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- This topic has 20 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 months, 1 week ago by anita.
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March 21, 2024 at 5:23 am #428853IMBACKParticipant
So at the moment im 17 years old. I’m in a relationship with my girlfriend of 9 month. To give you some background, we met at some parties and we started talking. She was the first to initiate something between us. We went to a party not long after together and we kissed again. This time I initiated it. We starting texting each other and i was clearly the one who wanted her the most. We went on some walks together and it started to get more serious from one day to the other. We then after one party spent the night together where we agreed that we should be locked in together. About a month after we were boyfriend and girlfriend.
Everything went perfectly, besides the fact that I dropped everything I had in my life for her. If she wanted to hang out some day, I would cancel all other plans just to be with her. I was over the top in love with her. Then we hit a bump in our relationship. We started arguing quite a lot, and that properly had something to do with the fact that we spent every single day together. Almost seven times a week for the first 6 month of our relationship we spent each and every day together. But as mentioned above, we started to argue quite a lot. At one point it was almost every day. We got into a routine, where we would just expect to be together everyday, then we would sit in front of my tv and watch a movie together. For a period it was actually quite rare that we spoke to each other. And when we did, we argued. It messed up our 5 month anniversary and my girlfriend got really mad at me for that. At this point I had lost all connection to reality. I had lost my friends, I never did what I wanted to. Never had alone time. Everything in my life almost came to an end. But for some reason I was still happy, because I had her in my life.
Then we got into the week before our 6 month anniversary and she asked me if I still loved her. She had felt that I had been distant to her and not as clingy as I used to. I had never given that question much thought, because of course I loved her. But it made me question my love for her. I only enjoyed being away from her, and as soon as we were together I got sad and cried. I didn’t know what to believe, because I knew that I loved her or at least I chose to love her. We spent the whole night before our anniversary crying. I told her that I didn’t know what I felt about her, and of course it made her sad. I know I shouldn’t have told her, but I tell her everything. We then spent our anniversary together where we went to a party and then went to a restaurant together after. We spent the night together, and I felt better. I still had some doubts about everything, but it was better. She left for a vacation and I started crying the moment she left. I couldn’t hold it together, because I missed her. I just wanted her to come home. ALL my doubt was gone. She came home 4 days after and everything was good. We started spending every day together again and all my thoughts were gone. Then about a month after she had to leave for a trip again. Everything was actually fine, besides the fact that I one or two days before I started getting a knot in my stomach. I couldn’t look at another girl without feeling guilty. She left for her vacation and a day after she left all my thoughts came back. I had seen a Tik Tok saying “This is a sign to break up with who you are with”. This made me doubt everything about her again. I spent the next week while she was gone, crying everyday and not being sure if I still loved her. I kept saying to myself and my parents that I love her, but I still doubted it. In that period I searched after answers on google and everything just went to my head, even if it didn’t make sense or didn’t fit how I felt. I kept having thoughts about what would happen if we broke up. The day before she went home we had a discussion over a call and I told her that I had lost myself in the relationship. This made her sad and angry, but we put our feelings to the side. She came home and we spent the day together. Everything was actually going fine. I didn’t think that much, but we still had to talk about everything. She kept almost pushing me to break up but I just couldn’t. I didn’t want to. Yes, I would properly feel better and the problem would be gone, but I just knew deep inside that the right thing isn’t to leave. We kept going and the day after I broke down at work and decided that we needed a break. The day after that we just went on a quick walk together and I actually broke up. We got back together 2 minutes after because I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing. I had the thought that I was afraid of breaking up, because what if I regretted it. We continued the break, but we basically still messaged each other everyday. It was very hard that week. I couldn’t do anything in that break, even though I took the break so I could find out what made me happy. We had a study trip the week after, and two days before I had to leave, she texted me saying that the break didn’t work for her. We met that same evening, and actually agreed that the break didn’t work. I was just as sad, and she was even more sad. We enjoyed the day after together and I went on the trip. The whole trip I focused on being myself and doing what I love. Being with my friends and just being me. I still texted her, but not nearly enough as I used to.
