even
Junior Member
Posts: 22
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Post by even on Aug 14, 2023 23:41:44 GMT -5
I finally had an extra-marital crush that gave me some courage to entertain the thought of a new relationship. Before I felt hopeless to find love again if leaving this sexless marriage, now I feel maybe I can. I am not saying I have to be with the current crush, who is just out of college and 17 years younger than me (feel like another joke life plays on me). But the excitement and thrill to see another man and to imagine myself in a relationship that involves sex feels I am alive again.
I talked with my husband about separation and divorce. We never had sex since I got pregnant with my firstborn. Now my daughter is four and half years old. The thought of having another 5 or 10 years sexless marriage scares me. Also, I feel like I lost the last hope to work with my husband on intimacy because of so many unfulfilled false promises. Now, my husband is giving me cold shoulders. He said he will divorce if I don’t love him anymore. I don’t know what love is now even. I tried so hard in our marriage and I loved him. I am feeling like a failure now to give up the love that I promised on our wedding day. I feel shame and guilty wanting to divorce him, even though I feel this may be the only way I can be myself in a relationship. This is so hard!
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Post by toughtiger on Aug 15, 2023 0:36:50 GMT -5
I hear you and understand your feelings like you are in the middle of a no win situation.... I do not think you should feel shame or guilt in getting out of a marriage that is not working and not what you said I do to... what about his promises made... It feels great to have a crush or someone show real interest so you know it is not you and instead is your partners issue.. we cannot fix our spouses if they do not want to be fixed or even try.... if i was younger when my spouse just announced one day taht part of our life was over ... i would have left .... you can have a healthy and happy relationship with someone else.
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Post by baza on Aug 15, 2023 2:34:40 GMT -5
Hello Sister even . Welcome to the group. These ILIASM situations are hard as you have noted, and the clock just keeps ticking until something / someone forces a resolution to the problem. And whilst the clock keeps ticking, what opportunities have you missed out on, and what opportunities might you miss out on in the future whilst you are tied ino this dud marriage ? Suggestion - See a lawyer in your jurisdiction to establish how a divorce would shake out for you. This commits you to precisely nothing, it is just you checking out the facts. You might act on those facts, or you might not, but at least you will have the relevant facts as regards your unique situation. Thats all Id suggest at this stage. Get the facts, then mull them around in your head for a bit and see what you come up with as to your next move (if any). There is no "right" answer to what you end up deciding. Leaving is a perfectly valid choice, so is staying. Me ? - Well I chose to leave back in 2009 and I have no regrets about that choice. But let me make the point that I am NOT recommending you do that. What I am suggesting is that you gather your facts, and make a pragmatic choice based on your longer term best interests. If you do that, then you can't go too far wrong. Hard and difficult choices are ahead of you Sister even , and unfortunately theres no way around that.
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even
Junior Member
Posts: 22
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Post by even on Aug 15, 2023 6:00:58 GMT -5
Hello Sister even . Welcome to the group. These ILIASM situations are hard as you have noted, and the clock just keeps ticking until something / someone forces a resolution to the problem. And whilst the clock keeps ticking, what opportunities have you missed out on, and what opportunities might you miss out on in the future whilst you are tied ino this dud marriage ? Suggestion - See a lawyer in your jurisdiction to establish how a divorce would shake out for you. This commits you to precisely nothing, it is just you checking out the facts. You might act on those facts, or you might not, but at least you will have the relevant facts as regards your unique situation. Thats all Id suggest at this stage. Get the facts, then mull them around in your head for a bit and see what you come up with as to your next move (if any). There is no "right" answer to what you end up deciding. Leaving is a perfectly valid choice, so is staying. Me ? - Well I chose to leave back in 2009 and I have no regrets about that choice. But let me make the point that I am NOT recommending you do that. What I am suggesting is that you gather your facts, and make a pragmatic choice based on your longer term best interests. If you do that, then you can't go too far wrong. Hard and difficult choices are ahead of you Sister even , and unfortunately theres no way around that. Thanks for your levelheaded input. I used to be a very emotional personal and usually made impulsive decisions. I have worked on my own emotions since the start of our marriage. I lost so much what my heart desires in this marriage since my husband had intimacy anxiety since day 1 of our dating. He does not allow me to touch him spontaneously since he has OCD about touch. He has to