Bf cheated and hes depressed

so it was discovered by boyfriend cheated on me. not in person but he paid girls over snapchat for nudes. ever since, he blamed it on being depressed and never really gave me the full story and gets frustrated whenever i bring it up. ever since, over text he’s just been short and how he is SO depressed and suicidal. it feels like he’s not really giving me a chance to be sad. whenever i express to him i’m sad about it he calls himself a piece of shit who deserves nothing and that he’s depressed and is sorry. i just don’t know what to do or how to go about this? i’m the one who took him back and is giving him another chance and i’m the one asking to hangout and make plans.. i just look like an idiot or at least i feel the way. i’m completely heartbroken he did that to me but i’m willing to forgive him and he knows i’m gonna be sad about this for awhile but he’s just done a 180 and is acting so so depressed. when he’s the one cheating on me. i don’t know why he’s doing this. any thoughts or suggestions on what i should do?

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Based on 18 votes (1 yes)
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Comments ( 50 )
  • Mini69

    Get rid. He sounds horrible, why would he want to pay for nude pictures of other women when he has you.

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    • he says he doesn’t know why and doesn’t have an explanation. he’s just depressed

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  • RoseIsabella

    I would dump him if I were in your shoes. I could wrong, but it looks like he's trying to emotionally blackmail you. He's using his so called depression, and suicidality to manipulate you. Sorry, girlfriend, but I don't trust this guy, and you shouldn't either!

    You seem like a nice, decent girl, and you deserve better than this piece of shit, two-timing scumbag! This guy is wasting your precious time.

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    • thank you. i think he may be trying to blame shift and play the victim. but i also don’t want to say his depression or suicidal thoughts aren’t valid. i love him as i don’t want anything bad to happen but i just want him to acknowledge how i may be feeling without always saying he’s depressed

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      • RoseIsabella

        He's not gonna change, people don't change. Once a cheater always a cheater. Break up with him, and when he threatens to kill himself call 911! Some time in a psychiatric ward ought to straighten him out.

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      • bbrown95

        Honestly, I think that's exactly what he's doing, and it's extremely manipulative.

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        • what is he doing?

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          • bbrown95

            He is using this "depression" thing as a way to avoid responsibility for his actions, trying to guilt you with it every time you bring it up or feel bad about being cheated on, and seems to have only started putting on this show since he was caught (is that correct?).

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            • he’s been saying he’s stressed and depressed for a few months, since the cheating has started i assume. but ever since he got caught, it’s been worse and he’s been suicidal apparently. there’s also more information that has come out that i know about but i haven’t disclosed it with him that i know

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    • Somenormie

      Exactly my thoughts, if OP is old enough ( I assume they are. ), they should also cut every tie with that guy.

      They shouldn't feel sympathy either.

      If anything I wish horrible people like that could be removed from earth, I would move them far away as possible.

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      • RoseIsabella

        P.S. This type of manipulation is so awful, and unfair, because it just hijacks the situation, and denies the truly injured party the right to their own emotion/grief/tears. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a narcissist move.

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        • yeah. 100%. just sucks. and i feel bad if i get randomly sad about it around him because he then just says he’s a fuck up and gets upset with himself

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          • RoseIsabella

            Tell him you need space.

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      • you don’t think i should feel sympathy for his depression?

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      • RoseIsabella

        I think one of the keys here is that it's really messed up for someone do something really shitty, then cry about it, and threaten to kill themselves if their partner leaves. I'm pretty sure the whole maneuver is a Cluster B personality disorder move.

        I'm not saying that there aren't people out there who are creepin around on the down low, thinkin they're slick, and everything is fine until BAM they're found out, and they're partner wants to leave with good reason. The thing that gets me is that the person is using emotional blackmail to try to keep someone they've done wrong from leaving them, because on some deep level the perpetrator thinks they don't deserve to have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Everyone has to deal with consequences for their actions, that's just reality!

        I'm always gonna feel that the best move when someone threatens to kill themselves is to call 911, because then that person is gonna end up in a place where they can get help. Regardless of whether the person is using the threats of suicide as a manipulation tool, or the person is genuinely suicidal that person is still gravely in need of psychiatric help.

        Don't get me wrong, it's not like I haven't had my share of crazy drama in my life, but it has actually helped me whenever I've gotten help. The stigma about mental illness, and getting help does nothing to help, all it does is force people to live a double life, and live a lie.

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        • thank you. i just don’t get why he can’t confess and take all of this off his back. instead he continues to lie and say he “doesn’t remember”

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    • btw, you probably remember me. i’m the girl that had that toxic 28 year old boyfriend that was addicted to drugs and was abusive. thought i upgraded after i left him but turns out this guy is heading down that road

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      • litelander8

        Dude. You need to learn how to be single.

