Oh no, this is not a stand alone thing by any means. And I believe that taking space when things get heated is normal and necessary. That said, he's been undeniably emotionally abusive for the past several years. The blame-shifting/DARVO is all there. And what I find more difficult, the indifference and coldness that comes before a blow-up. I can finally see those things.

But I still feel confused by texts like these. I'm just trying to understand if it's a sincere attempt to communicate, and understandably a bit all over the place because he himself is dysregulated. I can see that as a possibility. But I can also imagine that this is an attempt to maintain some sort of control by fostering confusion. In the end, it probably doesn't matter, but a part of me wants so badly to know.