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Why am I so lost?

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  • #109337
    Jessica
    Participant

    Dear Tiny Buddha members,

    I am seeking your guidance upon this matter, for I’m at a completely lost in this.

    Where should I begin? I hope this doesn’t seem to trivial for you, if you do posses the knowledge to guide me, I will accept any form of help.

    Of course it’s about a guy. But he is different from the rest. We are like twins, with how much we have in common and even our values as well, it’s like I have found my other half, and he also thinks the same.

    We meet online on April 16th and ever since then, every day from dawn to who ever passes out first, we have been texting each other. Even if we are really busy at work, we manage to find the time to talk to each other, we call each other, and when we hang out, we are so comfortable with each other, like there was nothing else but us. Even in the most awkward moments, we still feel relaxed with each other. I’ve never had that with anyone before.

    But here where it becomes complicated.

    He doesn’t want a girlfriend, and at the time I wasn’t really looking for a boyfriend either, so we agreed since we go so well together and the endless talking, we agreed to become friends with benefits, since we still need to take care of things. Now, we agreed to date other people but we have not been on a date with each other and we are only having sex with one partner at a time. Which is fine by me, just means its a lot safer. We even both said that we like each other,but this is where I’m getting confused. We act like we are in a relationship, with the texting constantly, he sends me pictures of work his done or share things with each other, send things to each other because we thought of the other one and the compliments and the sweetest things we say to each other, we tell each other that we miss each other if we don’t get to talk for a period of time, and encourage each other and what ever else couples say to each other(minus the dating), yet he often talks about his past relationships a lot. I have never really brought up mine, because I don’t see a point. But now, almost every time we talk on the phone, he brings them up. How amazing in bed this ex was but didn’t work out and how this recent ex was the perfect one, but didn’t work out. But every time he brings it up, its like he is comparing me to them or them to me.. It makes me feel… Well, you know right? that feeling of being compared to someone.
    If I ever bring up something that I’m unhappy about or something that bothers me, he gets mad and tries to end the conversation. He will never apologies for any of it, then act as if nothing was said or happened. We don’t act like the regular friends with benefits either. And I did try to let him go or give each other space but he doesn’t like that and clings to me.
    Like… I don’t understand this.
    But now that I’ve written it out.. It sounds so stupid and our thing is so complicated. Yet, he didn’t want complicated.

    I’m very sorry for the long text.. I hope one of you may help me.
    Thank you very much!

    #109364

    Jessica,

    Don’t worry about the length of your post. You were actually quite concise! And it’s not stupid either. These type of experiences seem very common in the dating world, so please show yourself some compassion and give yourself loving messages. Friends with benefit situations are fraught with emotional landmines because they so rarely have clearly defined rules/expectations.

    Now, I’m of the opinion that regardless of what arrangement/relationship with an individual (platonic friend, committed monogamous romantic partnership, etc.) that you *always* have the right to speak up when the other person is doing something that is hurtful. The fact that he gets mad and defensive when you bring up things that bother you is, in my opinion, a red flag. (Doubly so because he doesn’t apologize afterwards.)

    I encourage you to re-evaluate if you want someone in your life who doesn’t treat your with the utmost respect. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be hard to cut ties…sounds like he has a lot of positive attributes and he definitely has a connection with you…but if he’s not showing you basic courtesies like finishing a conversation, it may be healthier for you in the long run to let him go.

    Best of luck to you! I hope my words help!

    #109379
    Jessica
    Participant

    Thank you! I’m just wondering why he would bring up his ex’s though..
    but I’ve also come to notice that when we do argue he doesn’t seem like he wants to talk about it but his actions shows that he didn’t ignore it and tries to change. But we shall see..
    I also feel bad, because we agreed to date other people, and I have, but he hasn’t.

    #109382
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Jessica:

    In the beginning of your original post you wrote: “We are like twins, with how much we have in common and even our values as well, it’s like I have found my other half, and he also thinks the same.” Toward the end of the post you wrote: “If I ever bring up something that I’m unhappy about or something that bothers me, he gets mad and tries to end the conversation. He will never apologies for any of it, then act as if nothing was said or happened.” So, the two of you are not like twins, am I correct? You value sharing when unhappy about something and he doesn’t; you value taking responsibility and apologizing when appropriate, and he doesn’t…?

