X
Collapse
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • wednesdaymorning
    Member
    • Aug 2010
    • 18

    What has become of me? Tell me your story to help inspire me.

    I've been on this site a few times in the past. Once for advice on moving out and the next on what to do next. Well, it's been a year and I'm still "stuck" (of my own fault, surely). Talking about it helps. But I want to hear what others have done in situations like this. Here's my long (and missing so many things) story:

    I’ve been with my boyfriend for 4 ½ years now. In that 4 ½ years, my life has gone from 60 to 0. It’s hard for me to blame anyone but myself.

    He still hasn’t had a job for those 4 ½ years (subtract the 2 months 2 years ago); he’s almost 24 and he still doesn’t have a GED; he is obsessed with sex; he is constantly upset (but he always has a “reason” why he can be upset and I shouldn’t fight back. “I’m out of cigarettes; I’m hungry; I haven’t had sex in a week; I slept late…”); he’s jealous (even though I have literally 0 friends outside my mother and my sister.).

    For the first 9 months we were together, he had another girlfriend (a friend of mine). I was the secret: held to him by promises. I paid for his entire life until I stopped making money a year and a half ago. When my grandmother died, she left me $1,000. I was saving it to go to Europe. A few months later, he drove me to the electronics store and spend an hour in the car park explaining how much he needed a computer. “It’ll help me fill out applications” he said. “Plus, I’ll pay you back in 2 weeks.”

    He never did.

    He didn’t pay me back for the $250 worth of tattoos either. Or the thousands of dollars in food and cigarettes. Though, 2 Christmas’ ago, he did buy me a computer (which I didn’t ask for or need.) He used to call me at 3am so I could take him to get fast food. Otherwise, of course, he would starve.

    In the beginning, I liked sex. It was new to me and, well, I had to prove myself above his girlfriend (who he claimed he didn’t have sex with or kiss once we started together). I stopped liking it because I stopped respecting him, I think. I stopped respecting sex. Now, I have sex as little as possible. I give in because he’ll yell at me until I do. And then I want to cry. Sometimes I do.

    He didn’t want me to take classes at the school. But, then again, I was already nervous around new people anyway. He convinced me I didn’t want to go join clubs or do activities for school. When I did take classes at the school, he’d want to know how many boys I talked to and if I made any friends.

    I made a friend once. She took me to lunch. He said she wasn’t a good friend for me because she was dating casually—therefore she was a . I didn’t see her again. Even though she called. I didn’t answer.

    My best friend from before I had even met him stuck around for a long time. He was okay with her (he was even her first kiss) until she got a boyfriend whom, even though he set them up, he didn’t like. I wasn’t allowed to go see her if he was there. It was difficult because they lived together. To avoid the 8-hour fights over me going to see her, I just stopped answering her texts and calls.

    I really wish I had a friend. I sit around all day in my house and watch tv and eat. Here's a stupid story: I want to go see this film "Apollo 18" and if I take him, I'll have to pay. I just want to see it by myself. But how will I explain the 2 hours I'm not attached to my phone? If he found out, he'd get sad and ask why I didn't invite him or want to share something like that with him. "We're supposed to be a couple."

    About a week ago, he sat me down and told me he was going to begin GED classes in October and then transfer to college in January. He said that since he’s starting to do things for his life, he needs to know if he’s going at it single or with me. I’ve been in college for 5 semesters now (not including the 2 I dropped out of. 1 of those because he wanted to “run away with me.”) yet we have never discussed this before.
    He doesn’t think my schooling is as important. Similarly, he said I can’t study abroad, live on campus, or go to school in the city I want to. But he’s going to live in a dorm (co-ed he warns) downtown.

    He said we have 3 options: 1. Become “just friends.” 2. Break up (or “take a break” whatever that means) or 2. “Fix” the relationship. Oh! Or we have the option to have an “open relationship.”

