I'm poly , but I don't like polyamory ...

tryingmybest

New member
I hope this is ok to post in this forum ,
Firstly , I'm Ali , I'm trans man , (although questioning non binary identity) , I'm 18 , from the uk and I'm an lgbt/disability/mental health activist.
I'm poly... But I don't like polyamory.
I have been in a relationship with a fantastic guy for the past year on and off. I feel like this relationship has taught me so much, and helped me to grown into the man I am today.
He told me he was poly from the start, I didn't identify as poly then and I didn't really have too much of an opinion on it, at that time I was a secondary partner,( although I think he ideally wanted a triad, but about a month later his other partner left him, so I became his primary and for pretty much the rest of the relationship it's been 'monogamous'.
But I should probably explain that I have depression, borderline personality disorder and schizophreniform disorder. This makes me very unstable and probably a right pain in the ass to be with, but he's stuck by me , I've questioned why a thousand times , but he's always been there.
But over the last few months I've realised that I am also polyamorous, to cut a long story short , I'm in love with an ex , as well as him , and I love them both dearly.
But a big part of my disorders is paranoia ,delusion of persecution and intense fear of abandonment , and whilst I am perfectly happy loving two people (not necessarily in a relationship with them both. ) the thought of my partner seeing someone else makes my skin crawl,
I have already explained to him that my one really non negotiable thing is that I am not looking for a triad, I do not want a triad in any way, shape or form, even though part of me knows he probably wishes I would, and I won't say it could never happen but I highly doubt so.
My mental health issues are severe , recently I've been made homeless , I've had to quit mainstream education, and a few days ago , my partner and I decided to split for a while. So I can try and solve my issues.
And even though I know it is what's best , because it's not fair on him to expect him to be treated so hypocritically and cruelly by me.
It kills , I can't sleep at night , I don't wanna do anything and I'm worried I've lost the best thing that ever happened to me , and I know I've hurt him.
Of course jealousy is an issue in every poly relationship , but I am too jealous and exceptionally paranoid , I'm also extremely self doubting , the total opposite of what a poly relationship needs.
I worry I've lost him completely, that he won't come back this time .
And due to my conditions this may of course improve , but it will never disappear, and if I'm having a bad time it will increase tenfold.
I want to be with this man, and he wants to be with me, but I worry that with my mental health issues and the fact I'm not interested in a triad (even though he says he 'can do' primary and secondary etc) if I'll end up leaving him unsatisfied and unhappy.
Sometimes I feel like perhaps it would be better if I just stick to monogamy , but then I think of possible dilemmas if I fall for two people at the same time.
It sounds strange but I felt more comfortable as his secondary, I knew my place , I knew I was #2 , I could only gain him not loss him to someone else ( ps I know him having a partner(s) isn't losing him , but just for explanation.)
 
Some people don't want to be poly and that's okay. Some people will only consider it if they can be number 1, and that's okay. You just ened to find someone who wants the same things.
 
What are you doing about your self care? You have a lot going on there besides the romance/relationship bucket. :(

In that bucket...
I have already explained to him that my one really non negotiable thing is that I am not looking for a triad, I do not want a triad in any way, shape or form.

Good. You have told him what you do NOT want.

I felt more comfortable as his secondary, I knew my place , I knew I was #2

Have you told him that you DO want this?

Is he wanting to date others and find a new primary?

Galagirl
 
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To me, being homeless etc. sounds where the situation solving needs to start. You need to have the practical matters in place if you are going to fix the other stuff. Do you have money to live from? Do you have acess to medical help?

As for polyamory, a triad is only one form of polyamory. I am for instance not interested in that version of polyamory. I have friends who preffers to be a 2ndary, because it gives them, as you say, a role.

I really liked the book "Stop walking on eggshells" which talkes about how borderline people and other people can live together, perhaps there is something there that would interest you.
 
wow. that is a lot. I hope you are taking care of yourself and working on more than the romantic aspects of your life.

I have no idea what it feels like to be in your shoes. But I do have experience with paranoid psychotic depression symptoms; when I've been at my most depressed, I also get very paranoid and have had hallucinations as well as delusions.

One of the things that I've learned over the years is that I HAVE to take things at face value. If your ex partner is telling you that he'd be happy without a triad, the healthiest options for you may be either to work on believing him with all your heart, OR, if you can't, walk away. For myself, when I'm having paranoia, I would spend a lot of time thinking "I know X person is going to do C thing, even though s/he told me they would do D thing", catch myself thinking that, and think back just as strongly "NO. X person said s/he will do C. S/he WILL do C.". Naturally, that only works if the person is trustworthy. But if s/he is, then work with all your heart on believing them. You can also do things like ask yourself what you'd need to know, to feel more comfortable believing him. What specific thing(s) are stopping you? Assuming there are any reasons. In my own experience, it's often a combo of the two - a thing I'm having a hard time believing has some deeper fears behind it that I need to find and expose to the light AND I just...I'm just really afraid to believe something, because of what it will mean to believe it.

Does that make sense?

I hope you are taking care of yourself and I'm sending positive vibes your way. I hope it gets better. (((hugs))))
 
Hi tryingmybest,
Any news?

I can have empathy for your struggles, I have been diagnosed as various things over the years including BPD. I have often experienced paranoia, delusion of persecution, and intense fear of abandonment. It is no fun.

If you are homeless, that is the first thing you need to work on. Ask what programs are available in your locality to get back on your feet. A job, a car, and a place to stay are hard to get but are important goals to shoot for. I'd worry more about relationships later on, after you get the basics taken care of.

I hope the guy you've been in a relationship with will take you back, it makes me sad to think you have to be broken up. Obviously you can't function in a relationship with a double standard, so that is something to work on. But work on getting back on your feet first.

With sympathy,
Kevin T.
 
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