    This is an interesting dynamic that you described here and I would like to understand it better. He said from the get go that he doesn’t want a girlfriend and still doesn’t. You agreed to be friends-with-benefits and to date others: you have and he hasn’t. He keeps bringing up his ex girlfriends, referring to them sexually, while you don’t do that and feel (understandably) offended by his sexual talk about his exes. You tried to give him space but he clings to you.

    I am thinking what motivates him are two things: the need for a girlfriend and the fear of it not working out. So he is having you as his girlfriend without calling it so. This accomplishes reducing his anxiety about having a girlfriend AND it not working out. Maybe he brings up his ex girlfriends – not intentionally so, but to express his fear of a closeness terminated. He is telling you how wonderful it was … and then it didn’t work out. Stress on the second part.

    What do you think?

    anita

    #109477
    Jessica
    Participant

    Hi Anita!

    Wow… I’m left in awe on how you analyzed it.

    But that is correct, I guess we aren’t like twins. Even though we are still so very much alike yet not. He is rather proud to call me his twin.

    Maybe your right about that. The fact he wants a girlfriend but is scared of it ending. He keeps telling me that all good things must come to an end. And they way he describes his ex’s were that 50% were bad 50% were good, and the good ones got separated on mutual terms and if he got a chance to be with them again he would. I guess this is the part were my heart sank.
    I understand that our arrangement was that of friends with benefits, but I didn’t realise that talking from dawn till dusk would make me so attached to him. I even explained that to him at one point, that I’d like my space so I could stop liking him, but he didn’t let me.

    To be honest, I’m seriously confused. I dont know how to proceed anymore. I tried not having any expectations of it becoming anything more, but… he tells me things that a guy in love would say, then turn around and push me away with harsh comments(not all at once).
    I enjoy what we have, we dont go on dates but I’m okay with that, I simply enjoy his company.. so why does he simply go 180°.
    This is probably where his fear of not wanting to lose some one but why does he insist that I go on dates and act a little jealous when I do?
    I seriously dont know what to think of this anymore, its been 4 months… and I feel like I dont want to be like all the other girls he has dated, but he just seems scared to want to take my heart and give me his..

    Thank you!

    #109510
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Jessica:

    You are very welcome. Obviously you like him very much and you are attached to him and obviously he likes you very much and is attached to you. It is also obvious to me that the two of you are in a relationship, a love relationship. Doesn’t matter what anyone calls it, what the title given.

    The problem as I see it, is that he doesn’t want problems and will not confront or address problems. I am guessing when a problem arose in his past relationships, he avoided the problem until the relationship ended, ignored the problem. When you bring up a problem, something you are unhappy about, he gets mad and terminates the conversation.

    So how can you have a long term relationship (and again, a relationship is what you are having with him) if you get shut down when you bring up something that needs to be addressed?

    Do you have more information or observations about him avoiding problems or conflicts at any cost?

    anita

    #109545
    Jessica
    Participant

    Hi Anita,

    I don’t understand how its a love relationship when he keeps pushing me into other peoples arms for dates? And he finds dates troublesome and time consuming. But how are we in a relationship?
    I personally have never been in one, if I have they only lasted 2 months, he has had 5 relationships.

    At first that’s what he would do, but if there was something wrong like an argument I’d always ask him to communicate, because I want to understand what he is feeling and why. So he has been opening up and communicating things better, I think ..or I’m hoping so. I try to stay the calm one, because theirs no point in getting all riled up, which I guess makes him less abrupt about it. We were arguing recently and he said “end of discussion”, I told him that it hurts every time he says that and it felt like he didn’t care how I felt, or let me explain myself properly. After that he opened up and told me what was wrong. Which is a great improvement!

    I just wished he would stop pushing me away. I told him before that I just simply enjoy what we have, and enjoy being around him, and I dont need any title’s. He agreed, yet still pushes ne away. Although I haven’t said anything to him about it, I feel like it wouldn’t be right when he is probably thinking of his feelings for me.

