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September 3, 2017 at 3:48 pm #166802DaisyParticipant
Sorry for the long post, but I needed to describe every situation we went through so perhaps someone could explain to me what actually happened here as I have no idea. Thank you. D
I met Alex through mutual friends. He was tall, geeky, ambitious, smart, charming. I could tell he liked me from the get go. We hung out twice after that, just the two of us, talking and enjoying each other’s company. Each time after I’d come home, he would text me telling me how much he enjoyed his time with me. I was in 7th Heaven.
Then he kind of stopped. He had mentioned these things he wanted to do with me, but they amounted to nothing. I felt confident enough to text him I really like him, but will get tired of the hot&cold approach. He asked me for a walk and explained he was super busy right now and suggested we should postpone dating for several months. I said I had no idea how I would feel about this in several months and I wanted to try something more than just a friendship right now. He said he wanted the same thing.
Now, I am quite an independent person, and I did not expect him to spend every waking moment with me, but for the first few weeks we saw each other on average two hours per week (he lives 20 mins away on foot). What was even more strange was that every time we would meet he would talk about our future kids, marriage, our long-term plans. The discrepancy between the time we were actually spending together and the topics we were covering – was enormous. And I didn’t know how to stop it. Honestly, I liked it. I had longed for a smart and driven boyfriend for so long. Okay, so things are slightly strange, but we’ll grow into it. Also, our time spent together was not planned out. It included random walks in crappy weather and a quick coffee near his work (as I tried to accommodate his busy schedule – he runs his own business). He told me I’d never see his flat (presumably it was a hole), and he didn’t at that time have money to go to coffee places or restaurants. Then I suggested he should come to my place.
I had a minor surgery and prior to this he had offered to help out around the house as this is what “good boyfriends do”. I thanked him, although I didn’t expect anything. I came back from the hospital on a Wednesday and saw on FB he was interested in a concert near my place the following day. I was confused. He was not offering to come over, but was willing to go to a concert five minutes away from where his operated on gf lived? I texted him on Thursday that I am at home and he is free to visit. He then texted me he wanted to drop by and surprise me as he “had an obligation near my place”, but was feeling sick (he has a lot of health concerns). I wondered why he called a concert “an obligation”.
Saturday comes and he is supposed to come over. He first suggests a walk (in crappy weather – again). I turn him down as I was on heavy meds and in no shape for a walk. So an hour before coming over, he texts me he is feeling super sick and is going to the ER. My phone dies and by the time I find the charger and start replying to him, he’s texting me he’ll go to the ER and than come to mine. He was at my house about 45 mins later. How did he know they would see him so soon at the ER and let him leave? He also didn’t seem to be sick when he came over. We had dinner, watched a movie, made out – had a blast. He left around 11 pm.
His bday – another incident . So I had asked him on few occasion whether he wanted me to organise something for his bday. First he said he just wanted to hang out with me, then he mentioned going out with his friends, then he snapped at me (via text) when I asked him where and when we would meet these friends (as our mutual friends were now asking me about this info). He told me he didn’t have the money or the time to go out for dinners right now (as if I wanted him to do this – it was his suggestion) – so I told him: ok, then it’s just the two of us. The day before his bday I went shopping for his present and around 3 pm sent him a text asking him when we are meeting tomorrow. No. reply. At midnight I wish him a happy birthday but also tell him I don’t understand why he is ignoring my text but we can discuss it later. I get a message in the morning I am threatening him (as I said we could discuss it later), I am insecure and need to see a shrink. He had taken some meds and was out of it for the whole day. He also had a project he had to work on that day he had forgotten about and sent a link to verify this was the case.
Then we go for coffee and I give him the present (we hadn’t seen each other for over a week now). He had gone on a business trip and asked me if I wanted anything from there. I asked for a rock from the road (as it was a historical place) because he kept telling me he didn’t have a lot of money. He told me he got me two souvenirs. I never received these souvenirs or the rock I had asked for. During this coffee he informs me he had booked a restaurant for Friday (a.k.a. our one month anniversary). I was so happy, but then he proceeded to laugh: but not with you, I’m having a business dinner! Freakin’ hilarious. During Friday he kept texting me asking me if I was really upset, I told him I was sad, he went drinking after his dinner and was driven home by his friend and his friend’s gf.
