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I've been with my current partner for nearly 6 years.
It's been mostly wonderful.
Lately, it's been bad.

His communication skills have disappeared along with his ability to listen.
He just does whatever he pleases.

I've attempted to discuss all of this with him to no avail.

It's been a few bad months.

How long would you try to salvage a relationship before you officially called it quits?

Donotbelieve 9 Aug 27
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72 comments (26 - 50)

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2

In my experience dragging out a bad relationship is worse then ending it but it's your decision in the end

2

I spent 31 years in a marriage that was broken at 27 years. Sounds like he may have found someone else. As someone else said if you still love him try to get him to talk. If not, my advice is not to waste much more time and move on. Time and life fly by..

2

My ex-wife and I knew for about years before we decided to just go ahead and separate

We were together 11 years (married 8 years)

@Donotbelieve
I can't say my ex-wife and I were "in love" the vast majority of those years but there was a certain amount of mutual benefit to staying together until the last couple years

2

What did you do to ruin a wonderful 6 year relationship?

2

I'm sorry. This is a very hard place to be. You are trying but maybe your partner can't right now for some reason. Maybe it's a personal thing that has to be dealt with and then the focus will return on the relationship? You'll have to go with your heart to figure out how much time to give the pause. Time might give it to space it needs for him to think things through then refocus efforts. I guess I would give it a lot of time if this person was very special to me.

If he wants to end it, turning off like this is a disrespectful way to do it.

2

Is he giving up on you or himself? If you, not much longer. You only live once and with no afterlife happiness is a must.

2

I don't think it's about time, so much as movement.

Relationships go bad, often slowly and without our noticing it, and then one day the scales fall from our eyes and we realise how far down the wrong path we've got (I am speaking very much from current experience here!).

Whoever it is who notices first has a tough task on their hands - as well as dealing with the realisation for themselves, they need to be able to communicate their concerns to the other party. And that's where it can get tricky.

If you have gone so far down the wrong path that your communication with your partner isn't up to getting the message across that you're not happy, then you can spend all the time you want waiting for them to realise, and they probably won't.

It's probably time, after a few bad months, to sit down and try to clearly, cogently explain what is causing you distress. Talk about it from your perspective (so avoid statements that start "You..." ), and use it as an opportunity to explain to him how you feel in the relationship. Then give him some time to take that on board - it might come as a shock if he is completely unaware. If he refuses to take account of your feelings, or responds aggressively or defensively, then it may simply be that you are in a relationship with someone who isn't interested in how you feel, or in your views on how it progresses. And, in that case, you don't want to waste any more time waiting for him to get the message.

I'm not a big fan of ultimatums, but sometimes it is necessary to say something along the lines of "I'm really unhappy, I've tried to get you to see this, and I am now at the point where I am considering leaving." to get someone to appreciate how serious the situation is.

2

Do u love him ? If the answer is yes , sit down w self first and discuss w self ( pen and paper ), what bothers u . What do u want / need / hope . Then write as well what u need / want / hope for u both . Hand him over the paper and give him a two weeks to think about and respond . Be ready to walk away if he ignores your request or laughs at u or no meaningful talk comes out of this . 6 years is 6 years . Take 6 trips somewhere if u can afford . And turn the page . No fear . Better alone than alone w company . Better alone than becoming a pet or a pest . My opinion . Good luck .

2

I have wasted years throwing time and energy down this "proverbial rathole" to no avail. Nevertheless, if your heart is still in the ring, it is probably worth a rry...but not an endless try. You have to be realistic

2

I would say to him that you feel he is no longer invested in the relationship and ask him if he wants to call it a day. No preamble where he can avoid the conversation, just come out with it.

2

I'm sorry you're going through this. I don't have any words of wisdom other than being pregnant is stressful enough without have to be tweaked this way.
You should be able to relax & do the "nesting" thing, celebrate your condition and be getting as much rest as you can. This should be made to be a happy time you both can look back on.
(((( hugs )))
I hope he "wakes up" for you.

2

I'm sorry you are going through this. Communication is so important, seems like there must be an underlying problem. Others mentioned a medical issue maybe?

@Donotbelieve Maybe just ask him what's on his mind if everything is OK.

