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What is the right thing to do?

What is the right thing to do?

Hi first time poster and scared for my ex.

About 2 months ago my partner of 12 yrs. left me. It’s a long story but over the last year or 2 he has pulled away, lost sex drive, stopped socialising, pushed friends away, was never happy, got angry frequently and was unable to show any compassion or empathy even towards me and my family when my grandfather passed. He was depressed and found no joy in things. He has now hit the bottle, acting uncharacteristically (like a teenager) and only looks at today and not the future. He says there is no us right now but won’t commit to us being done for good. Says he doesn’t know who he is and just isn’t happy.

Since our separation he has started to follow in his mum’s footsteps. She passed away early this year from her illness. She had several mental conditions but the main being Borderline Personality Disorder. I never thought of it while we were together- maybe I was too close or didn’t want to see it, but since being apart I have seen his behaviour mimic hers over and over. He is extremely reluctant to get help although he has said he would a few times it never eventuates. He is not the man I know him to be. He has changed before my eyes.

My question is... what is my role? He has very little family to support him- he relied on mine for the last 10+ yrs. and he keeps his mates at a distance. No one can see the whole picture- he manipulates his life so no one ever sees what’s wrong. I haven't reached out to his mates or brother as I’m scared to push him further away. I still love him and care about him and if I’m right and he is sick, it is his worst nightmare. He has always been so anti mental illness (for himself) due to seeing his mum suffer and have her life implode due to BPD. She got divorced, could no longer work, in and out of inpatient care, abuse her sons, became an absentee parent, abuse medication, alcohol and drugs, couldn't handle day to day tasks, hated being in public and relied on her sons for pretty much everything. He has made it his life’s mission to not be her and here he is denying anything is wrong which is exactly what she did at first.

Do I reach out to his mates or brother or his step dad who divorced his mum when she did what he has done to me to him? He's pushed me away and made it clear he doesn’t want my help. Although wants to be friends (but treats me horribly in the process). Meanwhile I’m feeling guilty and concerned (on top of heartbroken and depressed) like I'm watching someone wanting to jump off a bridge and not say a word- just letting them do it. My friends say it’s not my place and don’t understand BPD and he won’t talk to me.

What is my responsibility here? I love him and want what’s best but do I have to let him go and do it his way or am I responsible to speak up or act. I am genuinely concerned he has BPD or at least something along those lines.

Many thanks

46 replies

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In response to: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Im not sure what my next step should be and you have all been so amazing so far.

Its now 3 months and we have just sold our house. Its bee a real struggle for me and I have now my own mental health demons to deal with. I have just seen a psychiartrist and getting a mental health plan set up.

I still love him and want to work on our relationship but I have had nothing from him in terms of real communications. Everytime I see him he behaves like he used to when we were together and seems like nothing is bothering him or weird. On the weekend he actually showed interest in my new job and asked how it was all going. We never talk about us or where we are going its always work, house or dogs. The last time 'us' was brought up (5-6 weeks ago) he said he wasnt ready to talk and just wanted to see if we could be friends and see if it leads to anything more but I have been distant and cant do the friends thing right now, not sure if ever.

My question(s)... Now we have sold the house (settlement in early Feb) do I bring up finalising everything. We havent split our finances or assets only the furniture as we are living apart. If we are really over I need closure and to move on but I am worried if I push to finalise everything I maybe closing a door that he has been looking to open but not quite ready. Do I wait till after christmas and new year like a friend suggested as he will have a lot of alone time to think or are we a lost cause and hes not bringing up the finances as he is being respectful of me?

Thoughts please...

In response to: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

While you are not sure @rosey, and you have room to move, I would agree with your friend to leave it until after New Year. He seems to have communicated well with you that 5-6 weeks ago about seeing whether you can rebuild your friendship basis ...... that's sorta where I am with my hubby. We have been through a wringer with his (as yet undiagnosed) mi issues, and I am not sure what we have left and whether we can get onto the same page in terms of rebuilding ...... it takes time for things to settle, gel, reform ..... what ver they are going o do.

💐💜

In response to: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

@dands26 just wondering how your going? 3 months in and my depression and anxiety are out of control. I have no idea how i get to work everyday.

How are you and your husband going? is the friends thing working and is he still askign for your help?

In response to: Re: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Hi @rosey

Friends is working for us right now. He is still asking for and accepting help. He has his first psychiatrist appointment next week. I feel like its coming and perfect timing as his emotionally state is starting to burn me out.

