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View Full Version : I just don't know how to do this


cbcupolo
10-22-2008, 04:55 PM
OK, I am at a point where I definately need advice. I know what I have to do, I just don't know how. Here's the situation:

I have been dating someone for 9 years. Yeah, I know, a long long time. We live together and have for the last 5 years. We get along great, and rarely have a dissagreement or fight. Two years ago, he got hurt. Not too bad, but enough that he had to give up his current job (cleaning pools). But it was like he just gave up on doing ANYTHING, expecting me to take care of him. I'm not going to go into the details at the moment, but it was a very difficult time. But despite my family and friends warning me that I shouldn't, I let him lean on me for a while. It caused me to have to pick up the 2nd job(my own personal hell-see my QLC thread for details on that one) and we had to move. Once we got settled in the new place things with him picked up again, he healed, got a new job, and things were better.

Then about a year ago he just gave up again. I don't know how to explain it. He didn't get hurt, and there was no excuse, he just found a reason to quit his job like "they didn't like him enough" of something. Probably his own QLC, I'm sure, and it was definately a form of mild depression. But then he didn't really look for another job, he just expected me to pay the bills while he stayed home and played video games or whatever.

Through both of these times I supported him without question, not even acting like it bothered me, just waiting for him to figure himself out. Eventually, he got out of it again, and now he has a steady job that he likes and things are good in that respect.

The problem now is this:
I think that the way I feel about him has changed. I don't think this is a rough patch in our relationship - all those times where I was thinking about leaving him because he wasn't contributing to our life together I didn't leave because I did love him. I would never put myself through all of that with him if I didn't. And believe me, I double checked my feelings for him frequently during that time. But now, and I don't know why, my feelings have changed. I still love him in a way, but more like a best friend than a lover or husband.

Our life situation right now is that I work days (2 jobs, so 7 days a week, all day and evening) and he works nights. So we take shifts in our house, breifly meeting for dinner. I feel like a criminal each day that goes by without comming clean with him. And I feel terrible too, because, I know that this will just crush him. 5 years ago he moved far away from all his family for me and now what am I supposed to do? I NEED to tell him, to come clean with him, it's just ripping me up, but I don't want to hurt him. Is there any way to do this right?

Bsig84
10-22-2008, 05:15 PM
There is nothing you can say that will make it easier for him. There is no nice way to phrase things. You have to just come clean. Yeah, it will really hurt him. But there is no way to not hurt him. He deserves to be with someone that loves him as a best friend and a lover. You can't give him that. He will be better off in the long run.

I am really sorry this happened to you. Good luck with everything.

cbcupolo
12-02-2008, 11:04 AM
well, I finally came clean with him, and of course he's angry. I tried to explain that it was better for me to be honest and end this rather than to continue to just go thru the motions for the sake of what's comfortable. Needless to say he was not receptive to that. I of course feel like the total assshole that I am. What a shithead thing to do after 9 years of being together. I wish to hell that I still loved him, like I want to be alone and depressed. I realize there was no good way to come out of this, and it just totally sucks. I'll be honest, I could use a little support here. I KNOW that I've done the right thing, but it FEELS like I've just thrown away something too.

DuckFan
12-02-2008, 11:47 AM
You feel like an a-hole? Why?

What's worse?

Telling someone the TRUTH and moving on, so he can move on?

Or continuing on, just for the sake of "these last 9 years" and lying to him each time you say, "I love you"?

You did the right things for everyone involved.

compgeek82
12-02-2008, 01:30 PM
cbcupolo,

Did you guys communicate properly during those periods of him "giving up"? I think what broke your relationship is the fact that you kept things to yourself and you didn't express your feelings to him.

You said he might have been having his own QLC. Do you know what might have caused that to happen? The guy doesn't sound like a bad person really. And the fact that he got up on his own and found jobs, etc shows me that he's not trying to use you.

Maybe I'm talking from a guy's point of view here, but seriously, why is it so bad that after 7yrs of being in a relationship (when he had the accident), that he leaned on you. I'm wondering if the reason you don't love him anymore is you feel he's fickle and he might be all-of-a-sudden quitting his job again. Basically, you're doubting his ability to provide in the future and your sense of security is low.

I'm not bashing you or anything, and I know you need some support, but I just wanted to make sure you are not rushing through things. The fact that you've found someone that you get along with really well, with few disagreements for 9yrs is extremely rare in our age group. Make sure you handle things well and you don't end up wishing you never ended the relationship.

It seems to me like you've already made up your mind though, so maybe all the above is meaningless to you. If there's no going back, then you need to make that very clear to him. It's going to hurt in any case, but once you break it off, make sure that's it. Maybe a bit mean for me to say this, but if you're the typical woman, this guy is going to be on your mind for the next few months. Don't get mad if he starts dating someone next month. If he moves on, let him be.

cbcupolo
12-02-2008, 04:00 PM
I don't take any of the above as "bashing" so don't worry

We communicated very well thru all those rough times, and the point I was trying to make there was that my feelings changed, but not because of those things. My feelings didn't change when all the crap was going on, and I did support him, It wasn't a big deal for me. I made sure if it, because I didn't want our relationship to turn into a resentful one, and it never did.

This guy is NOT a bad person, and it is not his fault that I do not love him anymore. It's no one's fault. I don't know the "reasons" for me not loving him anymore, i wish i did. I just know that i don't. I have given this A LOT of thought, and I don't feel as though I'm rushing out of anything. Now that it's done, it's done. I'm a very black or white kind of person, so here we are. No doubt I will be thinking about him, worrying mostly. I wish I knew if he is OK, I wish I could comfort him. Honestly, tho, if he started dating someone tomorrow, I would be very happy. I hope he can move on. He deserves to be happy.

compgeek82
12-02-2008, 07:58 PM
I believe you. Your mind is definitely made up and I respect that. You shouldn't feel bad and I guess you should start planning what's next. Do you have close friends to talk to and are you both going to be ok? 9yrs is a LONG time and I understand you feeling like you've "thrown away something".

spiritedaway
12-02-2008, 08:41 PM
OP, after 9 years together, I'm sure you thought it through many times over before you made your decision. Whatever it is that caused you to have a change of heart, what's done is done. You may look back in the coming days/weeks wondering if you've done the right thing (or you may not!), but at least you know you needed to do what's right for you. No one ever says that doing the right thing is easy, especially if you care for that person and don't want to hurt him.

I ditto what DuckFan says, "Telling someone the TRUTH and moving on, so he can move on? Or continuing on, just for the sake of "these last 9 years" and lying to him each time you say, "I love you"?"

Good luck with everything.

starrynight
12-05-2008, 12:24 AM
so he moved out?