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BF Keeps Forgetting GF And Repeating Conversations, Internet Spots A Scary Pattern She Missed
Living with your partner long enough usually means you might be able to finish each other’s sentences, argue about the same three household chores, and unlock each other’s phones without even thinking about it. That’s relationship autopilot.
However, what happens when that autopilot suddenly feels manual? Like someone is following instructions instead of feelings. Today’s Original Poster (OP) has started getting disturbed after noticing that her boyfriend seemed less like he remembered her, and more like he was actively studying her.
More info: Reddit
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Some relationship oddities are cute, but sometimes, something comes along that makes your heart skip a beat, and not in a good way
Image credits: wavebreakmedia_micro / Freepik (not the actual photo)
The author shared that she unlocked her boyfriend’s phone without hesitation when he forgot his password, a moment that seemed harmless at first
Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Small, unusual behaviors started like when he misused her name once, then avoided using it entirely, and began asking overly cautious questions
Image credits: zinkevych / Freepik (not the actual photo)
He obsessively checked old messages and photos, repeated conversations back to her, and watched her mouth while she spoke
Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
She noticed he also began subtly copying her gestures, speech patterns, and habits, and his personality seemed different when his phone wasn’t nearby
Image credits: Mathematic_nut
These patterns left her feeling confused and also led her to feel like her existence was preserved only in his phone
The OP shared that she and her boyfriend had been together over a year and lived together. However, few weeks ago her boyfriend “forgot” his phone password and she unlocked it instantly, without thinking. At the time, it felt like nothing especially since they laughed about it.
Soon after, subtle changes started creeping in. Her boyfriend accidentally called her by the wrong name, one that used to be a joke between them, and began to avoid using her name altogether. Their conversations felt rehearsed, and he began asking questions that sounded thoughtful but felt oddly scripted.
What made it worse was his reaction when he would ask questions, and her answers were slightly different. He was also constantly on his phone, but not doom-scrolling, no he was studying old messages and photos, scrolling back to the beginning of their relationship. When she would ask him why, he would say he was “reminiscing”, but would say it with serious focus.
Uneasy with it all, she asked him how they met and she realized that he had memorized his response. The most disturbing part was that he also began subtly copying her phrases, posture, even how she drank water. Sometimes he’d repeat her sentences out loud when alone, like practice. Without his phone, he seemed lost, and this left her feeling as though she only existed in his phone.
Image credits: Wavebreak Media / Freepik (not the actual photo)
When viewed through a research lens, several of the boyfriend’s behaviors in the story closely mirror patterns documented by medical and psychological experts. According to the Cleveland Clinic, people who often rely heavily on external tools such as notes, photos, text messages, and smartphone apps to function daily might be dealing with anterograde amnesia which is an inability to form new memories.
This reliance on external memory is often accompanied by constant verification. In fact, Alzheimer’s Society explains that excessive confirmation-seeking like repeatedly asking if details are “still” correct or double-checking familiar information, can stem from memory uncertainty or anxiety-driven recall difficulties.
Additionally, the boyfriend’s subtle imitation of his partner adds another layer of concern. According to Parade, behavioral mirroring is typically a subconscious and healthy sign of connection, driven by mirror neurons that support empathy and bonding. However, when mirroring becomes deliberate, repetitive, or paired with intense observation, it may point to neurological or cognitive issues.
Netizens were alarmed and urged the OP to seek immediate medical attention for her boyfriend, suggesting he might be dealing with a brain tumor. What would you do if you were in the OP’s shoes? If you noticed your partner avoiding your name or repeating conversations, would you seek help or wait it out? We would love to know your thoughts!
Netizens stressed that the author should take action as these behaviors could indicate a significant neurological or medical issue
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What do you think ?
KatSaidThat 3 days ago
I don't know whether or not I want this to be a brain tumour so it makes sense, but then he has a brain tumour.
