Confused

eleanorigby

New member
Hello all, as my title says, I am confused and hope I may be able to get some helpful feedback from people that have more knowledge and experience than I do. I started dating someone about 2.5 months ago and he recently told me that he thinks he is poly. I have very deep feelings for this person, but our relationship is obviously very new. I feel a level of trust and comfortableness with him that I haven't felt with other partners. But I've also felt totally insecure since he told me this. Is it a mistake to embark on this journey with him in such a young relationship, especially if I already feel insecure and a little hurt? Does the "main" relationship need to be more secure before you start adding other people? And would it be unreasonable to ask him to build our relationship more before adding others? I don't want to ask him to be someone he's not, but I don't want to be seriously hurt. But I also don't think I want to walk away from him although the logic part of my brain is screaming this at me. Any advice for someone who's partner just told them they are poly would be greatly appreciated.
 
I am sorry you struggle. :(

It is only 2.5 mos in. You really don't know each other all that well 10 weeks in. If your brain is screaming that you do not want this, you could listen rather than go against your own grain. If you go into it like this, it is not from a joyful yes like "Yay! I so want to do that with you!" Could say thank you, and end it.

It's a bummer, but some dating partners will be long haul runners, some will not. This is all part of the dating process so you can find the most compatible ones. :eek:

One of the biggest mistakes people can make is doing stuff they don't really want to do from fear of "losing" the dating partner. It's ok to be friends and not date. They don't have to be lost. Could change the relationship shape to something that IS compatible if a romantic shape is not.

Galagirl
 
GalaGirl posted some excellent advice that I'll second. I'll also add that if part of you may be open to the idea of dating someone who's poly, you could do lots and lots of reading. Opening Up and More Than Two are two highly recommended books about polyamory, as well as reading on the forum. See what you'd be signing up for if you decide to be with him and make an informed decision.

It's completely natural for you to feel insecure/scared by the possibility of opening up your relationship, and that in itself is not a rule out for the relationship. But dating someone who's poly while you consider yourself mono isn't for everybody - it's about whether you feel able and willing to do the hard work of facing your fears/insecurities.

Best of luck! :)
 
You may want to consider the possibility that to him, your relationship isn't the "main" relationship... For some poly folk, there is a primary/secondary model (in which there would be a "main relationship"), but for others, there's no hierarchy. This might be something to discuss with him: "If you begin seeing other partners, how do you see our relationship?"

Given that it's only been two and a half months... I know from personal experience that love and commitment can grow rapidly. But in *general*, I would say that amount of time is barely enough to say you're "in a relationship", let alone that you're the "main" one. That may be a commitment he isn't able or willing to make so early on.

If you choose to accept him seeing other people, it's absolutely okay to feel hurt and insecure. ANY feelings are okay... it's the thoughts, words, and actions that you have in response to the feelings that matter. If you *feel* hurt and insecure, and use those feelings as reasons to pick fights with him or to doubt or interrogate him... that's when it's a problem. But if you feel hurt and insecure and say to him, "You know, I get the poly thing, but I'm feeling a little insecure about the idea of you seeing other people. Here are the things I'm concerned about: (list them)... Can you reassure me that those things aren't likely to happen?"

Own how you feel. Be mindful of how you phrase things; "You make me feel insecure when you talk about seeing others" puts the blame on your partner and is inaccurate. No one can MAKE you feel anything. Saying "When you talk about others, I feel insecure" might look the same on the surface, but it shows that you recognize and acknowledge that *you* are responsible for your own feelings; they might have arisen in *response* to his actions or words, but he is not to blame for them.

Insecurity and jealousy about a partner's poly-ness aren't exclusive to mono folks. I've dealt with it more than once since Hubby and I opened our marriage; it's one of the reasons Hubby has chosen not to see anyone else, though I've made it clear to him that I want him to make that choice for *his* reasons, not because of my feelings. I dealt with feeling insecure and jealous with the first boyfriend I had after I "came out" as poly, and I'm dealing with it now (as in literally at this moment) with S2, and it isn't the first time I've dealt with it with him.

But those feelings are *mine*... they aren't about anything the guys have said or done, they're about issues from my past, coupled with depression and anxiety disorder, whispering in the back of my mind that this can't possibly work and that if my guys start seeing someone else, they'll decide she's better than me and kick me to the curb, because I suck rocks. Because that's what I was taught to believe most of my life: I don't deserve good things or good people. And I know that my negative emotions are because of *that*, and so I can address them with the guys without being confrontational or blame-y.