If your okay with leaving the financial conversation till after new years then wait otherwise have the chat. You have to do whats right for you.

If i have learnt anything its that we need to remember ourselves also otherwise we will loose ourselves while helping them. Got to somehow find a happy balance.

We do dinner or lunch and a movie atleast twice a week.

We are learning to speak and fufil each others love language and we are laughing together again.

However wether or not its going to lead back to an intimate relationship im not sure at this stage. I think we have a lot more hurdles to jump first.

How are you feeling about everything?

In response to: Re: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I have spiralled out badly. I wake up every morning wishing I didnt and at night getting angry I dont have the courage to end it all. I know I have my own demons (trauma and chronic illness) to deal with and am getting help (which isnt very well working atm). I really wish we could help each other get through this time but he hasnt given me any sign which way he is leaning. I dont know if he is heading towards final split for good or towards reconcilation. He is keeping his cards close to his chest but if i was a betting woman I would think he really hasnt progressed at all and still in the same place he was 3 months ago or happy with his decision.

I have been keeping responses short and limited what I say, allowing him to lead conversations. Not askign about us or how he is feelign, not asking if he is getting help. I dont know if its the right thing to do but its what has hurt less. I want to keep that door open for him but everytime I see him or hear from him it hurts and sends me back to the beginning.

In response to: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I am so sorry you feel this way.
Any seperation is difficult let alone one that has soo many grey areas.
I think right now you need to focus on you. Work on feeling great about yourself and then when hes ready to work through it you will be able.
Find things that make you feel great, treat yourself, find somewhere peaceful to go for a walk, maybe even consider a pet like a puppy or a cat so you have some comfort.

In response to: Re: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I have two beautiful dogs but we are currently sharing custody so I dont have them this week.

As for


Find things that make you feel great, treat yourself, find somewhere peaceful to go for a walk

Nothing is really cutting it atm. Everything reminds me of him or what we wont be doing together, or my multiple illnesses stop me. We had so much in common or liked doing together and things we didnt we still did for the other person. So hard to find something that doesnt have memories attached. But I am trying but I'm so tired.

What did/do you do?

In response to: Re: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I write, everything i feel everything i think whenever it comes and i get a moment i write it down. It feels like then ive gotten my thoughts out and im not holding them in.

I also found a beautiful spot along the ocean and i use to just go and sit there and enjoy the peace and quiet and relax.

I caught up with some friends i hadnt seen in a while. Although i dont think it overly helped my circumstances it was good to get out and socialise.

Eventually when i was comfortable i let my ex see my happy peaceful place and we made it our new place. I found myself initially gravitating to places we went together and that had memories of us and i needed to move away from that and have somewhere for me so i did.

The spot is beautiful u see out to the horizon one way and accross to a major city the other.

When i felt comfortable i let my ex see it and we started going there for picnics. This allowed me to start creating new and different memories with him. I now had places we went as a couple and i have places we go as friends.

In response to: Re: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I envy that you can be friends. I just cant go there atm and not sure if I will ever be able to. I guess that may change when/if he ever admits to needing help or having issues to work out but right now its too painful. I fear I will try and read in to everything and try to find signs of hope. It makes me incredibly sad that my future may not have the man I shared 12 yrs of my life with in it at all. That I may never be able laugh over shared memories, remember travel stories together. That that large part of my life/memories I will no long be able to share with anyone. I struggle to come to terms with not having in him my life and going from each others everything to nothing at all.

I used to have a spot like you mentioned although unfortunately it was when I lived on the opposite side of the world.

In response to: What is the right thing to do?

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Not very many people do manage friends.
I guess we are a bit of an exception.
Evertbody we know together or seperately has expressed that there is no way they could do what we are doing if it was them.
In time things may change for you.
It hurts soo much.
Just because we have managed a friendship doesnt make it hurt any less.
It takes incredible strength sometimes to say goodbye and leave. Thats why i suggest focusing on you. If your not ready friends can destroy you just as much as anything else.
Find a new place, i used google to help me.
Those memories can still be talked about. It will hurt right now. But one day you will find total comfort telling a funny story to somebody that was a memory between you and your ex.

I had and still have certain things i couldnt do or wear.
A certain watch (which was my favourite)
A beautiful bottle of perfume
Etc.
Because of what they meant or made me remember about my ex.
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