How Would You Confront a Loved One Who You Think Is Taking Things From You?

United States
February 15, 2009 5:35pm CST
Ok...this is a really hard thing for me to discuss but here goes. I have been dating a man for about 1 year and we are in love but I have a problem. For a while I have been keeping track of some of my pain killers and have been noticing a few of them have gone missing. I am not 100% sure it is my boyfriend taking them but I do have a hunch. I really don't know how to handle it but I just can't ignore it anymore cuz it is bothering me. How would you approach him and what would you say???
2 people like this
9 responses
• United States
15 Feb 09
Tough call. If you accuse someone of taking something from you, you've already pretty much made up your mind that it's them. If he denies it, will you believe him? I think that's the key. If he says he didn't take them, and you don't believe him, then obviously you no longer trust him. I think before you accuse him you have to be absolutely sure, and take it from there. Good luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Feb 09
Thanks for the advise...I know I have to approach it in a way that doesn't sound like I am accusing him cuz I really am not. I don't know what I will do if he denies it I guess I will have to see what type of response he has for me. I do not believe he would ever take anything without asking so I will handle with care.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
16 Feb 09
You need to have absolute proof if you think he is taking the stuff. It's best not to go accusing him unless you have the proof. I had nearly a whole packet of strong pain killers go missing all except for the couple I remembered taking and the two that were left. Obviously, someone had taken them...the only problem with that is that I live alone!
• United States
17 Feb 09
See that seems to be my issue too. I live alone and the only time someone else is in the house is when he is here. I have been counting the pills cuz I noticed alot were missing by the outside of the bottle. I just counted them before he got here friday and when he left sunday 2 more were missing. I just don't know what is going on. We did go out on Sat night...but if someone is getting into my house that is a very scary thing for me.
• China
16 Feb 09
if i were you, i will not suspicious of my boyfriend. you should believe him even once in your mind, there is little doubt, you should deny at once. in my opinion, trust is the basis of lover getting along with each other.do you think so? so pls forget this thing and believer your boyfriend.
1 person likes this
@jbrooks0127 (2324)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Before you accuse him make sure you know he has a good reason to take them. Does he have pain that he may need them for? If not then could he know someone that needs them. Because you are not sure of this you must be careful that you do not blame the wrong person. Of course you do need to make absolutely sure that you keep track of how many you use so that there is no doubt someone else is taking them. Okay now try this. Place them somewhere that only you know where they are. Make it in a very illogical place so that whoever is doing it would never think to look there for them. This should them stop your loss. Now if he then asks you where they are you know he more than likely is involved. That is the time to confront him.
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well not knowing him it is difficult to answer but I can tell you this. Many men hate to admit, even to themselves, they have physical problems. It is possible he thinks that to admit he has pain makes him somehow less of a man and he should just not admit it. Like I say that is one possible reason why he would not feel right coming and asking. Good luck in your quest.
• United States
17 Feb 09
Thanks for the response. I know I have to be very careful with this issue. I do know he has terrible ankles so maybe he was taking them for pain but then I ask myself why wouldn't he just ask if he could have some? Plus if he isn't taking them then someone is coming in my house to get them.
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
16 Feb 09
A person just shouldn't mess with someone else's pain pills. If you think he is then he probably is what I would do is hide them. You get a certain amount to last you a certain length of time when you run out before that time to refill them your in pain and you can't do anything for it but be in pain until your allowed to refill them. You have to think of your own body, you need to start hiding them and then if he asks where they are then you'll know he has sites on them.
• United States
17 Feb 09
I have taken the time to put them in a different place and only keep so many in my regular container so we will see what happens when he comes to visit on Friday. The funny thing is I don't take them very often so I know all those didn't just disappear on me. I am very concerned.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I would approach it in a delicate way, such as asking him if he has seen any pills lying around anywhere. Tell him that you seem to have "lost" a few pills and just wonder if he has maybe seen them somewhere around the house. This gives him an out. Of course, you know that they haven't been left lying around, but it give him the opportunity to say something. If he says that he as and he threw them away or something, you could tell him that if he finds any lying around again, you would appreciate it if he gave them to you because you have them for a reason. Then, begin to keep your pills in a place where only you know they are, in your purse, in a drawer, or even locked in your car. I think he would get the hint this way.
• United States
16 Feb 09
Oh...I will have to be delicate with the way I approach him on it cuz I don't want to offend him or make him think that I don't trust him. I will be moving my meds to make sure they don't dissapear anymore. I will just have to see what heppens when I see him next time. Thanks for you advise.
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
If you do stay only in one roof, then it is really possible who else would take it, but i got a question, why in the world would you be bothered for a certain pain killer tablet taken from you? I don't get it, it is not a big deal if a friend or loved one of mine took one of tablets from the medicine cabinet like aspirin, cold medicine, pain reliever or pain killer tablet as long as it does not doctor's prescribed like anti biotics. By the way, don't you communicate easily, its just easy to ask without offending him. Besides if you are into a relationship, you should be black and white to each other. If i need something, i tell it to him, i don't hide or do it secretly so that the trust is there as well as the respect.
• United States
17 Feb 09
Well we don't live under the same roof so that is an issue. I don't care about the pills if he is taking them for pain but my concern is the type of pills. They are oxicotin and are very harmful if not taken correctly. I am open to sharing any of my things with him but I just don't understand why he wouldn't just say something if he needed to take some. I am not ready to talk to him about it yet but I know I will have to sooner or later. But I will be careful...I do feel like we can talk about anything so that is a plus.
15 Feb 09
I would ask him right out and watch carefully for his reaction. I would hope that I know my boyfriend well enough to know if he were lying to me. I would not be comfortable asking but I would not be able to stop myself.
• United States
16 Feb 09
That is so true...I would like to think I know him well enough to know if he is lying to me. The problem is he lives out of town and I now have to wait until he returns on friday to ask him. I am really nervous about it but I know it is something I have to do. Thanks for your advise.
@borgborg (821)
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
I thought you were about to say that some of your money is missing! That is indeed a hard thing to confront with! In your case, I think it would be easier if you casually bring up the topic about your pain killers. Just ask him casually if his been using your pain killers. Just as long as you don't sound so suspicious and you show him its nothing too serious then I think that will be ok!
@GemmaR (8517)
15 Feb 09
Just ask him has he seen them. Or has he taken them thinking they were his. That way it doesn't sound like an accusation in the slighest. If it's bothering you then you need to confront the situation otherwise it'l get worse and he'll think he can get away with it if it is him. Plus you need to know why it is he's doing it! Good luck :)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Well I can ask him if he has seen them or know what happened but he doesn't live with me full time so I am sure he wouldn't have taken them thinking they were his. I definately need to talk to him about it but I also know I need to approach it with care cuz I don't want him to think I am accusing him of anything...that is for sure. Thanks.