The one day he seemed not to be busy or sick, he decided to go hiking with his office buddies (one of which is my friend). I was invited but also warned it would be a proper hike, and I don’t really hike so we made plans to see each other later that day when he returns. I had tried seeing him Friday and Saturday before that, but he kept postponing it. On Saturday he told me to go to my friend’s party and we would see each other the following day (so the day of the hike). I wished him a nice climb to Mt North (made up name) to which he said they were not going to Mt North as there had been some changes. So I texted my friend asking her to meet me for coffee as they were not going. She then texted me back telling me they were on their way to Mt North. Imagine my confusion. I then text Alex asking him if he was ok since he wasn’t going (since he was always so sick) and he just wrote: we’re going to Mt South, don’t be so dramatic. I was so offended. But fine, I was going to talk to him that evening. That evening he texted me he was back from the hike and was hungry so we could meet somewhere in town. I turned him down, it was late and I asked him to meet me at my place as it was originally planned. Twenty mins later he texted me something had gone terribly wrong at his flat and he couldn’t come. I was so angry. I asked him why I was always the last person on his list – and he of course started telling me he doesn’t have time or energy to do this right now as he awaits for the repairman. He also told me he had planned to surprise me on Saturday but when I texted him I was going to the party, he turned around and went home (when earlier that morning he told me to go to the party).
I was upset and behold he came over two days later to talk it out. I told him I was confused by his behaviour and he said he had problems in communication sometimes. We ended up making out and he again – went home. I asked him to stay, I told him we didn’t have to do anything (romantic/physical), he said he felt like we had already done everything and then he went home. Apart from making out two times, we never did anything close to that.
Lastly he took me to a party and introduced to his friends. It was lovely. I could tell he was really proud of me. I thought things were looking up. Wrong. I went home to visit my family and we had made plans to see each other in a couple of weeks in a different town. Whenever I would try to have text convo with him (as we never spoke on the phone), he would cut it short by simply not answering my questions. When I complained, he mentioned his mental condition (he has some issues) and how he sometimes doesn’t feel willing to talk (but this was mid-conversation, and it was constant – if anyone was cutting our convos short – it was always him). He told me I was the only one making him feel guilty and if his world didn’t revolve around me, sh** would happen. I just didn’t get it. I stepped back as I was so hurt and confused.
Two days later he cancelled our appointment via text, telling me he can’t really tell me why, he’s sorry and we can talk about it when I come back (but not immediately as this issue together with his work was going to keep him so busy he won’t be able to see me for a few weeks). I lost it. I (via text) called him a coward, a liar, told him that now I wanted him to feel like sh**, that he broke me. We had a phone convo the following day in which I tried to convince him to stay with me, but he told me he was concerned about my stability and advised me to seek professional help. He said I exploded at him for no reason, that he tried so hard for this relationship and I was just looking after myself. I went back and forth between telling him I’m better off without him and asking him to come back (via texts), and then he went to his social networks and insulted me in an indirect manner (he is over 30). That was the end of it for me. I stopped texting and I moved on.
What actually happened?
September 4, 2017 at 10:55 am #166884AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
The answer to “What happened?” may be right here: “he mentioned his mental condition (he has some issues)”- did you ask him/ did he tell you what his mental condition is about?
And what are the issues you mentioned in parenthesis?
anita
September 4, 2017 at 11:13 am #166892DaisyParticipantDear Anita,
Thank you for your message.
He has a diagnosis for which he takes daily meds. He told me this about one month into our relationship. While I understand it is an incredibly difficult thing to talk about, he did attack me on several occasions prior to this for calling him out on his strange behaviour (not even thinking about the fact he actually might have mental issues). He told me he’s on daily meds and has days when he doesn’t want to talk to anybody. That I would understand, but even on good days he didn’t seem to be overly interested in spending a lot of time with me. When I complained about him cutting our text conversation short, he told me he was going through one of his episodes and I was making him feel guilty. But this episode was the day after our text conversation – so it did not apply. I understand he had days when he didn’t want to see me or talk to me, but there was also never days when he did. I felt so lonely, having this amazing person in my life, who wouldn’t let me in. And I tried – I really tried. And as we were breaking up he said some ridiculous things. He said we were not attached at the hip. Like seriously? He told me I was only thinking of myself and I offered so many times my assistance, a shoulder to cry on – but he wouldn’t let me close. How could I let myself love a person whom I don’t trust with my heart?
Thank you,
D.
September 4, 2017 at 11:14 am #166894ElianaParticipantThis man in no way, is ready for a commited, stable, relationship..so many reasons and numerous red flags. 1. You both only texted, and never spoke on the phone. 2. He is very unstable, and unreliable making you always confused and in doubt. No relationship, no matter now much you like someone can survive this. 3. He is cruel and disrespectful of you. Telling you that it is your anniversary, and he is having a surprise restaurant, but then laughs and says it’s for a business colleague, this man sounds like a sociopath, enjoying making people have doubts, telling them to “see a shrink” lashing out at small things. 4. He never invited you to his place, made you dinner, never really made any attempt at romance other than “make out sessions” at your place, not boyfriend material. 5. Always being sick, yet always taking you to walks in “crappy weather”. Couldn’t take you in his car when the weather was bad out. 6. Not following through when you were in the hospital, not caring to ask how you were doing, caring more about “a concert instead” 7. I honestly don’t believe he went to an emergency room, and don’t think you do either. 8. Not caring enough to get you a rock for a souvenir that you really wanted. 9. When you got confused about his hiking plans, as anyone would, he again lashed out and became verbally abusive saying “don’t be so dramatic”. I could go on. Thank your lucky stars you are rid of this creep. Please don’t get back with him. This man is very toxic.