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      • RoseIsabella

        Leave him, honey!

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  • GeekyGold

    Depression doesn’t make people cheat, being a disloyal, insensitive and selfish jerk does. Run while you still can girl. Even if he is depressed or suicidal, this doesn’t excuse that he is being emotionally manipulative. I may not know you but even I know you don’t deserve that.

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    • i just feel bad if he’s depressed or suicidal. i feel like i have to tell him i feel sorry for him otherwise i’m a heartless asshole. bc i forgave him and i want to work on it.

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      • GeekyGold

        You’re not being heartless though, a heartless person wouldn’t care but you do. Is he even seeking or getting professional help?

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        • he said today that he doesn’t want me coming over because he’s depressed and doesn’t wanna lash out at me. he says he’s gonna call a hotline tonight and says he wants to see a therapist but who knows if that’ll even happen.

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          • GeekyGold

            I see. Ok well I recommend helping him find a therapist. Now when you find one it’s up to him if he wants to really go through with the commitment. Hopefully he does but if he doesn’t and uses some excuse not to go, then it’s easy to assume he doesn’t want help. That’s when you should know it’s best for you to leave him. I can understand you want to help and you do feel bad for him, but it is impossible to help someone when they don’t want it. Plus, you need to think about yourself because he already proven he thinks about him and someone needs to think about you.

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  • megadriver

    When you're depressed your sex drive is low. You might drink and smoke a lot more, but anyone who knows what real depression is knows the last thing you wanna do while feeling down is have sex.

    Guy's lying and sounds like a POS! Dump him. I hope you find a normal man and not another abusive dick.

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  • SwickDinging

    Break up with him, and then block him on social media.

    He will have to turn to someone else for support for his mental health issues. They are not your responsibility and it is nothing to do with you.

    Life can be so much better than this. Don't put up with this sort of shit from people.

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  • Tommythecaty

    “ever since, he blamed it on being depressed”

    He is being nothing but manipulative, but is not experienced enough to be good at it. It’s not even close to a plausible excuse.

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    • so i shouldn’t feel bad for him?

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      • Tommythecaty

        Not for that shit. I mean it has nothing to do with being depressed, not a thing.

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  • radar

    He's manipulating you. He may or may not genuinely be depressed, but even if he is that's not why he was looking at those pics, and he's still a manipulative asshole for trying to use depression to get his way.

    If he has an ounce of goodness in him and actually values you, leaving will shock him into realizing what a dick he's been and hopefully he will experience some personal growth and humility. Either way you're better off not being in this kind of relationship.

    I really would listen to the people who said you need to learn how to be single. As someone with similar tendencies I can say this from experience, you need to stop worrying about him and start worrying way more about yourself. I don't think jerks feel cared about and seen when you act like this, I think it causes them to see you as someone beneath them that they can treat like shit and probably get away with it for a good long while. There's a difference between being cruel and having a backbone. Backbones are good for everyone involved, always.

    Good luck.

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    • i just love him and i feel bad he’s depressed and suicidal.

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      • radar

        Exactly, this is what he wants. You want him to be happy, and he wants you to feel bad.

        I can almost guarantee as soon as you leave the room he's jumping around singing opera, with about 20 tabs open on his browser of various girls he is asking for nudes.

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        • even though he said he wouldn’t do it again?

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          • radar

            Yes, absolutely. There are people who have zero qualms about lying straight to your face. They are often the same people who do the kinds of things your boyfriend has done. And they don't change because they don't care, they have no reason to when they're already getting what they want. Which is to be able to do whatever they want, whenever they want to, with no consequences.

            You are not only giving him no consequences, you are doting on him even more for being an absolute horse's ass. Now he knows he can pull just about anything over on you and you'll add another flower to his breakfast in bed tray.

            What does your ideal relationship look like? How would your ideal boyfriend treat you? I bet it's not like this.

            There are guys out there who are worth caring this much about and would do the same for you. He isn't one of them.

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  • mafioso

    He is playing with you. Please break up with him and block him on all channels at least for few month to not give him a chance to manipulate you...

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    • why a few months?

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      • mafioso

        For him to get over it

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  • olderdude-xx

    Here is the question that will really help the two of you resolve the issue. Why was he looking at nudes (and other girly pictures).

    Is it ( one, or a combination of):
    1) Believes some bodies are beautiful (the artistic possibility).
    2) Is attracted to mental possibilities (the mental fantasy possibility).
    3) Other possibilities to masturbate to (non-contact sexual act possibility).
    4) Is actually looking for a real life partner for sex - other than you (in-person sexual act/ other relationship possibility).
    5) Other (and find out).

