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Managing relationships

Relationship thoughts

Relationship thoughts

I have been with my partner for nearly 23 years. Cant see myself with anyone else but also don't know why I stay. Or if I am the problem and not him like he makes me feel.

So he has always been jealous. Hates that i had male friends and especially on social media. He always wanted to hang out with me and my girlfriends because I should be able to do what I do with them in front of him. He stopped hanging with his friends and even to this day he doesn't have friends just acquaintances because he doesn't trust anyone.

Something like having coffee with a friend he is ok with but if I want to go out for lunch or dinner and especially if it involves alcohol he gets cranky and shuts me out. There's so much more along that line.

  • I have never been unfaithful but he is always thinking the worst that I'm cheating. He says I don't show him affection and come to think of it I don't but I think its because I resent him for how he is. I grew up with a step dad who didn't let me have friends, who sexually abused me and told me if he ever found me with a boy he would harm both of us. My very first boyfriend at 17 was abusive as well and was very jealous and controlling. My partner is not physically abusive at all. Am I wrong to think he is somewhat emotionally abusive or maybe just controlling?
  • The worst thing about it is he is like this with our daughter. We went through some online stuff with her a couple of years ago which broke us as parents so now he is over protective with her. He gets angry with me if I let her go hang out with her only friend.
  • I just feel so low. I feel like I have lost the woman I use to be. I feel like a fraud. Around everyone I pretend I'm happy when I'm not. Forgot to mention he has social anxiety as well so hates being around people so we spend alot of time at home or we go places where there is little to no people.
  • Thoughts?

1 reply

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In response to: Relationship thoughts

Re: Relationship thoughts

Hello @Willow18 and a belated welcome to the forums. I'm so sorry for a late response here, it seems your post got a bit buried due to a glitch, but it is visible now.

Thank you for sharing here. From what you have described, it does seem to match some traits of emotional abuse or control, though if you're wanting some more clarity on this and some guidance then 1800RESPECT is a fantastic resource to reach out to as they specialise in this very area.

It sounds as though he has many insecurities that he projects onto you, which of course isn't fair and I can hear that it's really taken a toll on you. Do you have any supports who you've been able to lean on or talk to about how this has been making you feel?

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