My boyfriend (28) and I (29) broke up a couple of weeks ago and are in no contact. We didn’t set a time for how long we’re in no contact, but he said he’s not sure how much space and time he’ll need. We did a week of no contact, it was super hard, at the end of it we got a meal together and had a super big conversation that left us both emotionally drained, and then he texted the next morning that he needed space and wanted to go no contact. I told him I loved him and for him to take as much time as he needs. That was on Saturday and it’s Tuesday and it feels like it’s been a lifetime.
We love each other so much. So much. He’s codependent and very anxious, and our relationship became codependent. I’m working through mental health issues and he felt like he had to fix them. I was a drain on him, and he made me feel stifled and I felt like I was losing my freedom/ability to have my own full life outside of him, and subsequently he did too, even though he didn’t realize it at first. He threw everything into this relationship and not enough into himself.
I was the one that initiated the breakup—I discarded him. I was working in Alaska for 4 weeks at the time, and became nearly manic up there—drank tons of caffeine every day, barely slept, was surrounded by people and parties, and the sun was up 22/7. I felt like I hadn’t felt so free the entire time we’d been together and felt like “myself” (even though I was an extremely hyper version of myself, and a hyper independent version of myself, not my true self). I texted him and called a few times during that time but he felt abandoned, rightfully so. And I was emotionally distant because I knew I’d try to break up with him when I got home. And I made the decision impulsively, which I hate and have done tons of reflection on, and am determined to heal that part of myself. It blindsided him because we had just been lovey and great and then I switched on him pretty quickly.
I got home, told him I wanted to break up with him but wasn’t sure, then we talked about the ways that we want our relationship to change, both showed up with tons of humility and compassion, wrote each other letters, etc. We spent a week having these conversations and trying to keep things going, even though he was still shocked and hurt. I decided that our issues were something we could work on together based on the way that we were both communicating and taking accountability. But I think he was really hurt by the way this all went down, which I fully take the blame for and I am just so regretful and ashamed. So his codependency/anxiety + my distance and avoidance led him to not trust me anymore. He was destroyed. So he decided that we needed to break up and he wasn’t sure whether or not he wanted us to get back together. I know he’s afraid that I would do it to him again. I would be too.
I know he loves me so much. He has been so torn up. I can see his Spotify activity (lol) and he’s listening to lots of sad songs like “I’m still in love with you but you’re hurting me,” “I still love you but I need a year,” “I love you but I don’t think I can do this anymore,” etc. He’s also writing a bunch of tremendously sad poetry. Super sad boi rn.
I’m utterly heartbroken, I love him so much and while I still think that we have so much work to do that would ultimately be best for us to do separately, I’m really worried that I’ve damaged his trust forever and he’ll never come back. I thought I was going to marry him and have kids with him. We were coming up on 10 months of dating, so it’s new, but on the very first date we both knew that each other was “the one,” it fit so perfectly. Neither of us had felt that way before. We both had lists of what we were looking for in potential partners and we matched each other’s lists perfectly. It was crazy. And throughout our relationship we had issues due to our anxieties but we communicated so well and were soooo kind and sweet and considerate of one another. It was the best relationship I’ve ever had and he said the same. He said I was the kindest, smartest, most considerate and supportive girlfriend he’d ever had. He’s my best friend. We loved spending time together and shared so many hobbies and had so many fun and interesting and sweet conversations. So tender and loving.
My relationship history is marked by breaking up with past boyfriends. I’ve had 4 boyfriends, all 1-3 year relationships. I broke up with all of them. No one was “good enough,” even though I generally had worse mental health/trauma issues than them which made our relationship difficult at times. It’s a pattern that I fell into, and I’m glad I broke up with all of the past partners, but this one is SO DIFFERENT and I’m so upset that my brain destroyed what we had.
His history is a pattern of dating girls who need “fixing” and desperately trying to fix them. Codependency and hero complex. And then completely draining himself and burning out in the process.
As you can see we both have a lot of stuff to work on and heal.
I’m working soooo hard on my shit, I just started a 10hr/week DBT therapy program on top of my regular therapy, getting a new psychiatrist to find the right meds for my conditions, reading tons of books, I’m in the gym, I’m starting new healthy self care routines, throwing myself back into my hobbies, and actually just landed an incredible new job which is more than doubling my salary.
As far as I can tell he’s doing the same. He’s continuing his therapy, he’s back into his hobbies at a more serious level, he’s back in the gym, and he’s spending more time with his friends. He truly took accountability for his codependency which was highlighted while I was gone and taking space. He wants to fix it because it’s been a pattern in his relationships. Him setting these boundaries and going no contact is really impressive to me, knowing him. It’s hot lol. I’m proud of him even though it’s so hard.
I’m oscillating between sobbing and listening to sad songs and listening to “that man is mine” type songs to try to manifest him back to me. I have truly never ever felt this way about someone before. I’ve never cried so hard and felt so intensely about a breakup. Ever.
To any couples that have broken up/dealt with avoidant discard and gotten back together—how long were you no contact, what needed to change in order for you to get back together, and what demonstrated that he/she was doing the work to actually fix their problems and made you want them back? Or anything related to getting back together.
I just need a sliver of hope that there’s still a chance for us. He’s my perfect mate. I will be destroyed if he doesn’t come back and I genuinely cannot imagine ever dating anyone ever again. If we get back together, I’m holding down that man for life. Pleeeeease give me some hope.