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View Full Version : My relationship ended! Is there a hop? What should I do now?


lostlove
03-19-2005, 06:09 PM
Hi everyone! I am new here! I am really grateful that I can come here and ask you for your help and opinion.

my relationship ended last week. I met my b/f in January 2004 while we were both at the university. The relationship in general has been quite up and down. He already broke up with me once last summer. I can become really needy and dependant. he is quite an independant person and a guy so he needed a lot of space in our relationship, which I wasn't always able to give. He is 24 and I am 26. He likes to take things slowly. I think there were times he felt pressured. When we broke up the first time were still meeting each other but I soon realised it was too hurtful for me. For him it was convenient I think at that time so I decided after about a month or so to end it all with him. He was doing everything to win me back. I hesitated at first but he was making so many efforts I thought ok i'll give us the chance. This was last year in September. the relationship was much better aferwards and I thought now finally we are going to be together .There were still times when he bacame distant since he had stress with his dissertation and with his job interviews and I wasn't able to give him the space because his distancing affected me a lot. I became so attached to him emotionally.

In October our relationship became long-distance. He had to leave becasue he had to find a job and he couldn't find the job he was looking for in here. It's about 2 hours away by train and a plane. Things have not been always easy between us because of the distance but we were trying. He started his job, became quite busy so I started to feel neglected and we fought a lot over the phone. I needed him so much because I am here alone without my family and real friends. I was aware that my dependance on him was driving him away but somehow I couldn't stop myself! I missed him too much! He kept telling me to take it easy and not to worry that he is there and he loves me and is thinking of me. It wasn't enough! I went to visit him in November and I met his family! I was really happy to be with him again! We spent a really nice week in his country! He then came to visit me in my country for New Year's Eve and met my family and my friends. They liked him a lot too so I was happy about that! However, before he came we fought a lot because I kept pushing for answers when he is coming to see me. the thing is at that time he had started his new job and he had lots of worries and stress with finding an accommodation for him! But I still pushed him for answers! Even my parents told me that I wasn't being fair on him. he came at the end even though he was hesitating to come! He was worried we would be fighting again. But we had a nice time and things were good again! I then started my new job hoping I'll get busier so I won't need his attention so much! BUt the job is quite boring and there is not a lot to do. I felt lonely! He was there for me a lot! I felt loved so much! He tried his best I think! After some time, we reached the feeling of feeling so happy and in love! I was so happy! I started to go out more, do more sport and he was calling me more and was much more attentive to me! Things were great!! But he kept saying that he is not happy with the distance and that he misses me too much and he would like us to be closer to each other.

I went to see him in his place in February for a weekend. He came rushing from work to pick me up from the airport and he brought me the most beautiful flower! It was our first year annivesary! I was in heaven. He had my photos near his bed and was so happy to have me there with him! I came on Thursday and until about Saturday afternoon we had a great time! However, on Saturday he was not in the best mood. He was tired from work. Unfortunately i took it very personally and I thought he wasn't as happy as I was to see me. I expected this weekend to be the most wonderful because we didnt' see each other for one month and a half! I was really disappointed that he became a little distant. We had a row. It was quite bad. He told me that he can't be himself with me and that I take everything so personally and he felt really disappointed. the next day we made up but it was not the same. We started to talk about our situation and the distance. He said to me that he wants us to be closer that the distance is too hard for him,that something has to happen soon otherwise it's hard to continue like this. I took his comment as him giving up on me and I got upset and told him it's over! He was quite shocked and said why? I said because you are giving up on me. He said "why do you think I have been waiting for you? I was only honest with you!" He kept asking me if I was sure that it's over and I said yes but I didn't really mean it! I was just really upset and hurt! He was trying hard to fight for our relationship but when he saw my indifference about it, he started to cry! When I saw that I felt bad and I hugged him and said I didnt mean it! He rejected me. The first time I saw him crying! tried really hard to tell him that I overreacted and din't mean it. but he had been really distant with me. He had withdrawn himself emotionally from me completely! He said "we failed"! The situation got so bad that he even told me that he wasn't sure he still loved me. I felt devastated! I decided to go and see him last weekend to save it all. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea but I decided to go.

