and thought I still loved him even though he treated me badly. I tried to end our marriage 4.5 years in and started a separation but took him back and wasted another 4 years before my sadness/attachment turned to anger and finally no longer felt anything but contempt towards him. I wasted almost 9 years - I wish I could have gotten to that point a lot sooner and not allowed my emotions to rule over logic.

Having experienced that and how much pain, and disruption to my peace it caused - I know it will never happen again. My tolerance for BS is zero.

You're in the situation presently and I know exactly how it feels. But if you can find the strength to move past your feelings and follow the logic that you know this is a bad relationship and that once you get past the initial hurt/attachment/feelings of anxiety of breaking up - if you can just trust the knowledge that you can get past this and that you will be ok, you will be happier in the long run.

I truly wish I had ended the marriage the first time I tried to do it, so I understand how hard it is. But you can do it. I'm happier now than I've ever been. A relationship is only worth it if it adds to your life. You don't need him, he doesn't add any value to your life.

Thank you so much

OP posts:
LadyGaGasPokerFace · 05/11/2026 13:16

Just make this the last time. Move on. You’re actually preventing yourself from meeting someone decent by constantly going back 💐

nopiesleftinthisvehicle · 05/11/2026 13:20

I don't want to kick you when you are down, but this is stuff to fret about at 15 not 50!
Have you tried staying single? Highly recommend it (from a fellow 50 something) 🫖

Pansykavalier · 05/11/2026 13:30

I’m wanting to get my fitness back up, I used to run a lot but stopped when I met him (he said it was taking away time I could spend with him) so I’m thinking get myself out for a brisk walk when I start to get anxious and overthinking.

Running is good. Walking is good.

But lifting weights is even better - very empowering. Look up Caroline Girvan on YouTube - life-changing.

Nosdacariad · 05/11/2026 13:32

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 11:23

My apologies for the long post, I don’t want to drip feed. So I’ve been in a relationship for just over 4 years, we don’t live together. In those four years I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve broke up, majority of the time it’s me telling him somethings upset me and he’s gone on the defensive straight away, rather than hear me, he’s seen it as an attack and always twists it round so I end up defending myself, he’ll also bring things up from the past and play the victim, absolutely no accountability whatsoever, then I’ll get the silent treatment, phone calls will be ignored, texts will be ignored, then he’ll take me off all his social media…I’ll just add, we’re not kids, we’re 50 year old. A lot of the time I’ll go crawling back just about begging him to give us another go, I do this because my anxiety kills me, I feel completely lost and feel like I need him to make me feel better. It’ll be good for a little while then the same pattern repeats itself.

Three year ago July 2023 during one of our breaks up he went on a dating site, chatted to someone and went on a date, we were only apart 9 days. I went back and he ghosted her, no explanation just blocked her everywhere. We fell out again in the november, he got in touch with her again then once again ghosted and blocked her when I went back. I knew nothing of this at the time. I found out the following year…she posted him on one of these are we dating the same guy Facebook groups, I’m not on any of those groups but a friend seen it and showed me. I contacted this woman and that’s how I found out. I was upset and hurt to think he replaced me so quickly! When I told him I knew and had seen all the messages between them (he did literally lovebomb her) his reply was “I wanted to feel wanted” and blamed me for it because I wasn’t giving him all of my time.
Since then this woman has posted him quite a lot on these groups. He knows he’s been posted and he knows by whom. I’ve defended him on those posts every single time which has caused her to message me quite a few times telling me I need to get rid of him, he’s a liar, a cheat ect ect.

Some examples of why he’s gave me the silent treatment just so you have an idea…his birthday one year, the previous year he had a day out with his adult kids, just the three of them, I was working. The year after I wasn’t sure what he was doing, I was looking to book in for a tattoo, I could get the day of his birthday or the day after. I rang and asked what day we were seeing each other, he spat his dummy out with me and gave me the silent treatment for over a week.
The following birthday (this year) I text and asked what was happening, the reply I got was “so you’re doing this again are you. Don’t bother I’ll spend it on my own” I ended up leaving the presents I bought him at his front door. I got the silent treatment again but this time I didn’t go chasing, he actually contacted me after 11 days.

