Lady In Two-Year Relationship Gets Ghosted By Her Partner, Gets Revenge By Catfishing Him

A 28-year-old woman thought she was in a real, two-year relationship, until her boyfriend vanished like he never existed. One minute he was reassuring her, the next he was “dry,” disappearing without an explanation, and leaving her to stare at unanswered messages.

What made it messy was the stuff she noticed along the way: he told her he’d been single for a year, he kept downplaying her instincts, and she says they had unprotected sex while he was still dating other girls. Then, when she confronted him emotionally, he lied again, and the silence afterward felt less like a breakup and more like a setup.

So she did the only thing that would feel like control again, catfished him for revenge, and turned his own games back on him.

The OP writes

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

Sometimes, the OP had the feeling he was not that serious about her, but he kept reassuring her

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

The story of a woman who, after being ghosted by her partner of two years, resorts to catfishing him for revenge highlights a troubling trend in modern relationships. This act of retaliation is often fueled by deep feelings of betrayal and emotional pain. In a digital age where connections can be made and broken with a swipe, the impulse to reclaim power can seem justified, even if it spirals into a cycle of further emotional turmoil.

By engaging in deceit, the woman attempts to regain a sense of control, but this approach risks complicating her emotional landscape and future relationships. The consequences of such actions extend beyond the immediate satisfaction of revenge, ultimately leading to increased distress.

OP's ex lied that he had been single for a year and so on

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

And the comments from other Redditors roll in...

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

That “I was single” story kept getting repeated, even as his behavior started to feel off for OP.

Studies in social psychology reveal that revenge may provide short-term satisfaction, but it often leads to long-term negative consequences.

Individuals who engage in revenge behaviors may find themselves trapped in a cycle of negativity that hinders emotional healing.

This cycle can exacerbate feelings of anger and resentment, making it difficult to move on.

Don't try to see yourself through another person's eyes

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

Showing up to a date with someone else

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

Then the ghosting hit, and the unprotected sex plus his other dating history made it hit way harder than a normal breakup.

This is similar to the woman debating whether to give her adopted pet back to her ex, without telling her current partner.

The OP left this somewhere in the comments

The thing that got me to this is we had unprotected sex while he was dating other girls for two years. He definitely also had sex with at least one.He literally played with my health while I opened up about my feelings of him not being serious about me (it was an instinctual gut feeling). And he decided to lie to my face, saying that he actually was serious with me.I could've gotten STDs.

The OP should do that one more time

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

He suddenly turned dry without an explanation

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

While he disappeared, OP went for the revenge move, showing up as someone else instead of waiting to be chosen.

The Psychological Impact of Ghosting

Ghosting can have significant psychological effects on individuals, leading to feelings of rejection and abandonment.

Understanding these feelings is crucial for promoting emotional recovery.

This Redditor believes the OP should do it some more

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

That seems like a more reasonable move

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

By the time he turned dry and didn’t explain anything, OP’s catfish plan made his lies come with consequences.

Journaling about feelings and seeking support from friends can facilitate healing.

Additionally, practicing self-compassion can help individuals regain a sense of self-worth.

The OP should have told the ex that she did show up

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

He has done nothing but hurt himself

Reddit/LingonberryAnxious51

It seems like we've commercialized relationships, making them comparable to selecting from an endless selection of kombuchas at the grocery store. We take one that we don't like, put it back without giving a reason, and then take the next one.

Our sense of decorum has vanished, and it's not supposed to be this way. Redditors loved how the OP handled it, and they were happy the OP has realized that she was never the problem.

The tale of a woman who resorted to catfishing her partner after being ghosted is a striking reminder of the emotional turmoil that can follow a betrayal. The desire for revenge, as illustrated in this story, often stems from deep-seated feelings of pain and abandonment. When someone is abruptly cut off, it can trigger a whirlwind of unresolved emotions that lead individuals down a path of retaliatory behavior.

Rather than fostering genuine connections, the digital landscape can sometimes amplify these feelings of isolation and hurt. This narrative underscores the importance of addressing such emotional upheavals through introspection and seeking support from others. Ultimately, true healing lies in recognizing the motivations behind our actions and striving for emotional recovery rather than perpetuating a cycle of hurt.

Now he has to wonder if disappearing was the worst decision he made, because OP made sure he couldn’t ignore it.

That same ghosting tension, from “friends” vanishing on purpose, is tackled in this WIBTA dilemma.