He slept with someone- I'm having a hard time

Thank you for taking such time and thought to answer all of this for me. A lot of this is very helpful and has helped me to understand that in not crazy. He has very little interest in making compromises for me. I've discovered that the biggest problem I have is that he wants to think of himself as single and not have a label attatched to our relationship. We were a monogamous couple for nearly 5 years. I've realized that I can be intimate with others and not feel bad but it bothers me that he is. At first I wondered if I was exhibiting a double standard. However I've realized that when he slept with someone it felt like he cheated because this was not only his choice but he refused to a acknowledge me as anything more than an ex or a friend even though the only thing that changed was that we live separately and can sleep with others. He was my boyfriend for 5 years and suddenly, he refused-to let anyone know we were together, like a secret. The whole time he was telling me "you're the one I love, you have my heart, isn't it enough that we know it?" No it's not enough for me, especially if he's intimate with someone more than once. I want a commitment, a label that expresses that I'm number one in his life and I want to meet anyone he's been continually intimate with. I can probably get over the sex part if I had that. I'd feel secure and loved. He couldn't give me a reason why he wouldn't give me that... I suspect he was concerned that some people wouldn't be interested if they knew he had a primary partner. A lot of this is about insecurity for him. When a few dates canceled on him he beat himself up saying he wasnt attractive, or sexy, or had lost his sex appeal. It's very obvious that in order to feel good about himself he has to get sexual attention and take it all the way. He told me that the man he slept with had very little in common with him and left him alone in a bed when they were finished( he's very affectionate and loves to cuddle). He told me he was surprised that someone he found that attractive was interested in him. When I later brought this up he denied that the physical side had much to do with the attraction when he had flat out told me.

During that time, he lied, manipulated, pressured me to be someone I'm not or do things in not comfortable with, has hit me on several occasions, destroyed property in fits of rage, and emotionally (and possibly physically cheated. Because I've always been a person who only considers monogamy, sex has always been at the forefront of my mind( the violence probably should have been). He made me feel inadequate in bed, he pushed me to bottom for him, which I'd never done and had no desire to do. He flat out told me that if I didn't do it he'd simply have to accept being miserable for life and when I did try he was frustrated and angry that it took me a while to get comfortable with it. He held out on me as a bottom because I wasn't able to do it often and so sex for several years became mostly foreplay. No matter what position I took he'd find something wrong. I'm not a porn star without a little guidance, it's true. In he beginning he loved suggesting positions and new things in bed but that eventually stopped and he began making me feel like I wasn't good in bed. I became so overly concerned about it that's couldn't perform well often. However thinking about it now I realize that none of my other partners had been dissatisfied. In he beginning of our relationship he was the most experienced and adventures person I'd ever been with and certainly the most exciting sex I'd ever had. He took it all away eventually. I told him several times that if he had suggested positions like he did in the beginning we could be having great sex again, and it did happen after we broke up and started sleeping together again.

I'm actually get confident with my body right now. I've lost a lot of weight and got in feast shape but I prefer to be lean. I have no interest in looking like the man he slept with. It bothers me that he looks like a man, an older man and my ex looks like a boy. There's something dominant about this that o guess does hit my ethics in addition to this mans family situation. It feels to me like he's being treated like a little boy being taken advantage of or dominated in a way that makes me feel very anxious. It also again, feels like he's cheating because he decided this and held his love over my head saying things like " I'll fall more in love with you than I've ever been if you can be polyamorous" he even said he would marry me which he knew was something i wanted for us. Wether or not a poly relationship could be right for me, it can't with him. He refuses to set knits that make me comfortable and was willing to risk losing me over it. After he slept with the other man with whom he'd been chatting for 2 weeks and had a dinner date, he told him that we had broken up and write friends, without telling him we were stil intimate and in love. He told me that he'd introduce me to him when he met the children but still wouldn't tell him that we were together. It was too much to handle. I told him that if he didn't want to lose me he'd have to acknowledge me as his primary partner, introduce me to anyone he's been intimate with more than twice, and be there to listen to me if I am feeling jealous or threatened without getting angry about it. He refused, things turned ugly and we're officially not planning on ever being in contact again. It's hard but I think it's best for me to get over him and take my time to discover what's best for me without pressure.
 
It's hard but I think it's best for me to get over him and take my time to discover what's best for me without pressure.

I agree 100%. From the sounds of it, you'll be better off without him. I'm hoping with some TLC on your part, the emotional wounds he's left will turn into scars that make you stronger.
 
Yikes! It definitely sounds like this relationship has run its course. I'd say you're lucky to get out of it, especially since he was even physically abusing you.

