Absolutely devastated after 4 years of LTR (break-up)

daniel57

New member
Hi everyone,

I am so desperate right now. I've tried my friends, family, psychologist, but nothing works. That's why I'm trying posting here and asking the PUA community - a community I was part of 4 years ago.

4 years ago, I had everything. I had girls begging for my attention, had dozens of fuck buddies and I was on the top of my game. I was always telling myself that I could never jump into a relationship, because a girl that would grab my attention simple didn't exist.

And then I met her - the prettiest girl on my university, with the greatest body, everyone wanted her. She immediately became my number one goal, but only in terms of sex, because I didn't know her personally. I knew I could get her with my game. And I got her.

But on our very first date, I felt this girl had everything I was looking for. She was extremely intelligent, spoke 5 languages fluently, was crazy and positive. We shared the same values and the same things fascinated us - especially small, unknown countries. This wasn't only a relationship material, this was a marriage material. I found my soulmate.

As years passed, we traveled half of the world together, experienced some really great and really bad moments (not in a relationship, but with health & work), that only strengthened us and I wanted to propose to her at the end of 2018. I always knew I wanted kids with this girl, I knew she would be a great mother and I wanted to put our shared values into our children.

It started to become worse 6 months ago. We both graduated and planned a huge trip around the world together. It was our last big trip before she started working full time and before I could concentrate more on my business.

2 days before our trip, I was offered a huge deal for a lot of money. It would include working on the trip, but not that much, just several hours per week. I asked her if I should do this, because I didn't want to ruin our trip, but it was so much money, that we could have a great start to our new life after the trip. She said I should take the deal and got excited about it.

The reality was different. I worked more than I expected and got really mad several times during our trip. It was still pretty good and we experienced great things. We came back home and the deal was off. They didn't pay me anything.

A new chapter started for us, we moved to a huge city, she started working full-time in her dream job and I was concentrating on my business, which wasn't going very well after the fraudulent deal. I lost a lot of money and I was working really hard to get it back and started several new projects, just to make us financially stable, because I knew we wanted a family soon. I often wasn't home, I traveled a lot and I was doing everything in my powers to make some money for our future life. I was telling her every single day that I was doing this for us, that it's just temporary and everything would change from 2018 and I meant it. I was often negative and I saw she became cold.

I tried to talk to her, asking why she became so cold and she always said that the spark between us has been disappearing. I was always asking her what should I do and she always replied: I don't know.

It was always 'I don't know'.

This was going on for 3 months (Oct, Nov, Dec) since we started the new chapter in a new city. I knew that 2018 would be different, I already planned a big surprise for her at the beginning of 2018. I did all the tough work in my job in 2017 and I felt that I would finally have more time for our relationship in 2018.

We even cuddled more during Christmas and were planning our next trip in the summer of 2018.

She broke up with me on January 2nd. She cried and told me she didn't see a future in our relationship for a very long time.

I got devastated. I visualized all the things we'd be doing in 2018, me finally having more time, finally exploring the city, the restaurants, the hidden gems. I'd finally give her everything. I really thought she understood I was working so hard the last couple of months because of us.

She sent me 2 long messages after the breakup, saying that she was thinking about breaking up for a long time and even though she might be doing the biggest mistake of her life, she understands the risk.

This gave me a false hope and I started to imagine how we're back together after she realized she really did the biggest mistake of her life.

Yesterday I had to meet her after 9 days because I needed to grab some stuff from our flat (I moved out the day after our breakup). She seemed completely fine. When I told her this was the last time we see each other, she said just 'bye'. No emotions, no tears, no hug, after 4 fucking years of this unique relationship.

I feel I became too obsessed with work in the last 6 months, but only because I cared too much about our future. I wanted to make money, so we can afford a mortgage and I wanted my children to have a normal, decent life. I feel that the 'essence of a man' disappeared from me and I feel terrible. I wasn't the man she met 4 years ago. I reacted in the exact opposite way as I should because I feared that it may worsen the relationship even more if I acted like a man. Realizing that, I feel absolutely terrible.

I am devastated. The false hope of us getting back together was the only thing that kept me motivated and I still can't lose it. I still imagine us being back together after she realizes that she lost the most precious thing she ever had. But I NEED to let it go. But how? It will only be more painful if I see her with another man while still having this fucking false hope inside me.

How do I get over this incredibly unique relationship with so many memories from around 30 countries in the world, our adventures, our happiness, our jokes, our crazy world nobody understood?

and since I'm writing to a PUA subreddit, How do I win her back? Should I try to win her back? How can I lose this fucking false hope that is making things bearable in the short-term, but can devastate me even more in the long-term?

I'd appreciate any kind of help or response, especially from people that went through something similar. I know how things work in theory (I did pickup 3 years before this relationship), but it's really hard to apply them when you're feeling so low.

Thank you.
 
I see you copied this to here from a PUA subreddit. I don't know what PUA is... Oh! Pickup artist?

This is a board for ethical non-monogamy. Specifically polyamory. I am not sure how we can help you other than to say, sorry you lost your love. That is very sad. There is no way through grief than to feel it and accept it's OK to grieve. Eventually you will heal and move on.

You may need some more time in therapy. It sounds like being a player, a pickup artist, was how you defined your success as a man or as a human being. You let your guard down, you grew, when you found love, when you moved beyond just the thrill of fucking as many pretty women as you could. This is maturity. Real masculinity and humanity, to move beyond the cheap thrills of casual sex with as many 10s as possible.

I wish you well.
 
