I've been dating the same man for seven years. I think we broke up for the final time this evening. Our relationship has taken the following trajectory: When we first met we became instant friends, but his quirks made it hard for me to figure out what his, or my, intentions were. But after six months, he made a subtle move, and it began this beautiful relationship. We were total opposites, and that seemed to be why it worked. Then a couple years later, things started to change. My boyfriend became moodier. He began drinking more, and making really bad decisions with money and employment. As time went on, where we used to spend every night spooning, it became that he wanted us to have separate blankets. We used to have sex every night; now it's once a month when he's drunk. The only time he shows affection for me is when he's intoxicated now. And it seems like he's incapable of viewing us as a unit. For instance, he'll hitch a ride home from a party without me and not let me know. And completely act like I'm crazy for thinking that's strange. He's definitely not a cheater; his behaviors are far too predictable and he seems very devoted to our intellectual relationship with one another. But lately he's been so unpredictable. He wakes up and for the first hour of the morning it's like he's a monster. The slightest thing will set him off, and he'll throw a hissy fit and scream and call me names.
However, an hour later, he's joking with me and everything seems fine.
I used to think it was alcoholism, but he'll go weeks without drinking, and start to binge when he's got the cash. I thought it might be that he was just self-centered and unable to view things from my perspective. I have Bipolar and OCD, and I've thought maybe he showed some bipolar traits, but there's just not consistent indication. And he's very popular among the friends where we used to live due to his sense of humor and quirky personality. Things have always been different with him, but in a good way up until recently. He suddenly does things that are controlling, like taking my car out and leaving me home. He knows I'm in school, and we agreed I would take on a lesser income in order to get my master's, but now every time I need to buy bread, I'm berated for the amount of money I take from him. I'm writing because, after a long term of unemployment, he chose not to register my car, that he's driven for five years, and put the money into his project car instead. I'd finally had it. I can't be dependent on someone who would let me go without food before going without his six-pack and racing clutch. So after doing research on how much my disorders (OCD and BPD) could be exacerbating the problem, I hit upon SPD. Other than social introversion, though it does happen, he fits every characteristic. Also, I've read there's an association between the personality and a child's neglect. This is something that would certainly apply. I'm writing because, in my anger, I told him I think he's schizoid, to look it up, and get help so he stops ruining good things. And then I did some more research, and I'm wondering how much of what I'm thinking is mistreatment is actually just all he's capable of. Have I done something horrible by telling him my suspicions? And does anyone else know someone with a schizoid personality type who is popular because he's eccentric? I'm just not sure how to handle it, at this point. I love him so, so much, and if it's just that he can't help it, I can learn. I just don't know what to do. I know he won't make an effort to fix it, because his general tendency is to agree that he's an asshole and therefore deserves to lose me or whatever other thing he's losing. I guess I'm just looking for guidance. Sorry if I'm misplacing this post. Thanks for any input.