Four weeks ago he was a bit off with me, I asked him what was wrong, he said I’d been cold and hadn’t text him much the previous day, I said I thought he was working and he could have text me. Ended up ringing him to clear the air and he said so is there a new rule where I can’t text him whilst he’s at work. I said no of course not, he kept going on about this rule, I asked him to stop, he didn’t, I said please stop or I’m putting the phone down, he hung up on me. And the silence began again. Now in the middle of this silence another one of those posts went on that group about him. Only this time there was a comment from his mates bit on the side ( his mate is married but has another two women on the go). In her comment she didn’t mention my name but it was so obvious her comment was directed at me, basically she accused me of putting the post up about him, threatened me and called me a thick c*nt!
When my friend showed me the post I rang him and said that had nothing to do with me, he said he’d asked her to delete it. Then 10 mins after the phone call he text and asked me to promise that post was nothing to do with me and my phone call set alarm bells ringing and was too much of a coincidence. I was so upset that I’d been the one to defend him at my expense on every other post about him and he could think that. He even said how I didn’t have his back but his mates bit on the side did. I’ve defended him on all other posts about him
We did end up talking (it was a week today) and got back together. Obviously the comment directed at me wasn’t sitting right. He had screenshots of this post and I asked him to send me them, he said no, I asked why, he said just no.
Yesterday we met for a coffee, I asked why he wouldn’t send me them, he had no problem showing me them last week. He said no good would come out of it. He’s knows her comment hurt me, I asked him just who’s back he had, mine or hers…his reply was both! I was gobsmacked! He went for his usual attack and defensive, I walked away and told him it comes to something when he puts his mates skanky tramp above me.
He rang a few times, it was heated, I tried to explain that I felt like she was more important to him than me and that we was ok with her accusing me, threatening me and insulting me. He said no, you’ve gone in a strop because I wouldn’t give you the screenshots.
I have emailed this morning, thinking give him time to calm down but he hasn’t even opened it.
I am so tired of this, I can’t say how I feel because it starts an argument, I get the blame for every argument and now I’m left feeling like this.

He's emotionally abusive. I know it hurts but you're safer apart xxx

Skyflier · 05/11/2026 13:34

Goodness I’m exhausted just reading this. You must realise this isn’t healthy surely? You are both behaving very immaturely. I know it’s not easy to just walk away, it takes a lot of strength to do it, but when you are tempted to go back ask yourself if you want to be doing this in your 60s? Nothing is ever going to change

LancsMa · 05/11/2026 13:34

Just to remind you, your partner is supposed to bring you joy, respect and support. Just dump this loser once and for all, he's an abusive arsehole. Find someone better or be single and happy - either option is better than this juvenile nonsense.

allaboardthecrazytrain · 05/11/2026 13:39

CC222 · 05/11/2026 13:00

The gaslighting and silent treatment is emotional abuse. The love bombing he did with the other woman, and probably has with you is a classic trait of a narcissist. You’re trauma bonded because his behaviour is abusive to you. But honestly, if you can just keep away from him for long enough I would be certain the majority of your anxiety will dissipate. This relationship is absolutely awful for your nervous system, it’s no wonder you’re struggling with anxiety.
Please keep well away from him, being alone is so much better than being in this toxic environment.
Seek therapy again if you’re not currently having any, the additional support would be really needed right now while you navigate moving on and working on your self esteem.
You won’t ever stand a chance of being happy with this man. It’s time to reclaim your power and find happiness on your own terms ♥️

Thank you so much, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Funny thing is, he’s accused me of being the “headfuck” and up until recently I’ve believed that.

OP posts: