Boyfriend spirals about my past

r/

I (27F) have been with my current bf (27M) for over half a year now. He’s the first to make me be completely myself around him, and we’re very compatible in a lot of ways. There’s only one major recurring issue, and it’s his problem with my sexual past. He’s the 14th person I’ve ever slept with. Before him, I’ve had 2 long-term relationships. He’s much less experienced, having been with 2 girls, each for a couple of months, with years of being alone and celibate in-between. We’re both very liberal and non-religious, so sexual history technically shouldn’t be an issue. He doesn’t judge his sexually open friends about their actions and past, nor has he done it with any other girl he liked – I’m the first one. Also, important to note, my bf has OCD and some relationship OCD left from his last extremely toxic relationship.

It started out slow, he’d ask about what I’ve done, my motives etc. Then it continued, it became even more intense. At some point it was evident he was judging me, even though he didn’t want to and felt terrible about it. He says he loves and trusts me, and really wants us to work. He’s even started therapy because of it, after we were about to break up over another spiraling session where he wouldn’t stop asking questions. The thing is, some of the stuff he says are important to him (such as that I had feelings for the people I slept with) don’t always apply to him (he’s had a fwb who he didn’t even like). I’ve never judged him about his past – in fact, I even wished he had more experience. None of my prior partners were jealous in that way so it’s been throwing me off completely.

I thought therapy might help, but sometimes it feels as though a boundary has been irreversibly crossed and I’ll never be able to trust him with that again. Recently I learned that he had told his closest friend about some of my experiences – that was back before he had started therapy and needed a ear to lend. This friend turned out to be a fake and stunningly stupid, he told all these stories to his gf despite promising to keep them a secret. So now a bunch of people know about my past and judge me without knowing me, all because my bf couldn’t begin therapy when I first asked him to (several months earlier).

I know you’re gonna tell me to break up as it’s only been a few months, but is there any other angle to this? Any idea if it’s worth trying to forgive him as he’s actively working on his issues already? He’s otherwise lovely, deeply cares for me and has never done anything to hurt me intentionally.

TLDR: bf is less experienced and keeps asking me questions about my sexual past, he’s started therapy already but I fear it might be too little too late. He’s told his friend about some of my experiences too

Edit: he’s been in a relationship with 2 girls, otherwise I’m the fifth he’s slept with. Sorry if I was unclear.

Comments

  1. dappernate Avatar

    This is why you don’t talk about that shit. It doesn’t matter. You’re there now; if you’re going to date someone, you judge them by where they’re at, not where they’ve been. I’m more speaking to whoever brought it up or pushed the question.

  2. SunshinePalace Avatar

    Girl.

    I was in your exact situation for eight years. Everything you’re describing, I’ve been through.

    It’s been 17 years since I got out, and I’m STILL dealing with the damage he did to me with his behavior. Despite sooo much trauma therapy and healing, and don’t get me wrong, I’m in a good place now, but… IT. IS. NOT. WORTH IT.

    Cut your losses and get out while you still can, relatively unscathed.

    Do NOT let HIS wounds, wound YOU.

    I beg of you. Listen to me.

  3. Tall-Ad9334 Avatar

    This man is not ready for an adult relationship.

  4. Middle_Anxiety8897 Avatar

    I’ve done something similar in the past and despite how it looked and made her feel at the time I definitely appreciated her more because she did. I feel he is overly excited to understand a side you he never knew. It feels judgmental and sadly there’s no way around it. It helped me understand her better as a person. I understand decisions make, the outcome from decisions, to hear what she liked or disliked something, to dissipated insecurities. But I also tried to kept it in a calm environment which was more like a discussion than an interrogation.

  5. Complete_Hat6078 Avatar

    He’s got some work to do before he’s ready for a relationship. Some deep insecurity there and this kind of thing turns into abuse fast.
    Best you can do is make sure he’s keeping up with his therapy and you stop talking about your past since he can’t handle this information right now.