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Relationship Partner with BPD (Straight and LGBT+) => Romantic Relationship | Bettering a Relationship or Reversing a Breakup => Topic started by: Noone on June 08, 2021, 04:48:34 AM



Title: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 08, 2021, 04:48:34 AM
Hello I have read a lot of information about this but I'm struggling with what has happened. I am alone and my spouse has disappeared except to occasionally send hurtful messages. Please I'm asking for someone who can advise me on how to handle this, at least from the standpoint of the "relationship."


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 08, 2021, 09:47:32 AM
Hi Noone,
That sounds incredibly painful. Can I ask, how recently did your spouse disappear? Is this something that had happened in the past, or is this new?
So glad you're posting here.
-kells76


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 08, 2021, 10:17:07 AM
Hi Kells thank you for replying. It's not the first time, but normally they calm down after a few days. This has now been over a mont


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 08, 2021, 11:31:45 AM
That is scary when a loved one just up and leaves. If I'm reading correctly, this latest disappearance has lasted for over a month? Wow. I wonder if you're feeling anxiety about your spouse's well-being, despite the hurtful messages coming your way.

How long has this been a pattern? I.e., did it start right when you got married, or did your spouse do stuff like that before? Or, did it start sometime afterwards?

Hurtful messages plus a disappearance sound like a huge "PUSH AWAY" message, to me. I wonder if something overwhelmed your spouse's feelings recently? You probably already know that pwBPD have lower-than-average coping skills for big emotions. Understatement...

What kind of support do you have in this time? Personal therapist? Empathetic friends? Family? Taking care of you is just as important as focusing on a loved one in crisis.

(My sister's former husband disappeared for... I can't remember, but multiple days, a couple of years ago. There's so much stress and fear involved for those "left behind". Hugs to you  :hug: )


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 08, 2021, 12:15:56 PM
May I message you please?


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 08, 2021, 12:32:49 PM
Sure! I'll do the best I can.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 08, 2021, 01:47:17 PM
Thank you, I have done.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 08, 2021, 02:12:10 PM
Hey again Noone,

Check out these links on some non-intuitive tools to "help make it not worse", and let us know if you have seen them before. Or, if not, your thoughts on using them to "not fan the flames". pwPD's (people with PD's) can be much, much more sensitive to "explanations" or "truth" than non-PD people are.

https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=143695.0

https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=139972.0

Of course, this is NOT saying "you are the problem." No, you're not. It IS saying, it sounds like you care about a highly sensitive person, and the tools and skills for helping situations not escalate are not tools and skills we always have. It IS saying, it sounds like you are wondering what to do about the relationship, and if being together is maybe something you want, then these tools and skills can sometimes help take conflicts from always 10 out of 10 back down to maybe 6 or 7 out of ten... and, sometimes, better.

-kells76


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 08, 2021, 03:10:10 PM
It's a great question... do you communicate back in some way to let him know you're hurting.

It makes sense that it's not like there's a problem using SET. You do support him, you empathize with him, etc. It wouldn't be you "faking it", it would be genuine.

Yet you also have feelings, too, and it would mean a lot to you if he would recognize that.

Is that close to where you are at?


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: once removed on June 08, 2021, 09:22:57 PM
hi Noone,

there are two great things about this place, and theyre a big part of why i came here, and am still here today.

the first is that being anonymous gave me a lot of freedom to talk about the most difficult aspects of my relationship, and how i was coping. i could say things id have a harder time saying to even my closest loved ones, and without judgment.

the other is the collective wisdom of the group. each person had a different insight that all helped me uniquely. i knew i couldnt always rely on one on one support, but the different perspectives and takes i got were invaluable.

i understand your hesitancy to dive in, but i think that if you do, youll find it very rewarding.

when youre ready, i encourage you to share more with us about whats going on. we can help.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 09, 2021, 10:25:58 AM
Thank you for your message.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: kells76 on June 11, 2021, 01:30:26 PM
Hey Noone, how are you doing today?


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 12, 2021, 01:51:22 PM
Hi Kells a bit better thank you.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 16, 2021, 01:22:23 AM
Please is there nobody there who can advise me? They won't talk to me and I don't know what to do.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Breakingpoint13 on June 16, 2021, 06:06:27 AM
Noone, How long have they been gone NC? I think the best thing to do at the moment is to respect their decision and focus on you. Trust us we have all been there and personally something that I am dealing with. But focusing on him this situation is making you worse, and you are responsible for that. Even if he replies, what will it achieve? Right now you need to focus on you, become a healthier better version of you. Then if he does contact... and you want to respond, you will be in a better position to do so.

Stay strong, you can do this.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: once removed on June 17, 2021, 09:34:16 PM
Please is there nobody there who can advise me? They won't talk to me and I don't know what to do.

can you tell us more about whats going on? what led up to him leaving?


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: ThanksForPlaying on June 17, 2021, 09:45:46 PM
I'm also sitting here by myself after a short "disappearance" of a few days. You aren't alone.

Try to step back for a moment and come up with a plan for yourself. Think about what you want to happen in your own life. Don't focus on whether or not he's coming back - it may or may not happen eventually, but you need to have some goals for yourself either way.

Post more info here if you feel like it - sometimes it's a helpful way to organize your thoughts.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 18, 2021, 03:37:04 PM
Thank you for the messages. Things have progressed and I am now more aware of what is going on but it doesn't make things easier. It's actually more complicated. I can't write it here it's such a mess .


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Noone on June 18, 2021, 03:39:27 PM
I don't need support. Well, ok, I do, but that's not why I'm here. I need advice. If there's anyone with experience who feels that they could offer me that please send me a message. Thank you.


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: babyducks on June 18, 2021, 06:19:09 PM
everyone here has experience Noone.   

We are all here because we have a significant other or family member with a serious mental illness.

Do you want to attempt to recover the relationship?   Do you want to reverse the break up?


Title: Re: Advice needed on communicating after disappearance
Post by: Breakingpoint13 on July 05, 2021, 09:30:15 PM
Noone, how are you? Are you doing better?