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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?

I am getting though by doing things for my family @rosey ..... just knocking off a hit-list of preparations for tomorrow, but it’s the easiest home Christmas I have ever done. I am cooking because I enjoy it, and chose things that I want to make instead of worrying about who eats what ..... apart from one general every day salad for them and an all-my-favourite-things-in-a-salad for me ..... every other year it has been about everyone else, cos that’s how I am ..... but not this year ..... this year is a self-care Christmas for me.

Can you list 10 things for yourself, and do them, like it or not.

Paint your nails. Just do it. Make them look like Christmas. Different colours each finger if you like.

Choose something to wear that is all about you, and nothing about anyone else ..... your favourite T-shirt, favourite jeans, favourite skirt ..... whatever it is.

Make yourself something special to drink.

Wear a favourite piece of jewellery ..... or have an arm-party by wearing every bracelet you own .....

Red lipstick !

Paint your toenails.

Draw a flower around your naval.

Eat dinner with chopsticks, or something like them .... a pair of bamboo skewers if that’s what tou’ve got.

Put on some music.

Do something crazy with your hair ...... look up hairstyles on line and trade it up to look scary ..... anything different from how you usually wear it .....

Make paper flowers from setviettes, or kitchen towel, or tissues, or toilet paper, whatever, and spray them with perfume (just a little so they don’t go soggy .....

Don’t ...... just lay there in a heap thinking that you can’t function without him. He left you, right ? Be your own best friend and pick yourself up with self-care stuff so that you remember the night before Christmas was about you ..... and Christmas was about you .... and Boxing Day was about you ..... and then you can fall into a heap if you want to, but only for three days.

You’re the token single of your friends ? Show them how it’s done ❣️

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

I spent Christmas eve technology free playing cards and board games with my parents and step sisters.
Make the best of a bad situation.
My mr. Is considering popping in tomorrow after work. All i hope is if he does my brother isnt in a drunken state and says anything to upset him.
My brothers are over protective..

I wrapped presents because i like to give gifts

I baked because thats my domain and i enjoy it

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Merry Christmas from me @rosey ..... will be thinking of you tonnorrow .... bear up Hon as best you can ..... try not to let him have more than he has already taken.

Merry Christmas @dands26 ....

🎄❤️🌟

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

Thanks all @Faith-and-Hope @dands26 they are helpful.
It’s just me my parent and my grandparents (my grandmother has onset dimentia so it’s going to be hard) it’s also the first with out my mother in law who I found in her home in jan and the first without my grandfather who passed in sept. Overall not the greatest year to be having a merry Christmas of it all but I’ll try your pointers and go from there

Merry Christmas to you both. Thanks you for your support and words. Hope you can have a special day tomorrow.

X

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

@rosey
How are you?
How is everything going?

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

Re: What is the right thing to do?

hi @dands26

how are you going?

I got really ill over the break so spent a lot in bed. Nothing to report on the ex front. Still pretty much the same but I think I need to make it 100% official and ask for no contact for a significant amount of time. Christmas was hard and he didn't make any effort even a Merry Christamas and from all reports he is fine and happy so not mch more to be doen I guess.

This weekend was the anniversary of his mother death (1yr) and he seems to be doing fine while I'm a mess. I need to keep my distance. I had planned to but I keep having to see him, even bumping into him. I'm doing my best to aviod him (honestly) but it's like the universe has other ideas. House settles in a few weeks so besides the dogs I should be able to reduce contact. TBH how I'm feeling right now I want him out of my life completely. I realised I had him on this pedalstal and he didn't deserve to be. Acknowledging this though still hasnt taken the pain away.

Ive been on new anti Ds for just over 2 weeks but they are making me so nauseaus and I thought I was doing better but this week I've been struggling again. I know its a rollercoaster but I dont think these are the ones for me. Back to the Drs.

How was your christmas/NYs?

How have you been doing?

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