Is this manipulation?
My Q and I broke up a few weeks ago. We dated for 8 months. He ended it bc he knew he’s not in the right headspace to be in a relationship when he’s still abusing alcohol. I agreed with him. The relationship ended before things got really messy and resentment built on both sides.
Since the breakup, he’s been reaching out a lot and wants to get back together. I told him I would love that, but that I think we should wait until he has a handle on sobriety if that’s something he even wants. Last week I told him we would need to stop talking on the phone/FaceTime unless he had a recovery plan in place as his drinking is hurting my mental and physical health. He then told me he wasn’t strong enough to quit. So I stopped talking to him. He then reached out to me twice over the last week saying that he was going to meetings (pretty sure he was lying though)
This morning he asked if we could talk on the phone this week. I told him I would love to, but I wouldn’t be able to unless he has a recovery plan in place and is feeling better about living a sober life. He told me he hates how he can’t talk to me but understands. I told him this has been hard for me too but I hope he takes the steps needed so we can talk again but it’s his decision just like how I made mine and that I loved him. He then caved and said he promises to make an action plan this week.
Is what I am doing manipulative? I am trying to state boundaries and be honest about what I need. I just don’t know if I’m working the Al Anon program correctly. Any advice would help.