feel psychologically comfortable and prepared before we even hold hands. He does not want to see a psychologist since he does not have initiated action pretty much on any problems in our marriage. We have debts, but our equity in house will cancel out the debts if we selling. He is good saver and worked out of college, while I focused on higher education before marriage. We used a lot of his retirement on our daughter’s medical bills while I took off a year of work to take care of my daughter’s heath issue. I have more earning potential because of my degrees, while he is the main provider so far. I feel guilty that I would leave him financially worse than before marriage. I told him even after divorce I will make sure I will help out him on finance when I am making big money to make up the loss in retirement. I am the only child and my family usually is generous helping me out financially. So, I don’t have much worry about finance, but he does since his family would help nothing. My main concern are moral concern and concern about my daughter. I hate to see myself quitting. I also don’t want to have sex with the current crush since I feel it is unfair for him and I am scared my husband will hurt him if he knows (he is very against open marriage or me cheating and threatening to hurt the man if it happens). Because of this, I have been leading my current crush on for a while but couldn’t decide if I want more from him while I am still in this marriage. Divorce seems like the only way to get out the involuntary celibacy I am in. But my daughter… she adorns both her Dad and me. I am also scared my husband would take try a custody battle with me if he knows I am seeing another man. I have to tread very carefully because of my daughter. This forum has done great for me so far in pushing myself facing the reality in my marriage and stopping putting a bandit on until it is too late. I hate the fear and struggles I am in now, but I know it is a must.
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Post by angeleyes65 on Aug 15, 2023 8:06:56 GMT -5
I strongly suggest personal counseling to work through the guilt. I had the same issue but waited until I was out and dealing with his guilt trips. In hind sight that would have helped me so much before I left.
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Post by worksforme2 on Aug 15, 2023 8:09:05 GMT -5
Hello Sister even . Welcome to the group. These ILIASM situations are hard as you have noted, and the clock just keeps ticking until something / someone forces a resolution to the problem. And whilst the clock keeps ticking, what opportunities have you missed out on, and what opportunities might you miss out on in the future whilst you are tied ino this dud marriage ? Suggestion - See a lawyer in your jurisdiction to establish how a divorce would shake out for you. This commits you to precisely nothing, it is just you checking out the facts. You might act on those facts, or you might not, but at least you will have the relevant facts as regards your unique situation. Thats all Id suggest at this stage. Get the facts, then mull them around in your head for a bit and see what you come up with as to your next move (if any). There is no "right" answer to what you end up deciding. Leaving is a perfectly valid choice, so is staying. Me ? - Well I chose to leave back in 2009 and I have no regrets about that choice. But let me make the point that I am NOT recommending you do that. What I am suggesting is that you gather your facts, and make a pragmatic choice based on your longer term best interests. If you do that, then you can't go too far wrong. Hard and difficult choices are ahead of you Sister even , and unfortunately theres no way around that. Thanks for your levelheaded input. I used to be a very emotional personal and usually made impulsive decisions. I have worked on my own emotions since the start of our marriage. I lost so much what my heart desires in this marriage since my husband had intimacy anxiety since day 1 of our dating. He does not allow me to touch him spontaneously since he has OCD about touch. He has to feel psychologically comfortable and prepared before we even hold hands. He does not want to see a psychologist since he does not have initiated action pretty much on any problems in our marriage. We have debts, but our equity in house will cancel out the debts if we selling. He is good saver and worked out of college, while I focused on higher education before marriage. We used a lot of his retirement on our daughter’s medical bills while I took off a year of work to take care of my daughter’s heath issue. I have more earning potential because of my degrees, while he is the main provider so far. I feel guilty that I would leave him financially worse than before marriage. I told him even after divorce I will make sure I will help out him on finance when I am making big money to make up the loss in retirement. I am the only child and my family usually is generous helping me out financially. So, I don’t have much worry about finance, but he does since his family would help nothing. My main concern are moral concern and concern about my daughter. I hate to see myself quitting. I also don’t want to have sex with the current crush since I feel it is unfair for him and I am scared my husband will hurt him if he knows (he is very against open marriage or me cheating and threatening to hurt the man if it happens). Because of this, I have been leading