I wasn't really sure if I made the right decision but I wanted to show him that I loved him and I ddin't want to loose him! Some of my friends told me that he needed space from me to feel better but I didn't listen! He tried to be nice to me especially at the beginning but he was quite distant! It was strange between us. There was this uncomfortable feeling between us. we then had an argument becasue I kept saying to him that he is distant. He kept saying don't start again.. I couldn't control my emotions and I got quite upset. We then went for a walk but I could feel he was quite irritated. He said why did I come to see him to bother him again? I got so upset and told him that I'll go on my own that I dont need him and that he can do whatever he wants. He got upset and walked away. I called him after some time becasue I don't know his city and we met but he told me "It's over" "It's over" He was so upset! He said "Im fed up with your attitude and the way you make me feel! I am not happy and I want to end it!" I was crushed! THat night we slept in different rooms. He said he wanted to be away from me. The next day he came to me and he tried to talk to me but I was so hurt! I kept crying! We then lied next to each other and he hugged me so much and said "It's hard for me as well but the only thing I can say is I am sorry!"

This is what he told me when we had the open talk:

He said it wasn't easy for him as well as for me but he said it's best for both of us. At first I was really upset and hurt and I said to him he betrayed me and so on.. He was quite upset but then when we calmed down he hugged me.. I was crying so much.. He said to me that he wanted to be completely honest with me. he said that he hasn't been feeling good about us for a while. He admitted that if he was sure like me that I was the one for him he would have made more efforts but he said he gave our relationsip lots of energy and effort! he said he hasn't had enough experience in his life and he realised he needed to experience more. He also said he knew I wanted more out of the relatioship than he wanted and he said he is afraid of commitment. He also said that because I am older than him 2 years and have a little bit more experience with relationships. He said he knew I wanted to be more serious but he said he can't give me the stability now. He said that he has just started his job and he said he is not really sure about his own life. He said he is not happy with his own life so he can't love and he can't give me what I deserve. He said he is not happy with his life. He said that he is that kind of person, who doesn't know how to appreciate what he has and always looking for something else out there. So i guess he doens't want to miss out on anything. It's horrible to think I made him feel like this... He said that he really likes me a lot but he wants to be sure I am the girl for him by seeing what else is out there. He said he might be making a mistake but he said even if we kept going he would be always tempted .

I was so sad to hear that but I know I can't force him and I said to him that I understand he needs to experience more. I said to him that I actually agree with the idea of experiencing a lot before finding the one.. He was so amazed how understanding I was. He was so grateful for that! He said that he still wants to enjoy his life before becoming serious (He is 24 years old.) But he kept asking me if he will loose me. We agreed not to break up completely where we cut all contacts. We agreed that we will "take a break". He said maybe we will be back together but now he wants to be on his own and have his freedom. He said that of course if I find someone else he will not be happy and he will probably regret his decision but he said he wants me to be happy! He said "maybe I will realised that being on my own is not a good idea and I will want to be with you again but it might be too late and that's the risk I am taking". He said he doesn't want to completely close the door behind us. he said he was sad too. He said he still wants us to be in contact and he is still there for me.

What do you all think about it? Does anyone have a similar experience? And has it worked out? He said that we were fighting a lot and so that didn't make him motivated more. He said it made him feel like he wants to see something else.

I am sorry about the length! please everyone what do you all think about this? Is there a hope for us?

bdtraders
03-19-2005, 06:59 PM
I belive theres always hope if BOTH of you are willing to work on it. You cant put all your effort into it to make it work and he only put 50% effort in. You both need to make it work or just be friends or walk away completly from each other.
I feel as though I put 150% in my relationship to make it work and my SO puts in 50%. That isnt right. You both need to give equal amounts. I have bene blind and thought I can make things better on my own and it just makes me more frustrated. You need to do it together or not at all.
Is he willing to try to work things out? If not then move on with your life, theres many more guys out there.
Also to me 2 years is not that big of an age gap in relationship maturity. To me relationship maturity dosent deal in age but in the person themselves. I have talked to some people on here that are in their twentys that have more going on maturity in reltionships wise then some 30+ year olds I know. So to me the age isnt a factor.