    When I asked him what is entailed in “fixing” the relationship, he said that our 1 and only problem is that I don’t want to have sex with him. His original solution? “You’re just going to have to make yourself want it.” Another solution is to move back in with him. Now, I moved out of our apartment a year ago because we were constantly fighting and he hadn't showed effort to get a job. He tell me that "This time will be different! Stop thinking about the last time (which lasted 1 1/2 years) and just try again! I won't want as much sex because you'll be living with me!" The other solution is to marry him. When he isn't hinting about sex, he's hinting about marriage. When I say "no I don't want to marry you now" he doesn't become understanding or even sad. He gets mad. Can someone really get bullied in to marriage???

    Then my mother visited and I haven’t really seen him but 4 times in the past 2 weeks.
    He came by yesterday (I gave him a key to my house when I went on vacation with my mother about three months ago, and now he uses it to let himself in uninvited) and made me go running with him. It was 50% sweet (“You’re going to be so proud of yourself! I know you can lose this weight!”) and 50% not (“Either run with me or have sex with me. If I’m going to suffer, so are you.”)

    I don’t know what to do. Write him a letter? Wait until he gets mad and pray I remember all the reasons he makes me mad? For some reason, I completely shut down during a fight. He's telling me why everything is my fault and how I don't enjoy the things he enjoys and I don't want to do the thing that makes him happiest (sex) and how I moved out and ruined his life and I forget why I even have a right to be mad. I am convinced, about 75% of the time, that I'm overreacting and if I was just a better girlfriend, he'd be more successful and less angry. Even now, I'm thinking that I must have over-exaggerated these stories. I mean, he doesn't beat me or tell me I'm disgusting or anything...


    Thanks for reading (I want to apologize for the length, but I'm too needy right now). Please ladies (and gentlemen) tell me what you have done; what you would do; or what someone you know has done. Yell at me if you want. I mean, we all know the answer, but for some reason I just "can't" do it.
  • Crystalblue
    Veteran Member
    • Apr 2011
    • 675

    This doesn't sound like a healthy relationship at all! You let him put you in a situation where you're isolated just to him. He can manipulate you now and take and take and take. It sounds like you've lost sight of all your plans for yourself because he threw a fit about it. Take a look at his life. You say he hasn't worked or even gotten his GED. Is that really someone who you want running your life? If you want to find some clarity, you should take a step back from this toxic person and remember what makes you happy. There's no reason you can't have friends or go to class, or anything else you have in mind for yourself.

    He's setting double standards with you out of selfishness. He doesn't want you unsupervised making friends in class, but y'all have to open the relationship when he goes to school? I know you know that doesn't make since, or you wouldn't have written it. You say you know what to do, but can't? How about you just have a long talk about what you need and leave it at that, and get your key back! or change the locks.

    Comment

    • Mes T
      Veteran Member
      • Oct 2009
      • 2678

      To be honest with you I couldn't read to the end of your post - it was just becoming more and more bleak, almost unbelievable. Get out of this relationship, NOW. Your life is passing you by. You deserve better. You deserve to have a LIFE. Friends to have coffee in a nice cafe with, friends to go out drinking with, friends to take trips with... and sheesh you need the independence to be able to see a movie on your own!

      Re-read what you just wrote. Read it again and again. What if your sister wrote that? Or your mother? What advice would you have for them other than "get out as quick as possible"?

      We, here, are your friends. See? You've already started your NEW and IMPROVED life by coming here. We can help you get the boost you need to really keep going. I hope you post here more often - we can help!

      Comment

      • rcoreyus
        Veteran Member
        • Sep 2007
        • 4369

        Why are you still with this person? Why is he worth your love and your future?

        As far as I can tell, the only positive thing you said about him is "he doesn't beat me" (yet....).

        Just leave. You will be amazed at how much better your life suddenly becomes .

        Comment

        • Claret
          Assistant Admin
          • Jan 2011
          • 1823

          Wow, this is a lot. What I can say to you is:
          1. change the locks on the doors so he can't let himself back in.
          2. Change your phone number.
          3. Get an order of restraint so he cannot come near you. and 4. Do not have anything further to do with this person - EVER!

          He is demeaning you, demoralizing you, blaming you, using you for sex, money, self fulfillment, and when it fails as it surely will he will blame you again.