my current crush on for a while but couldn’t decide if I want more from him while I am still in this marriage. Divorce seems like the only way to get out the involuntary celibacy I am in. But my daughter… she adorns both her Dad and me. I am also scared my husband would take try a custody battle with me if he knows I am seeing another man. I have to tread very carefully because of my daughter. This forum has done great for me so far in pushing myself facing the reality in my marriage and stopping putting a bandit on until it is too late. I hate the fear and struggles I am in now, but I know it is a must. As usual baza is correct about seeing an attorney to consult about how a divorce would shake out for you. I don't know where you live but in the US and in NC in particular the courts do not much care or have much interest in what the state of sex is in the marriage. Unless you are a sex worker a judge isn't likely to punish you for having sex outside your marriage. Having been divorced twice I have learned this the hard way. As to your H doing violence to a male friend that is probably a bluff. Just inform your H that if he should think of acting on his threat the police and the court system will be waiting for him at the end of the day. Ask him how he feels about being someone's "bitch" in prison. You could threaten to out his sexlessness to everyone if he won't "go along to get along" when it comes to your having a FWB. He might choose discreation as the better part of valor. Or remind him that he has as much to loose as you financially if he forces a divorce What you decide about opening the marriage or pursueing a divorce is your decision to make. It doesn't sound like your daughter is a young child anymore so talking to her about a possible seperation for you from her father isn't the end of the world. He will still be her father and a visitation arrangement should not be a difficult task. Perhaps shareed custody is possible. If you decide to open the marriage just be aware your H will likely find out the who and where at some point unless ihe is totally clueless. And since you have already broached the subject with him that probably isn't the case. Good luck going forward. As baza noted, you have some difficult decisions to make.
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even
Junior Member
Posts: 22
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Post by even on Aug 15, 2023 9:48:40 GMT -5
I strongly suggest personal counseling to work through the guilt. I had the same issue but waited until I was out and dealing with his guilt trips. In hind sight that would have helped me so much before I left. Thanks for the advice. Should I see a marriage counselor or personal counselor? I find myself hard to trust professional opinions, especially when it is so close to heart. How can I find a good counselor? Or maybe it is more like a process of trial-and-error.
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Post by angeleyes65 on Aug 15, 2023 11:37:46 GMT -5
I would do a personal one. You could try recommendations from friends or just reviews you can always change. I went through my work eap program so I got like 5 visits paid for after that I liked her so I used my insurance. I told her. I need help fighting the guilt. She didn't tell me anything I didn't know but hearing it from some one else. Reinforced it. Over road the negative voices.
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Post by mirrororchid on Aug 31, 2023 19:50:59 GMT -5
Thanks for your levelheaded input. I used to be a very emotional personal and usually made impulsive decisions. ... my husband had intimacy anxiety since day 1 of our dating. He does not allow me to touch him spontaneously since he has OCD about touch. He has to feel psychologically comfortable and prepared before we even hold hands. He does not want to see a psychologist since he does not have initiated action pretty much on any problems in our marriage. ...I will make sure I will help out him on finance when I am making big money to make up the loss in retirement....My main concern are moral concern and concern about my daughter. I hate to see myself quitting. I also don’t want to have sex with the current crush since I feel it is unfair for him and I am scared my husband will hurt him if he knows (he is very against open marriage or me cheating and threatening to hurt the man if it happens). Because of this, I have been leading my current crush on for a while but couldn’t decide if I want more from him while I am still in this marriage. Divorce seems like the only way to get out the involuntary celibacy I am in. But my daughter… she adores both her Dad and me. I am also scared my husband would take try a custody battle with me if he knows I am seeing another man. Sorry to hear the open marriage is a non-starter. It is so strange for him to say he'll divorce you fi you don't love him. If you do love him, he won't? WHY? Leaving on good terms is a bad thing? It seems sex is only possible if you divorce him, or your daughter's father goes to jail. Maybe you could birdnest the house? I'd suggest cooperation with an apartment or splitting the house, but his admission of violence towards any new lover? I'd be unsure he'd handle maturely if the two of them met even if you were divorced. You've got the right idea waiting for love/lust until after the ink is dry. I really like to avoid divorce talk, but your husband has made his inflexibility plain.