A week after I got home. We had an argument the first day we came home, because she wanted me to pick her up from the air port but for the first time in our relationship I actually didn’t just say yes. I did what I felt was right for me and said no. She got mad at me. And made me feel bad about telling her no. She started going on about how I didn’t care if she was okay about everything that had happened. I understood her and I apologised like I always do and moved on. Everything was actually going fine. I did what I enjoyed, spending time with my friends and only answering her when I actually wanted to. I didn’t force myself to answer her just because I was afraid she would get mad or raise suspicion about me not loving her because I didn’t answer her after 5 minutes. Then one evening I watched football with my friend and she started texting me. For some reason, even though I didn’t want to at the moment. I answered very quick. I kept muting and pausing everything to answer her. The morning after ALL my thoughts came back. Every time I wrote her back I got goosebumps. I started feeling that everything was forced and that I was faking everything. I didn’t feel like me. I started feeling more and more distant to her, to point where I actually believe that I have lost some feelings for her. I still love her, but im trying to force some feelings when im talking to her or looking at her. Everything just feels forced. I have reached the point where I don’t know what to talk to my girlfriend about, because I only make decisions based on what I think she wants. I have been open about everything lately and said to her there is something wrong with the relationship. She have told me that my feelings are okay and that she will be open for change in the relationship. The more time I spent away from her the happier I get. The more im myself and enjoying my own company. As soon as im with her or texting her, I get the feeling that I have to act a certain way. Like a mirror of her. I have to find things funny that she finds funny. It actually feels like going to jail when im with her. I know many would just say that I should pack my things and leave, but I don’t want to. Im not sure if I have just lost feelings, but im quite sure that everything can get better, but I have to work on what I do and how I am. I am not myself when im with her, and it has made me lose some feelings for her. I just feel like when im with her I get forced down into the same little pit that I was on my way out of. Im afraid that if I become myself that I don’t love her anymore. But when I think about this Is absolute nonsense. I am slowly loosing her anyways, and yes I might push her to the side, because I need to work on my self. And I HAVE to find a way to be myself in the relationship. It’s almost like the less I think about her the better im feeling. Not because I don’t like or love her; but because she reminds me of a worse version of my self that I don’t want to be.
Last thing, because I think I have basically covered everything. Im pretty sure she have BPD, because her mom has it and she have been exposed for it the last 18 years. She fits every description there is of BPD and when I have searched of how they are as a lover, It matches you. I sometimes feel like she Is belittling me. She can raise her voice against me and love to make fun of me. It is not always fun to be around her because of this. This is properly one of the reasons why I have become someone I am not. To deal with her behaviour. The way I have dealt with it is definitely wrong, because I have lost myself and I’m still not happy at all. It feels weird to push her to the side, and almost “forget” about her. I still love her and want to hang out, but im used to her being my everything, but she just isn’t that anymore. She still means a lot and I still love her, but the way I am with her is not nice and I don’t enjoy her company anymore. She reminds me of negative things. Im afraid that it is too late to fix our relationship. Im still trying though. We are going on a vacation to her home country in about a week and I think it would be good for our relationship.
Now last question. Do you think that I have just lost feelings? This Is my first love and I don’t know my way around. I don’t want to be with anyone else, but I still daydream about being single. Again I think this Is because I don’t like who I am with her so I imagine me being someone else. I happy version of me. Please help.
March 21, 2024 at 5:40 am #428854IMBACKParticipantI will also say, that I don’t have anything in my free time so my personal live also suffer right now. Everything is just bad right now and I don’t know if im just loosing feelings for my gf, because of how she is or if its because how I handle her and the fact that I haven’t set any boundaries. I just do everything she wants me to and think alike her. If she is unsure if I love her, I’m unsure. Im just a little version of her and my way of thinking is based on what I think she would do. Im afraid that this is why I have lost feelings. But im sure of one thing. And that is that I love her. And I want to fight for this relationship.
March 21, 2024 at 9:42 am #428859RobertaParticipantDear Imback
Too much, too quick, too deep is probably why you maybe feeling overwhelmed and lost.
On the surface it appears that you are both maybe co-dependant & clingy.
I guess you do need to set boundaries, like you can spend at least one or two times a week with your friends and not have that time interrupted by intrusive texts. Hopefully she would use that free time to connect with friends or do something that she finds interesting & enjoyable.
There are books on the subject of having a relationship with someone with BPD which may help you decide whether you want to stay with her & if so how to cope.
March 21, 2024 at 10:57 am #428862IMBACKParticipantI also think that I may be co-dependant, but as my mom has said to me, I might actually enjoy being sad. I feel as though I can connect to my parents and girlfriend, when I talk to them about it. Could this be why I still am having these thoughts. I don’t know what else to talk with my girlfriend and parents about. I don’t do anything and I go absolutely quiet when I try to talk with them. My mom says I have to do something in my life so I can love myself and be happy. But I am afraid that I might not be as interested In my girlfriend as I used to. I don’t know what’s wrong
March 21, 2024 at 11:27 am #428863IMBACKParticipantAnd my girlfriend and I never really do anything interesting and we have done the same thing the last 4 month almost everyday. She is used to just enjoying laying down in bed and doing nothing, but that’s not what makes me happy. So I think that one of the reason I may have all these thoughts is because it makes the relationship interesting and something actually happens for once, but at the same time its making me lose interest in the relationship because of the negativity
March 21, 2024 at 11:35 am #428865RobertaParticipantDear Imback
What kinds of things are you interested in? Is there places that you can do voluntary work in your area?
Do something that is not just for your enjoyment ie computer games etc, but helps you connect with others in your community will help you especially if it is outdoors.