eightball61
03-19-2005, 09:30 PM
Relationships taake a 2-way street for them to work. You both have to be committed to eachother and work together as a team. You both had your ups and downs with the distance but you both have to be patient an work together. There are many bumps that happen on the road for relationships to marriage but its like a testing ground to see if you both are meant to be. If you both can fight through these bumps then it is meant to be.

lostlove
03-20-2005, 03:11 PM
Hi, thanks very much for your replies! It helps a lot when you know that there is someone there trying to support you! I understand your point and I must say that I think it's a woman thing that normally the woman gives a lot to the relationship! I guess I was living in a fear of loosing him! I think he made a lot of efforts but I guess it wasn't enough for me! I think he would have made more efforts if he knew like me that this is the relationship for life and I guess he is at the stage of his life where he is still not sure what he really wants! I miss him though so much! I haven't contacted him but it's so hard to think that he has decided to end it! :(

I am going through waves - one minute I am thinking I must let him go and I must accept it and try to move on but then I start to think about him and our times and I really miss him! We used to text each other and call each other! Now there is this silence! I still cannot understand how could he just give up? He was the one telling me he wanted me to move closer to him so we can see each other more often and have a proper relationship. He wasn't happy with the distance. Why couldn't he wait a little longer for me? I was supposed to move at the end of June and possibly try to be closer to him! There were times he behaved as if he was really commited to me!! I am sad thinking that he must fell out of love with me after the disastrous weekend when I overreacted with him? I am thinking if things would have been different if I was living clsoer to him? I am thinking if things would have been different if I have taken the relationship slowly and stopped pushing him for more? I didn't look for a marriage! I guess the long-distance was hard for us and I wanted to be closer to him as well! I thought he wanted the same thing? Why did he suddenly change his mind like this? I am so sad thinking that he broke up with me because of the distance and because he wants to have a girl who is closer to him and unfortunately I couldn't do it now because I couldn't just leave the country and move to his. I needed more time and I am sad he couldn't wait. I am aware that we were having arguments a lot but that was mainly because we were so far away from each other and then when we met we had the highest expectations of the weekends.. I miss him terribly! I wonder whether he is happier now without me.

he is still coming to see me next weekend for the Easter holiday! What would you advise how to be with him? Do you think I should hope for anything this weekend? My friends told me that they are surprised he is still travelling to see me instead of spending the holidays with his family and friends... they say that he must still care so much for me.. In a way it's true that he works now so he doesn't get to see his family very often. I really appreciate he is spending the holiday with me. Why do you think he would still come even if he decided to break up with me? I always thought that if you break up with someone and you don't want to be with them anymore, you want to be far from them at least for now.. I know that we said he would still come here because he doesn't want me to spend the holiday on my own. I live abroad without my family and so he is maybe coming here because he would not like me to be alone.. that's very sweet of him but I am still wondering he would prefer spending the weekend with me knowing that it'll be probably sad and hard for us..

What do you all think? How should I be with him when he comes?I still love him and miss him so much! I still hope for a relationship with him to be honest! But at the same time I really want to respect his decision becasue he obviously wasn't happy with me and I want him to be happy! It's just that I still cannot believe he left because not a very long time ago he used to tell me he loves me so much and I was his best girlfriend.. something has changed a lot in such a short time!

This is our last conversation: He sent me an email on Friday:

i just want to ask u something? are u still sure u want me to come to see u next week? cos i 'm a bit worried for u, i dont know if it's good for u to see me now. i could understand if u prefer to stay alone without seeing me for a while to make u forget a bit and be less sad. Cos i know u re sad now and i m not sure if it can improve the situation if u see me. please tell me the truth
about what u really want? u know if u dont want me to come, it doesnt mean that we wont see later after a while anymore cos i can understand u may need a bit of time to forget and be less sad.Tell me please

have a good day




I said I would like him to come and whether he still wants? He replied:

yes i will come if u re ok with it! i'm just worried that u could suffer more if u see me, that's why i 'm asking u that. But yes what we said last week was true!


I said to him:

i don't think i will suffer if i see you. i'll be happy to see you. If it was true what we said last week why did you tell me to forget in your email? I thought you told me that you don't want to close the door behind us? I thought we decided that it was taking a break to see how we feel later?