I am not sure you are posting in the right board. But I'm sorry you feel this badly right now. It's ok to feel how you feel.

I think you could not try to win her back. Instead, re-evaluate how you live your life from this moment on.

The thing about high school, college, grad school relationships -- not all of them make it once school is over. Maybe she got tired of you not being PRESENT, not really there. Moments being present, but mostly not really being present from the sound of your post.

In the post you sound like you get all gung ho on one thing and then ignore having any life-work balance.

  • First it hot and heavy with the PUA stuff and playing the field. Getting lots of women.

  • Then it's hot and heavy with this woman you were dating -- trying to get her to be in a relationship.

  • Once in a relationships, then it's hot and heavy on "having it all" -- school, travel, work, etc.

  • After the fraudulent business deal fell through -- it's hot and heavy on rebuilding your business and making money so you can go hot and heavy on the NEXT thing -- marriage and kids.

If you are always hot and heavy on future -- when are you in the present moment? Didn't really sound like you spent time with her enjoying the move to a new city, the pleasure of setting up a new home, the pleasure of getting to be in a new phase of life together as non-students. You sound like you are missing out on that. Each age and stage of life has its charms, and rather than enjoy the unfolding of your life as it happens, you are RUSHING through it all look at the next thing. For what? It is ok to plan ahead, but not in an unbalanced way.

She just broke up with you in January. It's only March. It's ok to hurt, to grieve, to be sad. But you don't have to go at it all "hot and heavy" like "Hurry up! Get rid of these yucky feelings!"

You could learn to be more in the present, , be ok letting things take the time they need to heal, and try to think about learning how to live your life with less "hot and heavy" and more "life balance" to it.

(Is this your first serious relationships break up? If so, it will feel double bad. The hurt of breaking up, and the hurt of not knowing how to do your self care while in this space. When you have broken up before, you hurt from breaking up, but you can tell yourself "Ok, this worked for my self care last time. This did not" so the experience is easier to bear while healing.)

Yesterday I had to meet her after 9 days because I needed to grab some stuff from our flat (I moved out the day after our breakup). She seemed completely fine. When I told her this was the last time we see each other, she said just 'bye'. No emotions, no tears, no hug, after 4 fucking years of this unique relationship.

You broke up Jan 2, and moved out Jan 3. Now you have come to get stuff from the old flat in March. You are not together any more. You guys are broken up now. What did you want her to do?

Perhaps she prefers to grieve by herself, away from your eyes. She doesn't have to show you her sadness. She doesn't have to help you manage yours. Accept you each might grieve differently, and this cannot be a shared grief because you are broken up.

I know how things work in theory (I did pickup 3 years before this relationship), but it's really hard to apply them when you're feeling so low.

If it leads to this kind of misery? Maybe time to let the pickup stuff GO. Because it doesn't work out in the end for you. Have you considered that?

Date more slowly, more authentically. Take more time. When you do date, enjoy the time you have with the person more. Instead of always being go-go-go with an eye on the next thing so much that you miss seeing what is here.

When are you going to decide to be ok in yourself?

Not keep having to "prove" your worth "winning" these prizes -- women, relationship, work, money, etc? When are you allowed to just be you, content, happy, with nothing to prove to anyone?

You sound like you are wearing yourself out living at breakneck speed. :(

I hope things get better for you.

Galagirl
 
Last edited:
If you are talking about the partner who broke up with you recently, she’s not your girlfriend anymore.

It’s very natural to wonder why former partners did what they did and why. It could lead you to identify behavior you no longer want in your life or to identify and work on where you contributed to a relationship failing. If it leads to introspection and growth, it can be helpful to wonder why. But just as commonly it can be a trap to focus on the other persons problems and behaviors as a way to avoid ever looking at your own stuff. Try to avoid this.
 
What do you do when you’re engaged and you love you fiance,

What do you do when you’re engaged and you love your fiance, but you fell in love with your best friend?
 
What was the cringiest thing you did in your first relationship?

What was the Worst thing you did in your first relationship?
 
(Going back to high school days) I don't remember what I asked her (over the phone), but then I said, "Right? ... Riiight? ... Rrrriiiiiiight???" I never did get an answer. :eek:
 
Generally speaking, I think it's best to be honest (with your fiancé).
 
Hello daniel57,

I'm sorry to hear about your recent breakup. It sounds like she was less than clear with you about why she left you. This makes it extra hard for you to move past it. All I can say is, right now, you need to get used to being on your own, being single. Someday, there will be another girl, and another chance for another life with her. But right now, you just need to get used to being on your own. It's not like you can replace the girl who just left you. There will always be an ache in your heart.

I don't know the ins and outs of PUA techniques, but I am thinking they would not serve you well in trying to win this girl back. It would only be like you were stalking her. My suggestion is, just let her go. That is the most loving thing to do.

I hope you experience some healing in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
Kevin T.
 
Hi daniel57,

Is this the same girlfriend you had for the last four years? or are you seeing someone new? What makes you think she is lying to you? I just ask because I want to have a better understanding of the situation.

It doesn't sound like you're having much fun. :(
Sympathetically,
Kevin T.
 
Hi daniel57,

Is this the same girlfriend you had for the last four years? or are you seeing someone new? What makes you think she is lying to you? I just ask because I want to have a better understanding of the situation.

It doesn't sound like you're having much fun. :(
Sympathetically,
Kevin T.

was same :(
 
What's the most underrated thing about being in a relationship?

What's the most underrated thing about being in a relationship?
 
Back
Top