It's A Bad Night - PLEASE Remind Me . . .

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
#1 Oct 26 - 7PM
MandyM
MandyM's picture

It's A Bad Night - PLEASE Remind Me . . .

I'm struggling again. Haven't contacted him, not about to, but the cognitive dissonance is in full force today. I think this time of year is bad for me.

Please, please, please help me remember the following:

1) He was with his ex-wife for seven or eight years before they got married, and according to him, she bolted after a year of marriage and immediately went NC, only communicating with him through her divorce attorney. There was a obviously a reason for this.
2) He's had more relationships than I can count - than I think even HE could count - from the time we were teenagers until now (including the floozy he took up with after me and seems to still be with, who had quite the reputation even way back when we were all kids), and his one and only foray into marriage, his wife left him (see #1). And I've often wondered why it took them that long to get married in the first place.
3) He sat in my living room, called one of his woman "friends" while snuggled up next to me, and when she asked if he was at his parents' home, he said "Yes," not knowing I could hear her end of the conversation.
4) He told me he'd invited a number of other women "friends" to his engagement party and that at least two of them were off sobbing in corners wailing that they'd always thought THEY would be the one he wound up with. Why did each of them think that? And why the hell would he invite them to his ENGAGEMENT party? This is a huge, huge flag, clearly.
5) One woman he dated before he was married ("I wasn't really into her, but I wasn't looking for anyone else") was apparently so jealous that she'd follow him all around town, convinced he was cheating. There was certainly a reason for this, too.
6) He referred to one of his woman "friends" as "psycho," another as "weird," and said a third had "mental issues." Incidentally, the "psycho" was one of the ones bawling about not ending up with him at his engagement party, and it was the "weird" one he called from my home and lied to - in front of me - about where he was.

My "red flag" list goes on and on and on, but it's these things I'm trying to focus on right now as I struggle with the idea that he'll settle down with the floozy, since it's been a year now, and they have oodles of friends/drinking buddies in common, much more than he and I have. In my mind, they're like peas in a pod and everything must be wonderful. I need to remember his pattern with women before me and during me.

It's hard because my ex was one of the stealthiest, most covert, most subtle narcissists I think the world has ever seen. He never hit me, never raged at me, never belittled me or called me names, never stole from me, never threatened me - it was all about the mind games with him, and he was so slick that even now, I can see that he was definitely passive aggressive to a T . . . but was/is he a narcissist? Is he really irreparably broken, or does he just need the right woman? And then my heart breaks and I feel so awful about myself for not being good enough.

I hate when I get like this. Please help me.

Oct 27 - 12PM
ally2375
ally2375's picture

Mandy

This time of year tends to do a number on our emotions. The weather is turning colder, the holiday decorations are coming out, and we start to get wistful about snuggling, sipping cocoa, and sappy movies. It's a rough time to be single. :( So, it makes sense that the CG is kicking in, right? But can I suggest that what you miss isn't Ex; it's who you WISH he was. Because who he IS Mandy, is an emotionally abusive, lying, game player who repeatedly twisted the knife in your heart just to watch you squirm. Your head gets it but your heart isn't there. Changing your inner dialog may help. You're entertaining some dangerous thoughts, so let me offer three simple truths for you to consider. 1) "Is he really irreparably broken, or does he just need the right woman?" Vampires don't roam the earth, life doesn't have a laugh track, and love does not have magical, curative powers. That is Hollywood fantasy. A kiss doesn't turn a frog into a prince and the love of a good woman doesn't turn a passive-aggressive jacknut into a good guy. It just doesn't. 2) "Was/is he a narcissist?" Ultimately, this doesn't matter. There's no doubt in my mind that he was, but it's irrelevant. Go back and read Steph's post on this. She nailed it. http://www.lisaescott.com/2011/07/18/what-if-he-isnt-narcissist 3) "My heart breaks and I feel so awful about myself for not being good enough." Can you conceive of a situation where it would be okay to treat someone the way Ex treated you? I can't. HE'S the one who wasn't good enough. You're trying to superimpose the kind of relationship you want onto a guy who is fundamentally incapable of it. That he's happier now, treating NW better, or there's some a flaw in you is just irrational fear talking. His relationship rap sheet is awful; why would anything be different now? In truth, you're much closer to finding the relationship you want than you ever were with Ex.
Oct 26 - 10PM
Sparrow
Sparrow's picture

Yes, yes, yes..........mi e

Yes, yes, yes..........mIne was as well. They can hide very well in society. It's a gift...........think about it........famous actors like Robert Dinero, Julia Roberts, Dustin Hoffman, etc are awarded for their acting abilities........think of the many that aren't. Mine was what I call a sleeping narc...........he had nothing but time...........her played it all so well. It's what they do. Stay strong my friend. This to will pass. Smiles.
Oct 26 - 8PM
dulcinea441
dulcinea441's picture

Rat bastard.

Rat bastard.
Oct 26 - 10PM (Reply to #6)
dulcinea441
dulcinea441's picture

(Him, not you!)

(Him, not you!)
Oct 26 - 8PM
Hunter
Hunter's picture

What do you need me 4 ? You

What do you need me 4 ? You just said it all! Asshole/extraordinaire Hunter
Oct 26 - 8PM (Reply to #2)
MandyM
MandyM's picture

That's the problem.

That's the problem. INTELLECTUALLY, I know that, like knowing the right answer on a test. But it's like I can't make the final connection so it sinks in and I actually BELIEVE it. All our lives, he was so charismatic, so popular when we were kids and still has tons of people in his life now, can be so charming, that I'm still sucked in by that, even having been involved with him and seeing the other side. It's still skewing the way I see everything. Why can't I get past this?
Oct 26 - 10PM (Reply to #4)
Hunter
Hunter's picture

You will... I promise.. Dont

You will... I promise.. Dont brake or it will set you back. Hunter
Oct 26 - 8PM (Reply to #3)
Redhead1
Redhead1's picture

He does mean thoughtless shit

He does mean thoughtless shit to people and don't give a damn if it hurts them. He has no empathy. He is a narc.