    Thank you so much for your help!
    Jessica

    #109546
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Jessica:

    What you have with this guy is a relationship because you are relating to each other; you are having physical intimacy- that is a whole lot of relating (relating is the verb in “relationship”)- only the kind of relationship it is – is not satisfactory to you. I too wouldn’t be satisfied to be with a man who wants me to be with other men. In fact I wouldn’t have that relationship.

    Did you ask him WHY he wants you to be with other men? Do you know what motivates him to push you to date other men?

    You are wise to be as calm as you can be with him: our best thinking is done when we are calm. You being inexperienced in relationships with men is not necessarily a bad thing. If a woman has a lot of experience in bad relationships, inclining to repeat, to have more and more destructive relating then having no experience is better than having that experience!

    You and him are not twins. You have things in common and things uncommon. I am glad he is a bit flexible, more so than I assumed. You expressing your feelings to him like you have (as described in your last post) is a very good thing. Pay attention to how he treats you and make sure you do not tolerate abuse/ mistreatment. When he says: “End of discussion!” – that’s mistreatment (except if your part of the “discussion” was calling him names and mistreating him!) If you are expressing to him your hurt and he says “End of discussion”- that’s disrespectful. Don’t tolerate that.

    As the inexperienced woman that you are in relationships, please follow number one rule: do not tolerate disrespect/ mistreatment/ abuse. If he can’t and won’t talk to you respectfully- and after you explained that to him- remove yourself from him.

    You also have the right to negotiate the terms of the relationship. You feel badly about the two of you not having dates, about him talking about his exes, about him pushing you to be with other men; if you want a monogamous, dating relationship- tell him al that and negotiate: is he willing to change this or that? Are you willing to accept this or that? You must be okay with the terms of the relationship so it is satisfactory to the two of you. Please post again, especially if you have interesting conversations with him…

    anita

    #109642
    sally
    Participant

    Struggling with moving on

    #109656
    Anonymous
    Guest

    * saloon81: would you like to start your own thread with your struggle? If so, click FORUMS, choose a CATEGORY, click it, go down the page to the empty box. See you there.
    anita

    #110120
    Jessica
    Participant

    Dear Anita,

    Sorry for not replying, things with him seemed to be normal. Oh, don’t worry about abusive relationship or anything of the sort, I have no tolerance for that sort of thing.

    It’s just, although you say I’m in a relationship, whatever the nature of it is, I am actually quite happy with him, and I’ve learnt to try and not have any expectations from him. I don’t care if we go on dates or anything, which we haven’t.
    But I’m just not sure where i stand with him, I’m even more confused than before.

    In the past couple days we have gotten really close, and he started telling me things that I believe he doesn’t really tell people about, I think. Either way, we have gotten quite close but last night, I had a date, and when he asked me what I was doing later that evening, I told him, Shopping with my friend and I have something at 8. He asked if it was a date, and I said yes, he got very offended at the fact I didn’t tell him straight up, and how I never tell him these things, why am I hiding it from him, and how if he were to call me and I didn’t pick up how upset he would be. In the meantime, I was simply thinking that its only a first date with this other guy, and it might not even be worth mentioning to him after, if there was no connection with the guy or anything, which at the end of the date, there was nothing, no connection and no interest on my end, so I don’t see why I should tell him? The date was boring. I really don’t get why he freaked out on me, then when I agreed to tell him next time he said, “don’t bother, its irritated me, you go hangout on your date or whatever, I don’t care.”

    Like seriously? I’m thrown back a little by this. I’ve also noticed in the past 2 weeks or so he no longer has been saying couple like things anymore. So when this happened, I really don’t understand him and such a 180 degree change. I thought he started seeing me more as a friend or sister just with sex on the side.

    He is so confusing.. or is it just me?

    Thank you!

    #110186
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Jessica:

    It is confusing to me too. It reads to me like a love story, still. A love story dipped in some denial- denying it is a relationship, denying it is love. Maybe I am a romantic after all but it seems this way to me.

    So you are happy with him, you wrote, happy and confused. The title of your thread is “Why am I so lost?”

