So, a little background. My partner and I have been together for about two years and it has been volatile to say the least. We have been going to couple’s counseling for our issues involving trust and other things. Today, we were going to a dance class and he had been a bit depressed all day about work and other stuff (we are both grad students trying to wrap up our dissertations). I am also very anxious and after trying to make him dissociate from his feelings of downward spiral I said a really mean thing. I said, I’m really tired of dealing with this everyday. He also fired back. I could tell that he got really upset and we went our separate ways for the next hour. When we met up again, I told him that I’m sorry for not being supportive and that I should not have said what I did. He told me he doesn’t wanna talk about it and that he understands where I’m coming from. (TBH he is depressed and grumpy several times a week and it takes an emotional toll on me as well. I find it hard to deal with a depressed person on my own and I have told him to seek therapy many many times but he doesn’t try to seek individual therapy) As the night progressed, he decided to get a wine bottle cuz he was feeling low and I wanted to get some work done. It was then that he started poking at me by telling me that I judge him, and I’m judging him for drinking on a Wednesday (I was not, I was simply doing my own work) and it felt like he was looking for an excuse to fight me. Then, I went to speak to him and he without provocation starting getting more and more worked up about how awful I was for what I had said earlier and that he was drinking cuz of me and I should go f myself. I asked him to lower his voice and he screamed even louder that he can scream at whoever he wants to. I left at that point and went to the living room and he came back only to state stuff like “screaming is not the most pressing issue”, “my dad used to scream at me”, “it’s normal for couples to scream” etc. I told him that yelling is being abusive and should not be normalized. We have had this conversation before and it seems like he has temper issues and when he gets mad it’s hard for him to see his own faults and he doubles down on his stance. When I try to approach him in good faith he doesn’t respond kindly and this time again, I approached him in good faith and apologized about the things I had said earlier but he still was super hostile. And made passive aggressive comments about me being over sensitive. Only now, after me going over and holding his hand to ask him if he truly doesn’t see the problem with him yelling at me did he apologize honestly. However, I feel like I’m being super weak by not taking a harder stance or just breaking up with him. I’m so confused on what to do in this type of situation.

3 comments
  1. TLDR; two idiots act like they are stranded on a desert island continue to date each other when they really hate each other.

  2. Break up. You’re not compatible. You’re going through therapy and still, the issues are there. You’re not working through them like therapy is intended for. His mental health is taking it’s toll, and you’re fighting an unwinnable fight. He looks at things you do as a way of judging him (like when he said you’re judging him for drinking- you didn’t say it, but your body language to him did), and you trying to talk calmly makes him feel like an AH, which makes it worse. There’s no winning for you in those arguments. Move on with your life.

  3. His grumpiness score is pretty high! Sorry that you had to deal with that. It is a low blow and takes some time to heal from that. Be sure to focus on your healing. Hmu if you want to chat! 🙂

    What to Do When Someone Is Being Grumpy

    Keep a neutral perspective. Tell yourself it’s not personal.

    Speak to the person calmly. Keep a peaceful demeanor may help them feel better.

    Ask them if they’re okay. Be curious about the underlying cause.

    Actively listen to them. They may just need a chance to be heard.

    Validate their feelings. Look at things from their perspective.

    Ask how they’d like to be supported. Let them tell you how you can help.

    Save the advice unless they ask. Make listening your main priority.

    Distract them with things they enjoy. Surprise the person by doing something with them.

    Notice whether your own mood is changing. That awareness can help you keep some distance.

    Set healthy boundaries. You have the right to put your own needs first.

    Lean on your own support group. Surround yourself with positive people.

    Take a time-out if things get heated. Remove yourself from the situation if you need to.

    Help the person find support if their bad mood continues. A persistent low mood could indicate depression or anxiety.

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