It's okay to feel how you feel. If you can identify the root of those feelings and include that in your discussion with your partner, so much the better, because then he, too, will understand that *he* isn't doing anything wrong, you're struggling for your own reasons and are owning your reactions.

If you have strong feelings for this guy, before you decide whether or not to continue the relationship and whether or not to accept him seeing others, sit down with him. Lay it all out: All your fears, all your emotions on the subject, all your hopes. We're all strangers on the internet and can only give advice based on what you've told us; he knows you, cares for you, and is the one who can best answer your concerns.
 
Why are you letting yourself feel hurt when you've only been dating a little over two months? That is very little time. Dating for most single people isn't exclusive right away. He isn't really a bf or partner yet - you are still getting to know him! Do you think perhaps that you have let yourself become very attached too quickly? Take it easy, slow down, keep your expectations at bay, communicate, and see what happens!
 
Does the "main" relationship need to be more secure before you start adding other people? And would it be unreasonable to ask him to build our relationship more before adding others?

I agree that no relationship can really be the main relationship after only two months, no matter whether the people are poly or mono. You're in the "getting to know you" stage and this info about his poly desires is part of your getting to know him. How you respond to this info is part of his getting to know you. I'd encourage you to focus on whether the poly relationship model feels right to you, then proceed (or not) in getting to know him further. You're very much in the early stages of dating, which is all about information gathering and decision making, besides enjoyment of intimacy, of course. But don't forget to evaluate info as you enjoy the new found closeness.
 
Thanks everyone. I agree with what many of you said. It's a really young relationship which is partly why his request threw me for a loop. He said I'm the first person he's trusted enough to tell as he's just figuring this out. He also told me he wants me to be his primary. I told him I think our relationship needs to be a lot stronger for that kind of position and before we start bringing in more people. We're going to sit down and talk tomorrow about my fears and my needs, as well as his. I do have strong feelings for this person, even after such a short time and I think he has similar feelings. I'm not sure if I have the desire to be in a poly relationship, but I certainly don't want to slam the door in his face for being honest. Thanks again!
 
It is ok for him to be honest in offering you something.

It is also ok for you to politely decline after hearing him out.

Talk, go slow, be on the alert for love bombing or rushing in. There is no urgency. At any point in time you can bow out.

Galagirl
 
He said I'm the first person he's trusted enough to tell as he's just figuring this out.

Sounds like you two trust each other, and that is a good start.

He also told me he wants me to be his primary.

Now - if he is himself only figuring this out, maybe it is way too early for any of you to talk about being a primary... How much does he know about the different ways of living poly? A primary/secondary model is not the only one. I'd suggest you both do more reading. There are books about poly as well as a lot of online resources - this forum is a good starting point.

I told him I think our relationship needs to be a lot stronger for that kind of position and before we start bringing in more people.

I agree with a first part. If, after reading more and learning about the possible options, you two decide to choose a hierarchical model, you definitely need to let your relationship grow and strengthen first. But - I do not like the wording of "bringing in more people". Where would you be bringing those people in? Would he not just start dating on his own, without your involvement? His other relationships will be his to manage, he should not bring new people into *your* relationship.

We're going to sit down and talk tomorrow about my fears and my needs, as well as his.

This is a very good idea. How about deciding about a time frame - maybe a few weeks or a couple of months - that you'd both be examining the possibilities of polyamory, learning more about the options available? After the time you could sit down again and re-consider your (plural) thoughts and feelings about a possible poly life. Not to say you should not keep discussing this in the meanwhile, too. For some long-term monogamous couples the opening up might take years. Somehow in this situation I'd not see a point of you getting used to a practically monogamous relationship with this guy, if he anyway wants to pursue poly.

I do have strong feelings for this person, even after such a short time and I think he has similar feelings. I'm not sure if I have the desire to be in a poly relationship, but I certainly don't want to slam the door in his face for being honest.

As GalaGirl said: no need to rush. Take it slow, learn more and make your informed decision when the time comes. Even if you ultimately decide that a polyamorous relationship is not for you, this knowledge will be useful for you in the future.
 
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