    Can you re-state the problem you are having, or problems regarding this relationship? As in

    My problems in this relationship are:
    1.
    2.

    anita

    #110260
    Jessica
    Participant

    Dead Anita:

    Confusion is part of being lost…

    Yes, I think I will write it out more clearly my problems in that way, I myself can understand.

    My problems in this relationship are:

    1. We are friends with benefits, but we don’t act like it. We don’t text each other only when we want sex, but instead we talk to each other every day from dawn to dusk and we say the sweetest things to each other. He even said that, he would like to be in this type of relationship for a long time to come.

    2. I have told him early on in the relationship that I like him, and would like to spend some time away, or minimize the amount of time we talk to each other. He didn’t want and got upset.

    3. I tried to set up normal rules for friends with benefits for when we have sex, he thought it would limit our enjoyment of being with each other.. So I opened up.

    4. Maybe its just me, but on a couple occasions, he mentions his ex’s and how he is still very much attached to them, and if he could go back with his recent ex, he would in a heart beat because she was perfect. <- His actual words. Which of course hurts me, although I didn’t say anything and just agreed. He also isn’t in contact with them.

    5. I’m okay with not going on dates with him and only seeing him for sex, but I hate how he keeps pushing me away to have dates with other men( I do go on dates though with other men), but i am required to tell him and he gets upset afterwards and doesn’t want anything to do with them. I(Now this problem took place 2 days ago. We haven’t really been on each others good side.. We still talk, but its very short and angry, but I try to release that, and send him things to make him smile. Although when he does end up smiling, he says its because of something else. ) I just want to tell him that I don’t want to see other men, but… I’m scared of his reaction because he is pushing me to go to them.

    6. I don’t understand his reactions to things.

    I’m even more lost than I was before and it kinda scares me because, although I enjoy what we have, it does seem like its becoming into a relationship

    #110264
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Jessica:

    I hope I am getting closer to understanding the situation. With patience on both sides (you and me), we will make progress and clear the confusion, I hope. In that aim, more questions:

    1. Do you, Jessica, want the relationship to be strictly “friends with benefits”- that is that either one of you calls the other for the benefits to be actualized upon desire and no other contact other than that? Is that what you want?

    1b) Or do you want to spend all those hours communicating daily and say sweet things to each other?

    1c) Do you want to spend less time communicating with him? Or no time at all other than the strict definition of “friends with benefits”?

    2. Why does it hurt you that he expresses emotional attached to ex girlfriends? Do you want him attached to you as a .. friend with benefits?

    3. Why do you not want to date other men?

    3b) Why do you force yourself to date other men?

    4. Are you interested in changing the definition of your relationship with him to that of a bf/gf or are you interested in changing the relationship to that of strictly “friends with benefits”?

    anita

    #110273
    Jessica
    Participant

    Thank you very much Anita for your patience.

    I’ve been denying myself that feeling of wanting to be with him, because I’m scared that the moment I actually do want to be with him, I’ll get demanding and wanting to go on dates, and see him more. When he has no time right now what so ever, his work is so busy and personal life is hectic. I just don’t want to impose on him these feelings. That and we live quite far from each other and we both live with roommates, but I will be moving out in February to get a place of my own. He was rather happy about that, and said he would come over almost every night.

    But to answer all the above questions, no I don’t want to be friends with benefits, I want to be only his and him only mine.
    Which is why I don’t want to date other people, I mean, I know there are great guys out there, and I might just be settling for something that might turn into absolute heartache.

    I don’t want to change what we have though, because its nice and it really works well for the both of us. And I know he isn’t seeing or dating another girl, cause he usually would straightly tell me.

    I guess I’m scared of losing him, because I don’t know where I stand. If it was clear that it was just friends with benefits, then okay, I can keep my feelings to myself and date other men without feeling guilty and actually would want to. But he’s also pulling me towards a relationship type of relations. So I’m torn, he could leave me at a moments notice but yet he still wants all the perks of a girlfriend.. And its eating away at me. My feelings for him and my fear of him leaving. It really really sucks.

    Thank you Anita for your help. I have a feeling that I will have to talk to him about this. I am meeting him Saturday hopefully. I might want to talk to him then. I’m just scared of the result

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