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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?

talk to me instead @rosey, distract yourself for a little bit..

Sleep over i think so..

unsure as of yet..

Did you do much over the weekend?

I know the wanting to text feeling....

It sucks...

Have you watched any good tv shows or movies recently?

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

@dands26 Sorry I’m a huge mess right now. Really hard day/week & I just want my best friend/partner to talk to. None of my friends or family are helping/picking up their phones. Feeling so alone & helpless.
Weekends have started to become very slow. Once upon a time I couldn’t wait for them to spend it with him now I hate them. At first my friends helped a lot but they have all gone back to their own lives. I want to go back to mine too.

Been watching the morgan freeman doco series on Netflix. You?

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Good behaviour on stan

as well as starting like 50 other series because i cant decide what to watch.

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I just saw him briefly and I just want to beg him to come home. I know it’s not going to help but I’m so desperate, scared and lonely.

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Be brave @rosey .....

💜

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I’m really trying @Faith-and-Hope but thinking about being with out him at this time of the yr (holidays and the anniversary of his mums passing) is almost unbearable.

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

It sounds like you could really benefit from talking with a counsellor @rosey. You’re right, it is a really tough time of year to be landed with this. A counsellor can better help you to process those feelings and come to terms with the stages and cycles of what you are going through.

Sane have a help centre -

https://www.sane.org/get-help

Or there’s Relationships Australia -

https://www.relationships.org.au/

We are here and listening too .... here to walk along with you.

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

It’s Christmas Eve when we always caught up with his Mates & had a great time.
I’m laying here crying for an hour now knowing he has invited all his mates over to his bachelor pad & I’m not there with him and won’t be with him tomorrow or I guess any day after. It hurts so much. I have other family but he was MY family & I want to spend it with him but he obviously doesn’t share my thoughts. I’m in so much pain right now. And my mums just says “we don’t always get what we want” like I don’t clearly know that. Thing is I hate complaining when I don’t have a solution but in this case I real don’t.

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

He.might be hurting too @rosey. Men generally have a different way of processing (not processing ?) how they feel.

Hugs Hon .... that really sucks.

Is there something you can do for yourself ? Do you have some gitlfriends who can help you through this ? Have a girls night in ?

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

They all have there own families to be with. I’m now the tocken single of my friends. I don’t want him to hurt but I do if that makes sense. No idea how I am going to get through tomorrow. I feel I’m being horrible to my family but with out him I just want to sleep right through it.

Any suggestions? How are you all getting through this time of year.
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