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How can I make this work without scaring him off or making him forget about me?

Tagged as: Breaking up, Dating, Troubled relationships<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (23 February 2008) 6 Answers - (Newest, 24 February 2008)
A male Norway age 30-35, anonymous writes:

Hello!

My boyfriend and I had been together for almost two and a half months now. Everything seemed fine, but then he confronted me and told me we had to break up. I didn't cope with it very good. I didn't realize what had happened, because I didn't want to, and I kept saying aloud "no!", and that I couldn't allow that. I realize now that I could have taken the message better, but what is done is done. In the end of our discussion he told me that although he wasn't capable of being in love with anyone at the moment, he wouldn't break up with me, but just retreat and keep to himself for a while. Later he sent me an SMS saying that he could not lie to me, that it was over and I had to move on.

Now I will tell you why he broke up with me:

He has a lot of things to work out in his life. He has to resolve some deep-going issues with his family, who being Italian are very close and dear to him, and he has decided that his mother will have to move out of their apartment (they share one apartment with two floors), so that he can have more privacy and care for himself without feeling a great responsibility for his mother and her wishes. He also says that he has to find himself, and find out who he is and what he wants to do with his life. He is 24 years old.

I was crushed after his SMS. I planned my own suicide and desperately tried to contact him. I had been with some of my friends and talked it over, but I knew they couldn't help me. I am not ready to get over him, as this relationship seemed too good to let go so easily.

So, hours before I intended to suicide (which I realize now was one of the most pathetic and stupid things I could have done), he contacted me. We talked things through, and he said some things that both hurt me and made me feel safe:

- He said he didn't believe we would get back together, but I am not sure if he said that because he thinks that I am likely to move on and find someone else (which he has openly expressed), or because he does not have the same feelings for me any longer (he has told me that he is not in love with my any more, but I do not know if it is because of all the trouble going on in his life and is temporary or if it is permanent)

- He said he needed time for himself, and did not need me to be there for him now, but that we could text eachother about once a day (just to give me a pinpoint of how much time he needed). I will do this, because I do not want him to forget about me. As I said I want to save the relationship, and I am confident that I do not want it to end now.

- After a while (a week or two) we could meet each other and phone each other more often

- He also promised me that whenever he had some spare time and a clear mind, he would think about me and try to make it work with us. I would do the same.

- He told me that I need to be strong and to get on with my life as I have always done, and not put it on hold because of him.

- He promised me that he was not holding anything back, or lying, but that he was confused about everything in his life and had no answers.

I am very confused about him, and where I have him. I need this relationship to work, but I need help figuring out how to approach it. How can I make this work without scaring him off or making him forget about me?

View related questions: broke up, crush, get back together, move on, text

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (24 February 2008):

I think I am doing the right thing.

He does have feelings for me, right after we texted a bit (informally) yesterday his facebook status was updated to "is sad but doing okay". He needs time to work this through, he is 24 and this is his last year at school, he has to go through stuff with his family and basically build his life. I can understand him, but he needs to know I am there for him. Today I'll send him a long text saying that he needs to think about himself, that I am doing well without him, but that we should spend time on our relationship. I hope he calls me soon.

Is this the right approach?

Thank you for all the replies!

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2008):

Thank you! I see that you are right that he should make the first move. I am hurt, but I hope and believe that this might work. He does not want us to have sex now, but I need him to need me more. How do I make him trust me again, and let me bear some of his difficulties? I need him to need me again, so that his feelings for me can grow stronger. This is why I feel I am to blame for the break-up, because I rejected his feelings and was selfish for over a month, so he stopped needing me. I am hurt, and I need him now more than ever.

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A female reader, duskyrowe United Kingdom +, writes (23 February 2008):

duskyrowe agony auntYou say he is sexually attracted to you, but is not in love with you. Please what ever you do, don't let him use you otherwise you this will make your problem even painful as it is.

You are worth much more than being some guy's sex toy, it will only mess your emotions even more if you let him use you like this. It seems he has made up his mind and only wants you when it suits him. It is very difficult being in love with someone when they won't return that love you give them. You are very young and vulnerable and he can see that, that is why I feel he is messing with your head when he says he has feelings for you and sexually attracted. This relationship will only work when two people put in the effort not one person. You cannot make him come back to you, otherwise he will see that you are needy and will drive him away even further. I have been there, and it hurts like hell when they don't recipricate with me.

I suggest you move on and hang out with your friends a bit more, make him see that you are not waiting for him to contact. By all means call him now and then, but personally I would let him make the first move.

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2008):

More information:

I really need this to work. He said he still has feelings for me and is attracted towards me, but that he is not in love with me and that he needs time for himself. He is going through something challenging, and needs people to lean on. I need to be one of those people, but he does not need to lean on me now, maybe because I have not been there enough for him when he needed it.

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (23 February 2008):

duskyrowe, thanks for the reply, but I really want this relationship to work. I am utterly confused about this, but to clarify a few things I will post some more information:

He stated just recently that he does have feelings for me, and is sexually attracted to me, but no longer in love with me.

I have not been a good boyfriend lately, and I feel that I am responsible for the break-up, but I want to give it time and work this through.

I am wondering what the best way to maintain contact with him is, and how I can succeed in this, but I am also very confused about his feelings, because of the break-up episode where he lied to me. I made him assure me that he was not saying things to spare my emotions again, and I think now he knows it will only hurt me more.

P.S: I need this relationship to work. All is not yet lost, right?

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A female reader, duskyrowe United Kingdom +, writes (23 February 2008):

duskyrowe agony auntI am so sorry my darling, that your boyfriend finished with you. But you must be strong and get on with life, as you are very young and have a whole life ahead of you before you settle down with Mr Right. I am glad you saw sense not to take your own life, no man is worth losing your life over. I suggest you talk to a councellor about your break up, as I feel you urgently need help to get over it. He is a bit too old for you too at 24, maybe he thought that you was not mature enough to handle a serious relationship and felt he had to be cruel to be kind and break up with you.

There are plenty more fish in the sea, look back on this as experience and put it behind you. (I know its very difficult) but take it from an old wise owl like me, things will definately get better. If you would like to privately message me, you are most welcome to I am glad to be of any help. Take care my love. Dusky xxxx.

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