          Ask yourself what is it that you are gettting from this relationship? Ask yourself what it is you want for yourself and if he is the one that will enable to get it for yourself? When push comes to shove, will you have someone that will be able to help your through a bad situation, or will you be going it alone? If you were in an accident, would he be willing to work to pay the bills and put food on the table, or would you lose everything?

          There's an old saying, irreverent but true, "the screwing you're getting isn't worth the screwing you're getting".
          That which we forget may as well never really happened.

          Comment

          • jns
            Assistant Admin
            • Mar 2010
            • 8398

            Sweet for him. He got a replacement for mom and got her to do stuff that even his mom wouldn't do.

            There is nothing in this relationship for you. Get out fast. Don't be friends (I don't think he even would know what being a friend entails) and don't try to fix the relationship.
            I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
            ...
            Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

            From a speech by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 at St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia

            Comment

            • Trishlm89
              Member
              • Aug 2011
              • 61

              i was in a semi-similar situation as this. although i only dated him for about a year and a half.
              1. you need to get out and quick! i know it's hard i've been there. but he's only bringing you down.
              2. you need to do whats best for you! you can't be supporting him like a child. i did that. paid for everything, food, clothes, rent, everything.
              i constantly, to this day, remind him how much he owes me if he ever brings up the past. (why i still talk to him, i'm not sure, maybe because he took my dog. that i paid, trained, and fed!) I am STILL in debt b/c of that relationship and that was 4 years ago! Not to mention, I was so busy working 2 jobs trying to pay for everything that my college suffered. I still haven't been able to go back.

              so moral of the story. get out now. no matter how much you say you "can't" do it, do it. It will be good for you, especially in the long run.

              Comment

              • Elanor-Jane
                Veteran Member
                • Aug 2011
                • 211

                You are with a loser and you know it. It will be hard at first but you know you will be better off in the future. Ask your mum and sister to read everything you wrote and then maybe they will stop you from going any further with this idiot. He's unhappy with himself so he needs to control you.
                If I knew where I was going I would already be there
                I wish I had more time. Judicious, beautiful, augmented, whatever.
                I've always been afraid to die, but I think I'm more afraid to live. (BC, SP)

                "I would go out tonight, but i havent got a stitch to wear!" Morissey

                Comment

                • wednesdaymorning
                  Member
                  • Aug 2010
                  • 18

                  Thanks you guys for your responses.

                  It's tough, you know? He came over last night and was very nice and sweet and funny and it makes it hard to imagine that he can be so mean. I'm thinking the best way may be to, instead of digging up the past and all that, tell him he deserves better and he should go find a new girl.

                  When he said those options I listed, I just knew that he wasn't serious about any of them except the "fixing it" one. He called and asked if I had come up with any answer and I said "Listen, I don't think I'm going to like sex and I don't think you're going to not like it..." and those were the only words I got to say before he launched in to a tirade. "This is about compromise! We're a couple! Are you seriously leaning towards--we should be looking for creative answers like maybe we could have sex every three months. Of course, in between, I'll need *other stuff* but I don't think that's too much to ask!" et cetera.

                  I mean, it isn't fair that I don't want to have sex with him, right? Man I am such a coward.

                  These responses are actually helping build my confidence though, believe it or not.

                  Comment

                  • jns
                    Assistant Admin
                    • Mar 2010
                    • 8398

                    He's right on cue. The advice still stands.
                    I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
                    ...
                    Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

                    From a speech by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 at St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia

                    Comment

                    or

                    Womens Health orange logoGet The Newsletter

                    Join our weekly newsletter and get the latest thought-provoking bold research and fearless conversations about sex - plus exclusive product giveaways - delivered to your inbox.

                    Latest Activity

                    Collapse

                    Latest Topics

                    Collapse

                    • PCOS and unwanted hair growth

                      Does anyone have any experience with PCOS and getting rid of unwanted facial hair? What started as one singular strand on my chin in my 20s has turned...

                      07-27-2026, 07:25 AM By Birdie_567
                    Working...