I'm 23 and I recently broke up with a guy who was 24. We dated for about 6 months but I was also acquainted with him before that. He was my first bf and the first person I ever kissed, so I didn't have very good red flag detection instincts because of my lack of experience. I also really felt like I loved him and still do. I think it's because he was really funny and did many sweet and thoughtful things for me that no one ever has, and I was very physically attracted to him as well. He had an interesting way of viewing the world that was very different from mine. Also we both opened up to each other about mental health struggles and our traumatic pasts.
But here are some horrible red flags that I overlooked. Y'all will probably think I was super dumb for ignoring these, and I was, but at least I learned my lesson:
Lied to me once and admitted to lying
Admitted to having violent fantasies about me (he didn't act on them but I was scared)
Would switch up on me unexpectedly, going from saying extremely romantic things to me to saying he hates me
Said he was attracted to my friends
Said he has been tempted to cheat before but didn't actually do it
Very obsessed with me (I didn't really have a problem with calling/texting a lot because I liked it, but he was obsessed in a creepy way because he basically made his life revolve around me. He said he got a job just to buy me things, or he would have preferred being unemployed).
Admitted to having no interests or hobbies
Criticized educational institutions a lot and while this is not a red flag in itself (I have many criticisms of them myself), he was unable to defend his arguments. Keep in mind that I'm a grad student and he doesn't have a degree. So I wonder if there was some contempt for me hidden in what he was saying.
Had a p*rn addiction and admitted it affected the way he sees me
Did not have any close friends and admitted this was his own fault because he would switch up on his friends the same way he'd switch up on me
Admitted to being insecure about his masculinity
Admitted to watching andrew tate videos, fully knowing this guy is a sex trafficker
I'm not crazy enough to ever go back to him. But I will admit I have sympathy for him. There is no excuse for him to do this to me or any other woman, but I know he has been abused in the past and that was what made him be like this. Is it wrong for me to feel bad for him because of what he went through? I definitely want him to stay away from women, including me, but I don't know how to get over him or stop loving him. Will the feelings just go away with time? I am not interested in dating other men right now because I still love him so even if it's a decent guy I won't be attracted to him right now.
Start feeling sorry for yourself and the next woman he's going to abuse. Feeling sorry for men is the reason why women end up dead. Don't be a pickme, the only person who will never betray you is yourself, be good to yourself before you are good to males.