Yes! You’re allowed to stop answering him.

What you’re describing (constant insults, criticism, control, and nasty messages) is not a “communication problem,” it’s a boundaries problem.

A few grounded options you can choose from:

Mute / stop responding: You are not obligated to stay in contact with someone who is abusive to you.

One clear boundary message (optional): “I’m not available for conversations where I’m being insulted or spoken to disrespectfully. I’ll disengage if that continues.”

Structured contact only: If you don’t want full cutoff, you can limit to text/email only and only respond when respectful.

Full no-contact (if needed): Especially if every interaction escalates or impacts your mental health.

A key reframe:

You don’t have to prove he’s being a jerk to justify distance. His behavior is already enough data.

A simple decision question:

“Do I feel more regulated or more dysregulated after contact with him?”

If the answer is consistently dysregulated, reducing or stopping contact is a valid protective choice — not a punishment.