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I fear my boyfriend wishes i was different

I (22F) have only been seeing my boyfriend (23M) for a couple of months now and it’s been really good so far it’s been really fun and comfortable. However, he likes to go out and drink whereas I don’t, I suffered a trauma when drinking and I no longer engage in drinking or going out clubbing etc but there was this party with his friends for the holidays and he begged me to come with him and I wanted to be there for him so I agreed.

We get to the party and I try and mingle with people but they’re not that interested in talking to me - even his friends girlfriends talk to him rather than me, so this obviously downs my mood - we stand awkwardly in the corner and he keeps trying to get me to drink,dance,sing, take photos when he knows I struggle a lot with anxiety so I was really hesitant, every time I declined a drink etc I could feel him get more and more disappointed in me. We came home and it seemed fine but this morning he’s slowly started to show how unhappy he was that I wasn’t enjoying the party like he was, I feel really guilty but I did try my best to go and show face and have a good time but I was excluded the whole night, the atmosphere was horrible etc. I’m just worried incase he now wishes I was a party animal and that this will be the end of our relationship, any advice on what to do?

(I’ve already explained to him why I don’t drink/go clubbing etc and he’s understanding about it but he keeps offering club/nightclub etc to go to whenever we plan a date)
Reply 1
It quite a common issue, differences in attitudes to alcohol, socialising and partying. Meeting your partners friends always tends to be painful unless someone is quite extravert. So situations where it’s great being at home or going out together, but a nightmare to socialise in bigger groups do come up. All I can suggest is to try talking it through at the right moment, sharing how you both feel in these situations, and seeing if there are any accommodations on both sides that could help. Another way is to socialise separately at times when it would work better
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by Anonymous #1
I (22F) have only been seeing my boyfriend (23M) for a couple of months now and it’s been really good so far it’s been really fun and comfortable. However, he likes to go out and drink whereas I don’t, I suffered a trauma when drinking and I no longer engage in drinking or going out clubbing etc but there was this party with his friends for the holidays and he begged me to come with him and I wanted to be there for him so I agreed.

We get to the party and I try and mingle with people but they’re not that interested in talking to me - even his friends girlfriends talk to him rather than me, so this obviously downs my mood - we stand awkwardly in the corner and he keeps trying to get me to drink,dance,sing, take photos when he knows I struggle a lot with anxiety so I was really hesitant, every time I declined a drink etc I could feel him get more and more disappointed in me. We came home and it seemed fine but this morning he’s slowly started to show how unhappy he was that I wasn’t enjoying the party like he was, I feel really guilty but I did try my best to go and show face and have a good time but I was excluded the whole night, the atmosphere was horrible etc. I’m just worried incase he now wishes I was a party animal and that this will be the end of our relationship, any advice on what to do?

(I’ve already explained to him why I don’t drink/go clubbing etc and he’s understanding about it but he keeps offering club/nightclub etc to go to whenever we plan a date)


You’ve experienced a trauma and you’ve made the decision to adapt your way of finding enjoyment. That’s perfectly acceptable. You say he understands but continues to offer those environments. That to me seems contradictory.

Go and sit down over a coffee or go on a walk somewhere and discuss would be my advice. Try and explain your view but be receptive to his. You know your relationship best.

Hope it gets better for you.

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