A man’s private therapy session became the unexpected beginning of the end of his relationship after his girlfriend came home early and eavesdropped on his Telehealth call.
In a Reddit post that sparked an outpouring of support and concern, the original poster (OP), user conuse___, recounted how his girlfriend listened for about 30 minutes before he realized she was home.
According to his post, she stormed out, furious over what she had heard.
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“I had been talking about our relationship, and had, in the heat of [the moment], jumped to hurtful conclusions about how people around me feel about her, which I worry I misconstrued in my speaking as dislike,” the OP explained.
“I had also been talking about our relationship, some stresses, getting everything out and just talking through it.
“She says she feels betrayed and like she was stabbed in the back over this. I feel awful, and I haven’t been able to interpret my feelings on this appropriately either, and I have been responding with anger.”
In a follow-up post two weeks later, the OP said that after reading the replies to his first post, he realized that his girlfriend shouldn’t have been listening.
He wrote, “We had an argument not long after I had made the post, [and] she blamed me for everything, said many hurtful things.
“I was leaning towards breaking up when her whole script flipped. She acted like she was in the wrong about everything, made me feel like she was going to change for the better.
“She wasn’t.”
A Toxic Relationship
Despite telling his girlfriend he wanted some time to reflect on their relationship, she ignored his wishes, and he began to recognize patterns that alarmed him.
“I realized I was in a toxic relationship, where I was cutting off my friends and family for this person that I would never be enough for,” he said.
He ultimately ended the relationship and blocked her after she showed up at his home and threatened to commit suicide.
Reddit Reacts
More than 1,000 Reddit users took to the comments across both posts to offer support and advice, with many applauding his bravery.
One wrote, “I am so proud of you for making the difficult decision, and prioritizing what is good for you over what is easy.
“Give yourself some time to process your emotions. You don’t want to go into a new relationship while any of the mistrust or betrayal you felt still lingers.
“Find your feet, and rebuild those friendships. Once you do that, you’ll be ready to start your next relationship stronger and healthier.”
Another added, “That takes a lot of strength. Good for you.”
‘I had to take a step back’
In a message to Newsweek, the OP explained, “It was a toxic, manipulative relationship that I came to terms with way too late.
“I hope she gets the help she needs, but I had to take a step back for my own mental health.
“I hope that anyone else on either side of a toxic relationship like that can see through it, and get the help they need.”
The Importance of Boundaries
The OP’s experience reflects patterns common in relationship breakdowns, including violation of personal boundaries and delayed recognition of emotional imbalance.
According to PsychCentral, persistent disregard for boundaries—like ignoring a partner’s requests for space, repeatedly dismissing their needs, or manipulating them emotionally—can be signs of deeper problems.
“If someone’s actions, beliefs, or communication feels like a boundary violation, it is important to let them know and hold your boundary,” said Therapist Katie Lorz in the PsychCentral article.
‘Stay clear, firm, and consistent’
Threats, emotional manipulation, and showing up uninvited—particularly after being asked for distance—can also signal codependent or controlling dynamics.
“Once you change your behavior, you may find that your loved one tries even harder to get you back to the way things were,” said therapist Quinelle Hickman in the same PsychCentral report.
“If you stay clear, firm, and consistent around your boundary, over time, you will see changed behavior from your loved one.”
The Tipping Point
A recent study by psychology researchers Janina Bühler and Ulrich Orth found that most couples experience a long, slow erosion in satisfaction that accelerates in the final phase of a relationship.
The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, showed that the tipping point can occur one to two years before a breakup.
“Once this terminal phase is reached, the relationship is doomed to come to an end,” Bühler told Newsweek.
Newsweek has contacted conuse___ for comment via Reddit.
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