September 4, 2017 at 11:29 am #166896AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
You wrote: “He has a diagnosis for which he takes daily meds.”- what diagnosis and what meds is he taking? My question is relevant only in your quest to try to figure out “What happened?”-
You did enjoy his company though, very much at times, being “in 7th heaven”- what did you enjoy about his company, about him; what did you like about him?
anita
September 4, 2017 at 11:48 am #166902DaisyParticipantDear Anita,
Thank you again. I don’t know what meds he’s taking and his diagnosis has to do with his mood swings.
I did. He is a charming and smart guy and when we were together (which was never) he was a gentleman, respectful, he would send me texts and tell me how much I mean to him and how I am the only one who understands him (I’ve never got the chance to get close to him, so I don’t know where he’s getting this idea from). He was funny, sweet, affectionate – WHEN he was there, but that was so rare. It was torture. Having this man in my life – knowing he can’t be mine.
Also, he now goes hiking every weekend with my friends. Where are the headaches, the meds, the issues now? He goes on overnight trips like nobody’s business.
Being afraid of opening up – I would get that, but he talked to me about our marriage, he told me he loved me in another language, he told me what he would name our first kid. This is not a person afraid of commitment, rather someone who wants to be in one so badly, but can’t.
I honestly felt we were meant to be together. Clearly not the case.
September 4, 2017 at 12:31 pm #166908AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
In the quest to understand… do you have information about his previous relationships with women? His current and past relationships with his family members?
Also, since he spends so much time with your friends, what are his relationships with your friends and did they talk to you about him, citing behaviors that concerned them…?
Will be back at the computer in about 18 hours or so.
anita
September 4, 2017 at 12:40 pm #166910DaisyParticipantHe has said a few slightly negative things about his exes and stated he ended his last relationship because of his mental issues so he didn’t want to repeat the same mistake with me.
My friends generally think the world of him and have stated no concerning behaviours, but I don’t think they would say anything bad about him even if they thought something was off.
Thank you so much for your messages. I really appreciate it.
September 4, 2017 at 5:42 pm #166922ElianaParticipantYou’re welcome Daisy. I’m sorry this happened. It seemed he did repeat the same mistake with you. I think you deserve better, a healthy relationship with a stable, emotionally available man. Have a great evening.
September 5, 2017 at 8:23 am #166998AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
You are very welcome. I enjoy opportunities to analyze people and situations, and so I am happy to try and answer your question “What happened?” I will look at the information in all your posts on this thread and come up with a possibility of what may have happened.
You met Alex and then spent time with him twice. After those two times you were “in 7th Heaven”, heaven with a capital H. One online definition of heaven is “a place or state of supreme happiness”. No doubt, once in heaven, in that state of mind, in that supreme happiness, you were invested in staying in it, in feeling happy on and on and on.
Following those two times you texted him that you “really like him” and his response was to ask you for a walk, then postpone it saying he was “super busy” and suggested to “postpone dating for several months. Your response was that you wanted “to try something more than just a friendship right now.”
-seems like you didn’t ask him why he wanted to postpone dating and you simply ignored his assertion.
A few weeks following the first two times, you saw each other about two hours per week, even though he only lives 20 minutes away, on foot. During those two hours per week, you talked about your mutual “future kids, marriage, our long-term plans”.
You wrote: “Honestly, I liked it. I had longed for a smart and driven boyfriend for so long”, again, you were in 7th Heaven and intended to keep it this way. You focused on the topics of conversation which fit being in 7th Heaven and ignored, best you could, the discrepancy between those topics and the short amount of time you spent together overall.
Just as you ignored the fact that he told you he wanted to postpone dating.
Later on he lied to you about the concert and such, but you ignored it best you could and had “dinner, watched a movie, made out – had a blast”. You had a blast, still 7th Heaven maintained best you could.
While you were invested in maintaining Heaven, he was displaying significant lack of assertiveness and a people-pleasing tendency. When he told you that he wants to postpone dating, and you asserted that you wanted to date “right now”, he sort-of complied and proceeded with getting together with you for about 20 minutes per week, talking about marriage and children. Later on he got resentful because he was not interested in dating and he felt you were pressuring him.
Instead of re-asserting himself, stating to you in no uncertain terms that he is not ready to date, he came up with excuses, aka lies as to why he can’t see you more often. He got angry and blamed you for threatening him and suggested you should see a shrink.
