First blowout argument in a long time.

[mssalty]

Had a blowout.  I “started” it by reacting with frustration.   Partner exploded back at me and we went back and forth with me trying to talk about the reason I was upset, SO trying to show me I was wrong.

Words were exchanged, with my SO getting in some highly personalized zingers they knew would hurt and some very specific things I doubt they realized would hurt as much as they did. 

It ended with me being told not to talk to them until I apologize. 

I know how this goes, because it’s the same pattern.  I apologize and no matter what the sincerity, that’s the cue for my SO to lay into me some more and rehash the argument we just had, omitting some details that make them look bad, making sure I cannot respond with anything to explain or defend, and not really ending it, but escalating it.   

And I made one shot at trying to explain how I felt. It was immediately shut down, so I stopped.   They ranted.  I only said I was sorry in response.  Didn’t react.  Didn’t raise my voice.  Didn’t show emotion. 

It was clear that a lack of reaction was something they couldn’t handle.   

The chaos seems to make them feel safer. 

I know I should not have reacted as I did in the moment, nor used that moment ti try and express my frustrations.   I knew it would go nowhere, but the safety switch that so often keeps me from reacting didn’t hold.   

It’s exhausting to try to love someone who does not want to understand you and registers almost anything as a full throated attack on their being. 

I don’t think I’ve ever had an instance where the first apology came from them.  The law of averages and everything I’ve read about marriage would seem to make it clear occasionally the other side will have SOME responsibility.   It’s exhausting when you’re in a marriage where you are the only one seen to be at fault, and the only one who cannot air their frustrations without getting a list of reasons why you’re wrong, or a list of the many ways you are worse.   

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[kells76]

Really sorry to hear about the blowup... Even though on the one hand we can "expect" this to happen when there's a pwBPD in our life, on the other hand, if things have been smooth (enough) lately, it can be so devastating -- like things will never change.

And yes, I've heard from other members here that chaos and reaction can feel "safer" (or, like "this is familiar, I can deal with this") to a pwBPD. So it's not surprising that you noticed that as well.

Can you remind me if your partner is in any kind of treatment or therapy at this time?

Do the two of you ever communicate about conflict in any other medium besides verbally (ie texting, emailing)?

It is exhausting living with someone with BPD in the family system. When and where do you get a break from it all? Work? Commuting? Hobby? Friends?

I just hear you being so tired right now.

[SuperDaddy]

Hi mssalty ,

For a person with BPD, if their partner brings up frustrations, they will find the worst possible interpretation of it, such as interpreting it all as a criticism and possible rejection. But why? The reason why they interpret things like that is because this interpretation is the one that elicits the biggest conflict (at least in their head).

They will say they want you to apologize, but unconsciously they just want you to engage in the fight. This is why they make things so frustrating for you, so that you lose your grip and explode as well.

But why on earth would someone want something so defeating and harmful for the relationship? Because they need the endorphin reward they get from the conflict, and this is of primal importance for them to regulate their brain [**]. Unfortunately, when doing so, they are so involved in the conflict that they don't even remember it will push their partner away.

But as Pook075 explained, if you love this person, then there might be another way around because:

"They just want to feel loved and supported in every interaction. They want to feel like they matter and they're seen."

That works so well because feeling loved releases endorphins and also activates many other neurocircuits in the brain. Therefore, it replaces the need for conflict. Have you ever tried to disarm your SO using this approach?

[**] see the EOS theory on BPD: https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2010-06891-012

[Pook075]

And I made one shot at trying to explain how I felt. It was immediately shut down, so I stopped.   They ranted.  I only said I was sorry in response.  Didn’t react.  Didn’t raise my voice.  Didn’t show emotion. 

We've all been there and we all knew better.  I can remember so many arguments where I'd just try to listen patiently, to wait it out so it didn't escalate, and then they said one thing that was so offensive, so ridiculous that my mouth started talking before my brain had even processed it.

That means we're human though, and there's no way to be perfect 100% of the time.  If someone is yelling at us, it's only natural to want to defend ourselves.

One thing I've learned is that the time for our personal viewpoints has to wait until the BPD is stable and thinking objectively once again.  They're so hyped up in the moment that defending ourselves comes off (to them) as saying they don't matter, which only makes everything worse.  It's literally a no-win situation unless we focus specifically on their feelings in that moment and deal with that first.

[SuperDaddy]

I think both extremes are solving the problem for them. Either feeling completely rejected, discarded, and abandoned or feeling entirely loved, supported, and important.