2

We are the only animals on earth who think of time invested as an actual investment, not to be abandoned because of what we have put into it. Forget about the six years. Think about now. If it's bad, it's bad. Think about what you want and what you're willing to put up with. There's a buy in in every relationship. Is this relationship worth the current cost to you?

Sunk cost fallacy... great point.

2

When you're sure they're not going to change and/or you don't have the energy to keep trying. Sorry... I know exactly what you're talking about. Peace.

2

Having dealt with the end of my own, almost six-year ordeal, I can say that the probable last stop would be to suggest therapy.

I'm not the best person to really say, and don't know what compelled me to even start typing. I guess the familiarity of it. I would have dragged it out even longer because it was all I had known of a family for the past 5+ years, but it wouldn't have done my daughter any favors.

I think maybe that's the gauge: Does it help to carry it on for all involved, or does it hurt?

2

That's difficult to say. Being In Love with someone and Loving them are two very different things. So I just hope things get better for YOU, either way.

1

About now. In the past I stuck with it and was married twice believing it would eventually work. AS you get older you realize it is either there or not. The real trick is to believe yourself and not the convenience of it all. And after the break up , if it is real, it will show itself again. No need to believe in something that may not be there

EMC2 Level 8 Nov 2, 2018
1

Be prepared for separation even before trying to find out why.

Gert Level 7 Nov 2, 2018

@Donotbelieve I actually meant that in that situation you'd better gather, or at least list those things that are valuable for you. Years ago as there was a bankruptcy rising at the horizon, I took all that was valuable (not just money wise) and stored that with family and friends. Later it appeared that I had not needed to do it, but it still gave me peace of mind riding this bumpy road.

@Donotbelieve You are so lucky. I have a lot of good memories stored in quite some objects. On the other hand, one trunk is probably still enough. They are just for the years that are left for me to live. When I die I don't care anyway. But, I'm glad I don't need to worry about it.

@Donotbelieve What can a (wo)man want more? Fulfill the life as you like it most. I'm glad for you.
My needs are more in the middle. I love some paintings, my cook-ware and smaller things in the house. Well, a mattress, some blankets and a few pillows are welcome too. But what does a person need to survive …… or die? Not much I guess 😉

1

Nothing last forever. Cliche as it sounds but that's the way it is.

1

You do not want to wait until you get slapped in the face! When someone stops trying any is liable to happen.

I meant 'anything" is liable to happen. I wish you well on your decision.

1

Sad to say there is a trick some men use to absolve themselves of responsibility in a failing relationship, which is simply to become such a pain in the arse that the other partner leaves or throws them out, making him the innocent victim of a heartless and unreasonable woman.

This is true, you're so right. It's a coward's way too, used by crappy communicators.

1

That sucks, I'm sorry. In my experience if communication has died, there is no other path to a successful relationship. If he won't talk about your issues, he already chose to end it.

@Donotbelieve Wow, that's very "adult" of you, I'd probably still be burning his underwear or something equally petty. If there's one thing I really wish I was stronger with it would be forgiveness.

@Donotbelieve I assumed that when you said "he just does whatever he pleases" that he was doing things that were not any longer conducive to your happiness. Personally if a SO began to disregard my feelings I'd be heated.

@Donotbelieve You sound very accepting of the situation. If I'm prying feel free not to answer, but did you go through a phase of extreme emotion over this? I feel like before a relationship ends, that I'm definitely in a state at one point or another where I'm almost to the edge trying to make it work in any way that I can.

@Donotbelieve Holy shit if I get a vote for the 15th Dalai Lama, you're it.

When a relationship ends I take it as a point of pride that I act like an adult. I'll make sure that I don't badmouth the other person or be unfair in how we split, or even hurt them more than absolutely necessary. I want them to be okay for all the good times we had, but inside I'm plotting their demise of them and anyone who's name starts with the same letter.

1

I sttrongly suspect, based on personal experience, that he Has moved on, with someone else, because the behavior you describe is Not loving, caring, or even concerned in the least with you. Sorry...consult a lawyer Now!

@Donotbelieve if you are having trouble, and having his child you MOST DEFI NITELY need a lawyer!

1

It sounds like he called it quits a few months ago.

1

Hugs...I can feel your sadness. Try to remember why you fell in love. Relationships need love and attention.

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