When you told him that you were “confused by his behavior”, his response was that “he had problems in communication”, and indeed he did: he was not assertive. Following asserting himself that one time, telling you he wants to postpone dating, and following your assertion to date anyway, he tried to accommodate you… a little.
Later he took you to a party. You wrote about that party: “It was lovely… I thought things were looking up”- you are still invested in that… Heaven, holding on to any positive thing and ignoring the negative best you could.
When you complained, later on, he “mentioned his mental condition”, instead of… re-asserting himself. Clearly, he is scared of asserting himself.
You wrote: “He told me I was the only one making him feel guilty and if his world didn’t revolve around me, sh** would happen. I just didn’t get it.”
– this is a very telling statement on his part. It suggests, in my understanding, that as a child he may have been made to feel guilty for asserting himself, he was afraid to displease a parent if he asserted himself. If he displeased a parent “sh** would happen” That is what he is still afraid of.
When you “lost it…called him a coward, a liar, told him that now I wanted him to feel like sh**” – his fear came true. His response was not one of intimidation though. He fought back, asserting himself and going a bit overboard into aggression when he suggested you needed professional help and insulting you otherwise.
On your next post you wrote: “even on good days he didn’t seem to be overly interested in spending a lot of time with me”- because he was not interested in dating, in a relationship, which is what he told you in the very begiYou wrote: “Also, he now goes hiking every weekend with my friends. Where are the headaches, the meds, the issues now?”- these were just excuses. He didn’t want to date you but he tried to accommodate you, a little, somewhat, fearing to displease you.
You wrote: “but he talked to me about our marriage, he told me he loved me in another language, he told me what he would name our first kid. This is not a person afraid of commitment, rather someone who wants to be in one so badly, but can’t.”- I believe that this is a person afraid, only not of commitment, but of asserting himself, fearing negative consequences that will follow if he asserts himself again.
This is my best understanding. In a nutshell: you pretended you had a boyfriend. You pretended you had a relationship. Your motivation: maintain Heaven. His motivation: avoid perceived negative consequences (punishment) for re-asserting himself and trying to accommodate you… a little, somewhat.
anita
September 5, 2017 at 11:27 am #167062DaisyParticipantHi Anita.
Thank you for your message however I am slightly confused now. In the last message you told me he is toxic and unstable, now you tell me he is merely lacking in assertiveneas. I did not force him into dating with me. Had he told me he wanted to wait, there was no way I could have forced this relationship on him. And why would he be with me just to be with me? I was nobody in his life at this moment. I would have ended it a lot sooner had it not been for his sweet messages and promises. I was trying my best to understand and compromise but in the end nothing worked.
September 5, 2017 at 11:35 am #167070AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
I am not the person who wrote to you in a previous message that “he is toxic and unstable”. It is another member who posted that to you.
If you go back and re-read the previous communications, maybe things will get clearer for you? Let me know.
anita
September 5, 2017 at 11:40 am #167078DaisyParticipantOh sorry since the avatar is the same for everyone I got confused. This makes more sense. He too mentioned I insisted on thisrelationship. He is a 30 plus year old man, had he not wanted to date me he could have told me that instead of being passive aggressive and punishing me for wanting to be with him. I definitely agree that he was scared all the time I would get upset but I only got upset when his behavior made no sense and once I would complain he would fight back. And i cant possibly see his behavior as accommodating me. He was not a good bf. And why on Earth would he want to please a girl he had just met? I don’t understand. He has no problem telling people off and getting into discussions at all.
September 5, 2017 at 12:08 pm #167080AnonymousGuestDear Daisy:
You wrote (last post): “had he not wanted to date me he could have told me that instead”, but he did, after the first two times of getting together, “He asked me for a walk and explained he was super busy right now and suggested we should postpone dating for several months.” (original post)
You wrote: “i cant possibly see his behavior as accommodating me. He was not a good bf.”- and I agree, this is why I wrote to you again and again in my post to you (the one with my understanding of what happened) that he accommodated you “a little” and “somewhat”.
As to “why on Earth would he want to please a girl he had just met?”- there are people who want to please not only people they just met but people they will never meet again. There are people who are afraid of displeasing anyone, no matter when they met them or if they will ever meet them again. This is so because they project people into their lives and previous experiences into new people and new experiences, feeling the same fears as before.
You wrote: “He has no problem telling people off”- I am thinking he is going between being scared and angry, scared and angry…accommodating (a little, somewhat) and telling people off.
anita
September 5, 2017 at 12:21 pm #167082DaisyParticipantDear Anita
I wish we could just go for coffee. Again, if he told me straight up he was too busy to date I couldn’t have forced him. And I gave him enough space and time. It was only when he started cancelling I started complaining. So why do you think he instantly started talking about kids and marriage? I want the one insisting on it. The first night we agreed to try dating he called me his gf and asked if i would now change my FB relationship status. I wasn’t perpetuating a serious relationship right off the bat. He was.
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