Binky Melnik 3 days ago
I also thought of the man who was convinced his wife was pregnant and then he was dеad in four months. Maybe it’s a benign tumor and he can be returned to normal. A friend of mine put on 350 pounds in six months without having changed his eating patterns. That was a tumor, too, but as soon as it was removed, the weight fell off and he returned to normal. I’m hoping that’s what this is, though I’m also remembering that after my mom’s brain surgery for multiple aneurysms, she began to believe that my sister, who was taking care of her and who my mom loved more than life itself, had been replaced by an exact replica of my sister, and this terrified my mom. (Much later, I read about the same happening to a race car driver who’d been in a horrific accident.) After a couple years, it resolved itself, but my poor ma was scared to death of my sister’s replica. Maybe OP will hafta go through a frightful period before getting him back, but I’m really hoping she does get him back!
Load More Replies...
Anna Drever 1 day ago
If it’s not a brain tumour, and I would hope not, sometimes depression and anxiety can scramble your brain. I have my mother with depression and possibly the beginnings of dementia living with us, and I myself have been dealing with anxiety because of it. Now that I know what it is it’s a lot easier to deal with but at its worst I found it hard to concentrate and hard to understand things I was reading, like news stories. I’d go over and over the same paragraphs and nothing made sense. Playing card games that I’m a wizz at took me 10 times as long to solve. So my vote might be depression or anxiety. Maybe.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
Oh, that's scary. I thought at first that maybe he was cheating and trying to make sure he didn't confuse OP with the other woman. But it didn't take long to realize that he's got something severely wrong going on in his head either physically (like a tumor everyone kept mentioning) or a mental illness. Even d.rug a.b.use can cause those kinds of problems.
Shelley Colleen 1 day ago (edited)
I'm a pretty normal person living a pretty uneventful life, but I personally know three different, unrelated humans who've dealt with brain tumors. One died quickly (glioblastoma) but the other two have had great success with surgery and treatment! It's not hard to imagine that a 21 year old would try to fix themself on their own. I just really hope this young woman is able to get him to see reason.
Catherine Kane 2 days ago
because even if there's no update, it may be a headsup for someone going through the same kind of thing
Load More Replies... KatSaidThat 3 days ago
I don't know whether or not I want this to be a brain tumour so it makes sense, but then he has a brain tumour.
Binky Melnik 3 days ago
I also thought of the man who was convinced his wife was pregnant and then he was dеad in four months. Maybe it’s a benign tumor and he can be returned to normal. A friend of mine put on 350 pounds in six months without having changed his eating patterns. That was a tumor, too, but as soon as it was removed, the weight fell off and he returned to normal. I’m hoping that’s what this is, though I’m also remembering that after my mom’s brain surgery for multiple aneurysms, she began to believe that my sister, who was taking care of her and who my mom loved more than life itself, had been replaced by an exact replica of my sister, and this terrified my mom. (Much later, I read about the same happening to a race car driver who’d been in a horrific accident.) After a couple years, it resolved itself, but my poor ma was scared to death of my sister’s replica. Maybe OP will hafta go through a frightful period before getting him back, but I’m really hoping she does get him back!
Load More Replies... Anna Drever 1 day ago
If it’s not a brain tumour, and I would hope not, sometimes depression and anxiety can scramble your brain. I have my mother with depression and possibly the beginnings of dementia living with us, and I myself have been dealing with anxiety because of it. Now that I know what it is it’s a lot easier to deal with but at its worst I found it hard to concentrate and hard to understand things I was reading, like news stories. I’d go over and over the same paragraphs and nothing made sense. Playing card games that I’m a wizz at took me 10 times as long to solve. So my vote might be depression or anxiety. Maybe.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
Oh, that's scary. I thought at first that maybe he was cheating and trying to make sure he didn't confuse OP with the other woman. But it didn't take long to realize that he's got something severely wrong going on in his head either physically (like a tumor everyone kept mentioning) or a mental illness. Even d.rug a.b.use can cause those kinds of problems.
Shelley Colleen 1 day ago (edited)
I'm a pretty normal person living a pretty uneventful life, but I personally know three different, unrelated humans who've dealt with brain tumors. One died quickly (glioblastoma) but the other two have had great success with surgery and treatment! It's not hard to imagine that a 21 year old would try to fix themself on their own. I just really hope this young woman is able to get him to see reason.
Catherine Kane 2 days ago
because even if there's no update, it may be a headsup for someone going through the same kind of thing
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