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Post by Apocrypha on Sept 5, 2023 12:00:09 GMT -5
He said he will divorce if I don’t love him anymore. I don’t know what love is now even. I tried so hard in our marriage and I loved him. That's a manipulative load of crap. He needs to get real. Look, you don't marry everyone you fall in love with. Falling in love with someone is just that -- falling in love. A marriage is something much more than that. If you are feeling guilt about it (which is normal), then try reframing the question. What is a marriage and how is it different from simply loving someone, or going steady? Does marriage - as you'd both envisioned and signed up for - include a sexual component? If so, do you agree you have a marriage? I think for the most part, the decision to separate is simply playing catchup with the truth of a relationship, rather than trying to lie about it. Nobody WANTS a divorce any more than people want an amputation. But that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to do it.
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even
Junior Member
Posts: 22
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Post by even on Sept 9, 2023 15:07:36 GMT -5
He said he will divorce if I don’t love him anymore. I don’t know what love is now even. I tried so hard in our marriage and I loved him. That's a manipulative load of crap. He needs to get real. Look, you don't marry everyone you fall in love with. Falling in love with someone is just that -- falling in love. A marriage is something much more than that. If you are feeling guilt about it (which is normal), then try reframing the question. What is a marriage and how is it different from simply loving someone, or going steady? Does marriage - as you'd both envisioned and signed up for - include a sexual component? If so, do you agree you have a marriage? I think for the most part, the decision to separate is simply playing catchup with the truth of a relationship, rather than trying to lie about it. Nobody WANTS a divorce any more than people want an amputation. But that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to do it. I appreciate your response. Yes, marriage must include a sexual component as I decided. The hard part is I can not go around telling people that I am in a sexless marriage (like zero sex), so eventually I am the one who is taking the social pressure as a unsatisfying or unfaithful (if I start to see other men). I am going against the uphill now, but I know it is and would be OK.
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Post by Apocrypha on Sept 12, 2023 14:55:36 GMT -5
That's a manipulative load of crap. He needs to get real. Look, you don't marry everyone you fall in love with. Falling in love with someone is just that -- falling in love. A marriage is something much more than that. If you are feeling guilt about it (which is normal), then try reframing the question. What is a marriage and how is it different from simply loving someone, or going steady? Does marriage - as you'd both envisioned and signed up for - include a sexual component? If so, do you agree you have a marriage? I think for the most part, the decision to separate is simply playing catchup with the truth of a relationship, rather than trying to lie about it. Nobody WANTS a divorce any more than people want an amputation. But that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to do it. I appreciate your response. Yes, marriage must include a sexual component as I decided. The hard part is I can not go around telling people that I am in a sexless marriage (like zero sex), so eventually I am the one who is taking the social pressure as a unsatisfying or unfaithful (if I start to see other men). I am going against the uphill now, but I know it is and would be OK. Well, in my own unhappy marriage, the person playing the role of my wife also explained that she too was in a sexually averse marriage. So, a thing you have in common is that you both are in a celibate relationship. You both are in a a relationship with a person with whom you don't want to have sex. You pose centering the missing sex component because for you - sex with your husband is something you desire, and it's something you see as a necessary part of a marriage. He poses gaslighting and manipulating and diverting about the absence of sex in the marriage because focusing on the reason for its absence would likely end the marriage. So, you both want to continue the arrangement - and for good reasons. But you are pointed in different directions on the approach. You'd likely agree, framing it this way - on what a marriage is and isn't. If you don't have a marriage, but you still value some part of the relationship, there are ways to be truthful about that that don't involve you being married.
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Post by sweetplumeria on Sept 13, 2023 9:33:23 GMT -5
He said he will divorce if I don’t love him anymore. I don’t know what love is now even. I tried so hard in our marriage and I loved him. That's a manipulative load of crap. He needs to get real. Look, you don't marry everyone you fall in love with. Falling in love with someone is just that -- falling in love. A marriage is something much more than that. If you are feeling guilt about it (which is normal), then try reframing the question. What is a marriage and how is it different from simply loving someone, or going steady? Does marriage - as you'd both envisioned and signed up for - include a sexual component? If so, do you agree you have a marriage? I think for the most part, the decision to separate is simply playing catchup with the truth of a relationship, rather than trying to lie about it. Nobody WANTS a divorce any more than people want an amputation. But that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to do it. I am so glad your still here. That last paragraph is gold!
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Post by Apocrypha on Sept 14, 2023 8:37:44 GMT -5
Hearts to you and this group. I pop in from time to time!
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