    Human sexuality is complex, and most men engage in at least 3 of the above at different points in their lives. Some females also do the same (although usually fewer of the list).

    It's also time that both of you start acting as adults and recognize that its extremely rare for a single other person to satisfy all of a persons mental and physical sexual interest and needs.

    Part of making a relationship work - is knowing that it is in fact normal for the other person to have some level of attractiveness to other people in their sexual interest group.

    In my case, and in my marriage (and all other relationships in a long time) we have actually talked about each others sexual interests and fantasies; and were OK with the other person having them - as long as they primarily filled the sexual act part between each other unless there was specific pre-approval for another between us (poly - with permission relationships are a well known subset of relationships).

    When I met my wife (from Eastern Europe) and after we went through 2 art museums her serious question was "where are all the nudes?" In Europe the art museums often have 20% or more of many groups of artwork being nudes (including the Vatican Art Museums).

    I then showed her my personal collection of artistic nude pictures I had collected from the web. She really liked some of them.

    We've discussed our other fantasies, a bit about what we masturbate to when we feel we need that, and our most romantic and sexy dream of meeting someone else. We both understand these things are normal. We have also set some limits and given some permissions for certain things. Each couple will vary on what those limits and permissions are.

    But, real adults discuss these things, understand that they are normal, and set rules, limits, and permissions.

    I will also offer this: Our wedding vows did not involve sexual faithfulness. We've both seen situations in life that no one expected and understand how many relationships have been destroyed by lies about sex. So neither of us have to lie.

    We did have an expectation that we would be faithful unless we were in a survival situation (people who pair up often survive better than those that don't: and its best to have your partner come home someday in the best condition they can... and just not worry about who they slept with - and even potential children: We can make that work when they get home safely); or if one of us was sexually unavailable to another for an extended period of time (we don't expect people with sex drives to somehow become asexual if the other is not there to support them).

    Our actual wedding vows were:
    1) "Honesty in all things (except where there is a surprise party or similar coming up).
    2) "No issue or situation cannot be resolved if identified in a timely manner to the other partner, and dealt with compassion for the other person and their situation."

    Everything else was expectations... and expectations can be changed if conditions or the situation warrants it.

    While we did have an initial expectation on sexual faithfulness. Problems developed (but no acts with others occurred), and after 6 months in counseling and learning a lot more about ourselves and each other... Both of us learned things about us and each other that we never suspected. With the new understanding about who we really were; the fact that we had not lied to each other, we didn't know: big difference; and the fact that everything else was good in our relationship - we changed that expectation to allow other partners (with rules).

    Other people would decide different outcome. Note: I've very tired of people who tell us that we should have divorced so we would not violate our marriage. My wife and I believe marriage is about working out issues and problems - not running from them and violating our commitment to love, care, and cherish each other (we didn't get married to have sex - we got married for a lot of other reasons).

    Just something to think about.

    I suggest you start a real conversation with your BF on these kinds of issues - and learn to accept that yes, he will look at and think about other woman... That is normal for him. You will also likely think about other men at times as well. Again normal.

    Mature people don't have to hide these things from each other, and its just life.

    My wife even at times points out other ladies that fit my profile... she knows I will be looking at anyway; and also that my personal standards are very high and take time to learn and know the other lady - and its part of the way she acknowledges who I am... and I love her very much for that. At times I've told here that where she is heading meets her personal sexual fantasy about another... and its OK to look for him there (her standards are high as well)... She really smiles at me during those times. It's OK to have those dreams and desires... and its normal to acknowledge them.

    I wish you well with this,

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    • thank you for your taking the time to write this. i appreciate it. xx

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      • olderdude-xx

        Also; I suggest that you get 2 copies of: The 5 Love Languages by Gary Champman. There are versions for teenagers, seniors, and other key population segments. Get the one that appropriate for the two of you.

        Each of you get your own book to read - and work through.

        That will assist you to learn how to really make relationships work... and why many of your past ones failed - for the men that you are interested in.

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      • olderdude-xx

        You are welcome. Reread it - I have done a few minor edits you may not have seen.

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  • S0UNDS_WEIRD

    Did you cheat on him before?

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    • never

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      • S0UNDS_WEIRD

        Then just leave him.

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  • UPDATE FROM OP:
    i found out from a girl that messaged me that he also made a BUMBlE to search for sugar babies. and planned to get a hotel room and meet up and texted her for awhile.

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  • raisinbran

    All he did was pay for pictures.

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    • that’s cheating

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      • raisinbran

        not really, it's just porn

        you should still break up with him though, for being a manipulative little bitch

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        • actually i just found out, he made a bumble and planned on meeting up with girls. cheating now?

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          • raisinbran

            yeah that's cheating

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