Every relationship teaches us something, so now you know a lot more about what to look for in a mate, what your standards are, how you expect to be treated respectfully, etc.

There is no need to date right now. When my last longterm relationship broke up, it was traumatizing and even though I tried to date a couple months after the breakup, I didn't really have the right attitude about it for 6 months.

But YMMV. Be careful, be safe!
 
I think it's best for me to get over him and take my time to discover what's best for me without pressure.

Yes. This sounds like a good plan. Do what is best for YOU.

During that time, he lied, manipulated, pressured me to be someone I'm not or do things I'm not comfortable with, has hit me on several occasions, destroyed property in fits of rage, and emotionally (and possibly physically) cheated.

I hope you can open up to your therapist about this having been a domestic violence kind of relationship. I don't think the therapist would encourage you to date him any more knowing that. I think therapist could help you refocus on what is needed here first -- deep healing.

Wether or not a poly relationship could be right for me, it can't with him.

When you are ready to date again? It's ok to explore poly with people OTHER than him. Don't worry about that right now. I think you are right. You are best done with this man. Let him be an ex. No contact at all.

I am so sorry you were in such a toxic sounding relationship. You are NOT crazy. :(


Galagirl
 
Last edited:
. . . he lied, manipulated, pressured me to be someone I'm not or do things in not comfortable with, has hit me on several occasions, destroyed property in fits of rage, and emotionally (and possibly physically cheated.
Sweetie, why do you want to stay with someone who has hit you and destroyed your property in a rage? And played the psychological games he's played with you? You deserve to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't abuse you!

You have value and worth! I am certain you will only continue to be unhappy and feeling beat-down if you keep holding onto this relationship.

Be brave and let him go. Move on. Find someone who treats you lovingly and with whom you feel cherished for who you are.
 
So the domestic violence takes it to a whole new level. Based on that alone, yes, please let him go and take care of yourself. He's not a good partner, period. Full stop, right there. There doesn't need to be any other reason to walk away.

Now, having said that, I did want to bring up where you said that he wants to be poly with you, but not acknowledge that you are in a relationship. You know, there are a lot of things in life (and especially in poly) where I'm willing to say "this is neither right or wrong. it's just what people feel. and that's OK, even as it sucks, because the things that This Person feel and the things that That Person feel don't work together, so they probably can't stay together with both of them staying true to themselves".

I don't think that what was happening with this guy falls into that. If he's really polyamorous, and he's interested in building loving relationships with multiple people, then I don't think he'd be lying about his relationship status to get people in bed. That is flat out shitty and unethical, because he's deliberately keeping information from someone that stops that person from making a fully-informed choice about what they are getting into. That speaks to him really seeing people as things for his pleasure, and not autonomous beings who deserve agency and the full facts to make the best decisions for themselves.

So even if the physical abuse wasn't there, the emotional manipulation and the willingness to lie to others (even by withholding the truth, and not actually constructing a verbal lie) is a sign that this guy would be super-bad news for you. Or anybody who wants to have a healthy relationship, really.

I really hope that you're able to walk away from him, sort out if you want to be poly or not, and just generally heal and feel better. It sounds like it was a rough time with this guy. You deserve so much better.
 
Hi nycsinger2000,

Re (from nycsinger2000):
"It doesn't feel like jealousy as much as sadness, a feeling that the bond we shared is broken and can't be fixed."

It is clear that you are in a state of deep mourning. You have to decide whether you can be in a relationship with your (ex) boyfriend. Have you lost too much? Is the sadness too overwhelming?

Re (from nycsinger2000):
"I need some advice and tips for getting over my possessiveness."

I have a few links that might help.

Jealousy, Envy, Insecurity, etc.
How do you achieve compersion?

Jealousy and Insecurity
The Theory of Jealousy Management
The Practice of Jealousy Management

Jealousy and the Poly Family
Kathy Labriola: Unmasking the Green-Eyed Monster
Brené Brown: the Power of Vulnerability

Re (from nycsinger2000):
"He ... has hit me on several occasions, destroyed property in fits of rage ..."

Whoa! For that he needs counseling, possibly meds, a heck of an apology and a commitment to not do that stuff again.

Re:
"I told him that if he didn't want to lose me he'd have to acknowledge me as his primary partner, introduce me to anyone he's been intimate with more than twice, and be there to listen to me if I am feeling jealous or threatened without getting angry about it. He refused, things turned ugly and we're officially not planning on ever being in contact again."

Oh. Well that changes the entire situation.

You have been through a painful journey. I hope you find some healing on the road ahead.

Sincerely,
Kevin T.
 
Back
Top