He replied:

i meant to forget about your sadness.I m not closing any door at all but i dont want u to think that we may be together again cos u may wait for me and it wouldnt be very fair for u cos i never said we will be together again for sure. U know i said that cos helen was in this kind of situation with paul, she
was like waiting for him for 2years and they are finally not together and they may never be together again. so she lost 2years. i dont want to do the same to u, it wouldnt be very fair for u. That's why i prefer to be clear by saying that i dont want to be back with u now and i cant promise u anything for the
future.

I said:

I appreciate you are so concerned for me. I thought me and you had a different relationship to Helen's and the guy. So you prefer I don't wait and take it as a final break up and not taking a break as we said to each other? So you were just saying things like we can see 6 months later how we feel to make me feel better but you knew that it's over completely for you? Sorry about the questions.

He replied:

of course it was different between us than with helen's situation cos we stayed more than one year together which is not cecile's case. but i didnt say that to make u feel better cos that's what i thought. but i never said we will be together again. i said it 's a break cos if it was a final break up we would never be together again cos we wouldnt talk to each other anymore maybe. and
that's not what i want. i will not close the door but i didnt say we will be again together



What do you all think please?? Is it over or is there a chance? Thank you all for your advice! It hurts to know..

eightball61
03-21-2005, 01:02 PM
Things will be really wiered out when you see him next weekend. You both have gone through these breakup persiods again and if it was wierd to talk or see eachother then its going to be the same things next weekend. Try to make a pack with him on trying to be friends and put all the other things on the back burner so you all can enjoy the weekend. I know it will be hard to do such a thing but you both need to figure out something to work or the minds will be caught up in the breakup.

Another way of looking at the weekend could be a way to patch things up. ( I am sorry to confuse you will conflicting paragraphs but this gives you a way to look at both sides.) When he comes down during the weekend you both can use that time to talk things over and see what the future looks like a this point.

If he just wants a friendship at this time then take it and buld off from it. Don't wait to long for him though because you will lose out on other opportunities. You can see this weekend what he really wants out of things and take that as a closure peace and try to move on from there. Please keep us updated though...

Rich
03-21-2005, 01:59 PM
I think that you're both where you should be.

Give him his space. I think over time that this relationship will end and that you'll both go your merry way.

If that one "special" thing isn't there to hold the relationship together, then it will never appear. He doesn't have it for you.

As for you, you need to work on your dependancies. No guy needs or wants that. Or rather I should say, no normal guy. Only a controling guy would want a dependant partner and those relationships don't last. The dependant person finally grows up and stops needing the other and no longer wishes to be controlled. But the other still wants to control and it leads to a break up.

You need to learn how to be more independant. Children are dependants, wives and husbands shouldn't be!

The bottom line is that you should WANT to be with someone and not NEED to be with someone. There is a difference.

IMO, if you don't change your personality, you're always going to run into relationship issues. Men often joke about their girl or wife as the "old ball and chain" and that's what dependant partners like you are. They're emotional anchors that hold you down. No one likes or wants that.

Rich

lostlove
03-22-2005, 04:58 PM
Thanks for your replies! I do realise that I was dependant on him. i do recognise this in me and I am trying to work on it..

I am so down today so I came here to vent and to ask you for your help please! I haven't contacted him the whole weekend! On Sunday evening I received an email from HIM

He said:

how are u? how was your weekend? As for me i came back home and i spent my weekendresting with my family, no party and no drink! i made sport on saturday, so today i feel quite good!

How was your interview on the phone? I hope u did well! u could have let me know, couldnt u? or u prefer to keep that for yourself now?

good night



I didn't expect this email to be honest! When I read it I felt he was a little annoyed I didn't let him know. But now that he wanted to break up I feel that I can't just call him like normally... I thought we would not be in contact until he comes this Friday as I said to you he is still coming to spend the Easter with me! Well, the reason why I didn't tell him about my interview because we are broken up so I wasn't just going to call him to tell him about it! He sounds a little annoyed don't you thik? Or was he teasing me? I am not really sure! Anyway, I waited till this morning and I replied trying to sound really upbeat and I said that I had a nice weekend. The interview went well and I am happy I can leave my current job and start a new one! I said to him that I didn't let him know earlier because I din't want to disturb him during the weekend but I said that it's nice of him to ask! I then said I have got to go, I have lots of things to do! Take care and have a nice first spring day! I tried to sound as happy as possible!

he replied and said "Well done! I am happy for you!I am sure you will succeed!"