March 21, 2024 at 1:09 pm #428867IMBACKParticipantIm interested in football/soccer, basketball and other sports. I think I will start doing small things for myself that will make my life more interesting. I have always been very social but after getting into this relationship, I stopped being social. This was fine before but something has changed. I could always talk about my girlfriend, but as soon as she went on a vacation and I was left with myself, I had nothing to talk or think about. So I just found something that makes me think and keeps me interesting. Since then I have just been addicted to reading about it and talking about my problems, because I get this fix from it. It feels like drugs. But now I just don’t know how to feel about all the negative things that I have thought about the relationship. Should I still focus on them If I start feeling better or should I just let that go?
March 21, 2024 at 1:16 pm #428868anitaParticipantDear IMBACK:
Welcome back!
“I’m pretty sure she has BPD, because her mom has it and she have been exposed for it the last 18 years. She fits every description there is of BPD“- it so happens that my mother fit the criteria for BPD, and I have been diagnosed with it myself (following many years of purposeful healing, I no longer fit the criteria). BPD is like the kiss of death when it comes to close relationships. It is simply impossible for intimacy/ emotional closeness to survive the unpredictable, explosive behaviors of the BPD person. You walk on eggshells around them. Fear takes over where love used to be.
“I get the feeling that I have to act a certain way. Like a mirror of hers. I have to find things funny that she finds funny. It actually feels like going to jail when I’m with her… I have become someone I am not… I have lost myself and I’m still not happy at all… I don’t enjoy her company anymore. She reminds me of negative things“- this is how I felt as a child and a teenager growing up with my mother. I was focused on her and lost myself. It felt like being in jail, not having the SPACE to be me, to have my own thoughts, feelings. She (my mother) took over all of my space. It was torture. Like you, I was not happy at all, didn’t enjoy her company. The very sight of her, her voice.. the touch of her hand, it all got infected with bad memories, bad feelings.
“I want to fight for this relationship“- you can fight, but for as long as she fits the BPD diagnosis, you will lose the fight. Maybe she’d be willing to see a professional for an evaluation and treatment…?
anita
March 21, 2024 at 1:38 pm #428869IMBACKParticipantHi Anita,
So you are basically saying that this is normal when dealing with a person who has BPD? She keeps saying that she is open for change in the relationship, but I don’t know what to do then. I have researched how to deal with someone who has BPD, and It has given me hope but it still seems difficult to see the future with her. I think it would be difficult to obtain the relationship. I wanted to hear your opinion on the back and fourth me and Roberta have had. It kinda ties back to what I have said before about the fact that im not feeling like myself and that I have lost myself. I have read that in order to be with someone who has BPD, I have to love myself first. I don’t even have a life of my own, so I don’t love myself at all.
March 21, 2024 at 1:57 pm #428870anitaParticipantDear IMBACK:
I am saying that if she fits the BPD criteria, a healthy relationship with her is impossible, impossible for you, impossible for any person in your place. Imagine a 100% healthy young man in your place (if there was such a thing), he’d get sick, sooner than later, being in a relationship with a BPD woman.
anita
March 21, 2024 at 2:00 pm #428871IMBACKParticipantSo what should I do? Should I confront her about this or should I not? If you think I should, im properly gonna wait till I feel better because I have put her through a lot and she properly wouldn’t react nicely to getting called out for having BPD. What did you think about the back and fourth between me and Roberta?
March 21, 2024 at 2:17 pm #428876anitaParticipantDear IMBACK:
“So what should I do? Should I confront her about this or should I not?“- did you discuss BPD with her?
If you didn’t, you can bring up the topic, print out some reliable online information on the topic and hand it to her, ask her what she thinks about it. Her reaction can make a difference as to what is next.
“What did you think about the back and fourth between me and Roberta?“- I think that her suggestion that you do some volunteer work in your community, to connect with people in this way, is an excellent idea. What do you think?
anita
March 21, 2024 at 2:21 pm #428877IMBACKParticipantI think it sounds like a good idea. I think I need to get my life back in place and that will properly take some work. Im just worried that I will fall back into the same pit because of my girlfriends BPD. I mean, I have been okay with her before, but when I think about it my personal life have taken a descend since being with her and definitely since we started arguing. I just can’t keep going with this relationship, while my personal life isn’t okay.
March 21, 2024 at 2:39 pm #428878anitaParticipantDear IMBACK:
I think that it’d be a good idea for you to end the relationship with he. Say your goodbye to her, and do it soon, kindly and responsibly (keep it short, be kind). And then, stay away. Don’t go back to her.
anita
March 21, 2024 at 2:43 pm #428879IMBACKParticipantBut I don’t want to leave her. I still love her. I want to try and get my personal life together while her being by my side. It just sometimes feels like I make some progress, but then im with her and I fall back a bit. Should I leave her or just try and stick it out and work on this. Maybe I should try and tell her that she may be dealing with BPD.
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