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itchystrangertui2oa8
7mo ago
Seeking Advice

Anxious-avoidant

I’ve been with my partner for about 2 years. We’ve had an anxious-avoidant dynamic (I lean anxious, he leans avoidant), and there’s been a lot of breakups/makeups in the past. He’s struggled with alcohol, shutting down, and sometimes turning to unhealthy coping, which has been painful for me. I’ve struggled with being clingy when I feel him pulling away. Last week we had another big fight. Our relationship was in a fragile state and we were working on reconciliation. We had a therapy session and at the session he told me how much he loved me and saw a future with me and didn’t picture his life without me and how much he missed me while we were apart, etc. however, after this fight, he cancelled our hangout and asked if I was still going to my independent therapy session and had said he would come with me, he ended up working so it didn’t pan out . I called him on lunch today and ended up finding out that he wanted to come to use the session as closure .He told me that he doesn’t see a future with me, that we’re not compatible, and that he thinks we both need different, more “supportive” partners. He said he loves me but it’s not enough, and that he feels he has to be the one to end this because otherwise it will just drag on. He’s booked a final therapy session (we’ve been in couples therapy) for “closure.” I cried and begged him not to end it, which I regret, because although there was a bit of guilt , it seemed to make him more firm. He said he’s been thinking about this, and he seemed more calm than in the past, his messages this week were also more detached, not angry. He did get mad on the phone, though once I was crying . He did say a small part of him still feels ambivalent, but overall he was clear that his decision is to end things. Once he was mad, he said we needed to hang up the phone and that he would see me in therapy next week and not to call him back. Here’s where I’m stuck: • In the past, when we’ve broken up, he’s come back after a few weeks of space. • This time feels different, because he’s framing it as final and wants a therapy session for closure. He also reached out three days after a big fight and asked if I was still going to the session which I did not yet know he was using as closure and I would’ve found out there. • I’m debating whether I should go completely silent and let time pass, to see if he reconsiders, or if I should accept this as the real ending and move on. Our therapist also had to cancel the session for next week and it’s being moved, but we don’t have a date yet. I was wondering if I pushed out the date further if that would give him time to reconsider while I went silent. Questions: 1. For people who’ve been in anxious-avoidant dynamics, does this sound like a “final” breakup, or just another cycle? 2. How do you know when it’s really done versus when someone is just overwhelmed? 3. Is it better to try to delay the therapy session and go no contact until then, or just accept his words at face value? I care deeply about him and still love him, but I also don’t want to keep myself stuck in limbo forever. I’d love outside perspective.

❤️ 1💬 6 replies

6 replies

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curvygrand44as7mo ago

Omg you’re saying exactly my story with my avoidant ex who also was a narcissist. He did the same exact dynamic three months ago and was so firm on ending things with me, I suggested we go to therapy but he insisted that I accept his decision and move on. I had the same questions like yours, it has been 3. Months and he hasn’t reached out again so I am coping with “moving on”. I also begged, I cried, and it made him firmer and gave him more control and power, I regret that too. My advice is to go completely silent, let your absence speak louder than your efforts to fix things. Cancel that therapy session, you do not need closure, he already gave it to you by saying he no longer sees a future with you, go silent, work on yourself, it will hurt but it’s better than staying with someone who clearly said he doesn’t want you. You deserve better. You got this!!

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itchystrangertui2oa86mo ago

Thank you so much! Did you beg and cry more than once or just the one time? I did it the once and haven’t reached out for 6 days. Haven’t heard from him either. The therapist told me my ex messaged him the following day and said he wanted to push the appointment to November ??

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itchystrangertui2oa86mo ago

But I agree— going to another session would be pointless and a waste of time

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slimwindowj76mo ago

I was in the same situation and I begged him not to do it but at the same time told him that I want him to be happy. I’m unsure if he will come back this time either. But it’s best to close the chapter. The trauma bond is strong and makes you overlook a lot of the basic needs that weren’t being met. Just don’t go to it because he could potentially make it worse for you

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tatteredreaction066mo ago

I’m sorry for what you’re going through. Unfortunately I think this is the finale. Usually when they just detach, they won’t say anything at all. Expressing is difficult for them and the fact he was expressive is a sign u should believe what he is saying. No contact although hard for us anxiously attached, is the first step in your detachment from him. Moving the date of therapy only prolongs the inevitable. It’s not your job to make sure he gets closure. He can get closure without you being there. I think he wants to the therapist to reinforce that he’s ending it for good.

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itchystrangertui2oa86mo ago

Thank you, and I agree— we ended up talking and I asked to cancel therapy and he did. He still wants to have a conversation for closure on Monday, but just the two of us, so I’m ok with that. I can only heal and move forward and I guess I never know what the future holds. It’s very painful and sad. But I think in time I’ll heal and if two people are meant to be then they will find their way back to one another.

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