What do you all think? I am quite confused! Please help! I am not sure what to do or how to be with him! I don't want him to be comfortable with us as "friends"! I still love him!

I have been trying to be strong but I am suddenly feeling so sad I can't stop crying..If I tell him I don't want to be his friend what if I loose him for good! If you read his emails where he says : " i said it 's a break cos if it was a final break up we would never be together again cos we wouldnt talk to each other anymore maybe. and that's not what i want. i will not close the door but i didnt say we will be again together " He is saying that if we stop talking there would be not a chance for us :(

I feel so bad! I feel like I lost him! I feel that my behaviour drove him away... I shouldn't have said to him it's over that weekend! I hurt him badly and he closed himself.. It's breaking my heart thinking that he was telling me he loves me so much and now he said he wants to see what else is out there... I can't take it!

He is coming to see me on Friday! I am still wondering why would he want to do that! I feel he must care a lot because he is still travelling to see me instead of spending the holiday with his family and friends.. We are far from each other.. so it's not like a convienience for him.. I just don't understand it! I have been really strong! I have not contacted him! I have not called him to beg for another chance.. I haven't! and I was advised to act happy now! but I worry though that if I sound happy he will think that I am happier now without him than when I was with him.. and he would not want to come back. What do you suggest? But I know if I am miserable he won't come back to me..

He sent me another email this morning asking me if I was well and asking me about this weekend.. telling me that we could go and see a show and asking me if there was anything I wanted to do so we can organise our weekend.. I haven't replied! I am so confused.. I love him and I am sure seeing him this weekend will be hard but I don't want to call it off..

What do you think about the whole thing? I am so sad and confused!

I know that once you break up with someone you want to spend time away from them normally.. but it's not our case.. it's so strange that the break up doens't feel final.. do you think he is really interested only in a friendship?

I want us to be together again? do you think this coming weekend could be a chance for us? But his emails suggest he doesn't want to come back now so why is he still travelling here? I am so confused I am in tears Please help everyone! I need your help! I really appreciate all your help! I am not understanding it all! i am so confused! Should I hope or not? :(

I really appreciate your help! I am lost... :( I do not understand it all.. he was telling me just a month ago how much he loves me and then... it's the end :(

Rich
03-22-2005, 05:43 PM
IMO, just let the weekend happen with no preconceived notions or ideas on what's expected to happen or that you want to happen. Just let things flow and don't force anything, like conversations about you two.

Guaranteed he has some questions to.

Just have fun and be.

Maybe he likes the fact that you can do things on your own. Or that you're starting to. That you have a mind to think and two strong feet to stand on.

What I will say though, is that all this crap about staying friends after breaking up as boyfriend and girlfriend is just that, crap. It never works and anyone who thinks otherwise is foolish.

I would bet that 99 out of 100 couples that promsied to stay friends after breaking up, haven't or don't. Even if two people are mature enough to do it, then the people that those two people decide to settle down with, don't want their significant other to be friends with an ex that they've had with. So the friendship ends.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

With that being said, you two need to resolve whether or not you can or want be boyfriend and girlfriend, or not. If you can discuss where you went wrong in your relationship together and promise to fix it, then go for it. But if one or both of you don't feel that it can be that way, then you need to totally break off from seeing or talking to each other. No hard feelings and it was fun while it lasted.

Why keep living with the pain? Close that chapter on your life and look forward to the next. Start doing things that you put on the back burner while you were dating or start on fixing the things within yourself that need fixing.

I say, enjoy the weekend because I feel that this weekend is going to answer all your questions one way or the other. That after this weekend you'll know exactly where you are.

No pressure, just let things be. If you're meant to be, then you're meant to be. You shouldn't have to force.

Just remember that no matter how hard that you try, that square pegs do not fit into round holes. Even with a hammer. :-)

Have fun, be honest and be adult.

Rich

eightball61
03-23-2005, 01:07 PM
Like I said the weekend will be a little wierd having him around. You are already wiered out with calling him and things will be worse when you have to face him. Since he is still coming down use the next few days to decide what you want to do. You have two choices here.....1. you can have an adult talk with him about the future and what it looks like for you both or 2. You can just hang up your coat and move on. Use this weekend as the last talk and express all your confusion and just let him get on with what ever it is he wants.

lostlove
03-24-2005, 06:28 PM
Hi everyone!

You can't imagine how much your advice means to me!!!!!!!! It's been so empowering to know that you have been supporting me through this! Thank you!!!

I think I should't worry about sleeping with him because he was the one who actually said it that we shouldn't be intimate with each other now because he says he doesn't want to hurt my feelings... he says he knows that making love for me means that I am seriuos about the guy.. he says that he doesn't want to make the same mistake with me as he did with his ex. Appareantly she always begged him to sleep with her and was telling him she was ok with that but he knew she was doing it in order to change his mind about her.. he said he kind of lost respect for her!

I am naturally not an independant woman when it comes to relationships.. but I guess I have got to act independent of him.. and I must not go needy and desparate on him! It's going to be pretty hard but I guess I must do that! I wonder if I do that what is he going to think? I worry a little that he might that I don't care after all.. but I think if I go needy on him it would push him away! It's really strange to think that he is actually coming here tomorrow! we are going to see a musical on Saturday night! We both agreed to go and see it and I think it's good because I won't have the need all the time to ask him about us! I guess some of you might suggest that I shouldn't ask him about us or should I? I spoke to a very good friend of mine yesterday and she said that maybe i could ask him like on sunday how he feels about us? What do you think! I mean in a way if he spends the weekend with me and I won't ask him.. I will be probably still wondering after he will be back home! But then I worry he might feel pressured to talk about us again! What if he says that he has made up his mind.. how do I react to that? What do I say? I can't be his friend..I am not good with ex's! I an not friends with any of them because it's hard for me! but it's true I don't want to loose this one completely!

He has just sent me an email asking me if I could sing in msn tonight so we could talk about tomorrow evening! I haven't been on msn since it happened because I didn't want him to think I was online waiting for him.. I was scared that if I am online he might not say anything. I have not sent him one email, one message.. I have not made one phone call.. It's strange but I thought it's better not to! I woud end up asking him about us and I would end up probably needy on him.. I didn't want to do that.. but I am not sure when I meet him tomorrow how to be with him! Friendly but distant? I don't want to be cold! you see I worry about small details.. I don't know whether to show him my sadness but you all seem to sugget I shouldn't.. but then I think honesty is important and the way I feel!

He asked me in his email how I am doing and if I am ready for tomorrow?? What does it mean? ready? what do I answer to that? i know I am probably reading into it too much but I don't really know whether to sound really excited he is coming here.. I just don't know!

It's scary!!

Do you think I should ask him if he has been seeing anyone else or if he has met anyone else or if he likes anyone else? I guess I am really curious about that! and what if he asks me the same? It's so hard to know what to say or what not to say and how to be and how not to be....??

lostlove

eightball61
03-24-2005, 06:40 PM
Don't worry and stop trying to read his actions. He is being a man by stating upfront that he doesn't want to hurt you and play mind tricks by just getting laid. This relationship is now forming more into relationship terms. At this point you need to stop reading his words in emails or whatever to see what he thinks. You both are now not dating and those are what his words meant. He is asking about you and tomorrow to see what you been up to and like to do. If you play to much into his words then you are going to expect something that isn't going to happen and it will break your heart more.

From this point try to work on a friendship. I will be the first to say it will be hard because you will have to learn how to seperate your role as partner to now friend. Seperating those feelings will be very hard. Don't ever give yourself up to him thinking it will get him back. Allow nature to always take its course and see what life brings you. Latter on if you determine a friendship will be to hard to carry out then move on all together.

Anyhow, keep us updating after the weekend :)

8-ball

Rich
03-24-2005, 07:09 PM
Sweetheart, slow down. You making this bigger then it needs to be and you're making yourself a nervous wreck.

Stop.

IMO if on Sunday there's no clarification to your status, then ask him.

Tell him your honest feelings about you two and ask him to be honest as well. Be point blank and ask the questions that you need to ask. Don't hestiate and look at the eye contact and body language. Those two things often say more than words do.

If it's not meant to be, then accept that and say goodbye. Tell him that you can't be friends with him because your feelings run deeper and it would hurt you to see him with anyone else.

Good luck.

Rich