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Relationships

husband walked out on us unexpectantly

49 replies

mamataurus · 17/02/2014 21:57

I'm in a nightmare, my DH just came home from work 3 weeks ago and announced out of the blue that he loves me but is "not in love with me" and that he has been living a lie recently. He apparantly is on a treadmill and on the road to destruction. Heres me thinking everythings fine?? he has carried on family life as usual inc sex. He just keeps saying the "connection has gone" and can't help how he feels. He just packed a bag and moved out & is staying at his brothers.

He also carried out a character assasignation on me saying that he was fed up with "carrying me" and that I don't help with the finances. I had to give work up when it became to stressful managing the boys & work.

We have had a bit of a tough time in recent years, our DS1 has ASD but presents mild. DS2 has just been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. DH has not dealt with this very well, he didn't even want to tell his family.

DH is in partnership in a business which is growing, I don't like his business partner - he is v arrogant and looks down on me. This has not helped matters, but other people have also told me they do not like him and I think he has has an influence over my DH.

In hindsight I can see that DH had become a bit distant but put it down to work pressures. I feel totally heartbroken, my Mum & Dad treated him like a son, and we went on holidays together, they are devastated.

I just sit here at this time of night just crying and missing him so much, its like he is a stranger. I feel he has robbed me of my future, as even days leading up to his departure he was talking about viewing a house in a nearby village??? I just can't make it out at all, and whats worse is that he says he feels "relief" and I feel like I've been hit by a train. Does it ever get better?

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kotinka · 17/02/2014 22:03

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tessa6 · 17/02/2014 22:06

I am so sorry, OP. Your husband has been having an affair or some kind. Please be kind to yourself and understand this is not your fault. You need to disconnect from him and find some independence so that you can regain confidence and not be gaslit by him about what he's done and who he is.

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MisForMumNotMaid · 17/02/2014 22:08

Yes it does get better. Not tomorrow or the next day, but at some point you will suddenly realise you are in control and feel happy.

My XH left very suddenly my two were 3 and 1. My elder DS has ASD and was very challenging/ less so now I understand more 7 years on.

Like with you, things seamed very normal, he was a little down I thought, but hours before he left we made Christmas plans - instigated by him, it was August.

Crying is good, better not to bottle it all up. Are your parents able to support in their state of shock?

Have you started on route to practicalities like checking out benefits sites like entitled to and amending any tax credit type award?

Just be gentle with yourself. Its early days. Its a huge shock and like it takes time to fall in love it takes time to extricate yourself from being half a couple and find your feet as an individual.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you're able to deal with a little more.

This site is great for support on all aspects, got me through many a bad day/ night.

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woodrunner · 17/02/2014 22:09

Mama, so sorry he's treated you this way. You sound lovely, and it seems from what you say that he has had a lot of stress over the past couple of years and instead of dealing with it, blames you and is running away.

Can't advise proper;y as I've not been in your situation, but please do these three things:

  1. ) Look after yourself extremely well. Eat healthily, surround yourself with people who love you and tell you how wonderful you are. Book some treats for yourself even if you feel numb about them now, try and get into the habit, even if right now you're just going through the motions, of treating yourself well, despite how he has made you feel.


2.) get financial advice asap and make sure you have access to funds for the next few months. Get immediate legal advice about money and make sure your DH knows his responsibilities towards you.

3.) Don't let him use this as a holiday from his parental responsibility. Make sure he cares for them for good lengths of time. If it suits them better, have him stay in the family home and you leave and stay with parents or friends, soon, for a weekend. Maybe this coming weekend. That may help him to see that you are not the problem, but more importantly it'll teach him that his children are still his and he must care for them.

Your own feelings will reel all over the place but try to stay civil and adult with him about his duties to his children: access and financial support. Get some intermediate plan sorted out with him for now, which includes him paying for them and seeing them for several hours and overnight at least once a week if possible.

there are lots of people on here who have probably already replied while I've been writing this, who can promise you life gets better than it ever was. I hope they reach you soon. Like I said, you sound really lovely.
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mamataurus · 17/02/2014 22:09

Thanks Kotinka, he obviously didn't think much of me did he, and I thought he did. It was hard getting work to fit around him with him being self employed he works long hours. He also blames me for not asking my parents to have the boys for weekends, so we could go away, but the way they are they fret. I can't beleive how nasty and selfish he has become.

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teaandthorazine · 17/02/2014 22:09

Sorry to hear this mamataurus.

Unfortunately he seems to be following the unfaithful husband script to the letter. It is very likely that he has been seeing someone else.

It's a very difficult and painful thing to take in. Keep talking here; you will get lots of support.

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badbaldingballerina123 · 17/02/2014 22:11

How awful . Sadly I agree that there is probably someone else .

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kotinka · 17/02/2014 22:18

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mamataurus · 17/02/2014 22:18

Wow thanks for all your replies, I've got an appointment with citizens advice tomorrow, my parents are being a great support but it's hit them hard too, I guess we are just comforting each other, as it is a loss to them to. His family are all supportive to me too, his brother is not very happy he is staying in his house.

As for finances I'm lucky that at the moment he is covering bills and mortgage, but he is going to have to find a place to rent, and is putting pressure on me to sort out any benefits I'm entitled to. He swears theres no one else. He wants to feel like a teenager again and has rambled on about going to Las Vegas?? Is it a mid life crisis.

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Boltonlass1972 · 17/02/2014 22:20

Having a soon who had mild ASD and many friends who have similar diagnoses I know that the baggage that comes with a cold with additional needs puts a strain on ones relationship. Men often don't know how to make it work if it's a change from the 'norm' and people can clash over parenting styles. Own businesses also bring their Own troubles. It may not be an affair. Love becomes a choice. Having been married for 18 years I know there are times where love is a choice and the feeling of being in love can fade..and come back. Maybe time apart might be what he needs to realise what he's missing. For your sake I hope it works out x x

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LilyBlossom14 · 17/02/2014 22:22

no not mid life crisis - I agree, following the script of an unfaithful husband to the letter. Get your benefits sorted and get yourself a good solicitor is my advice - and have as little contact with him as humanly possible.

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gamerchick · 17/02/2014 22:23

no it's another woman.

It's like they follow the same script to the letter Hmm

whenever the 'I love you but i'm not in love with you' line comes out.. I do a little shudder.

then the pulling you to bits to justify what they are doing to themselves.

Look after yourself OP.

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kotinka · 17/02/2014 22:26

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mamataurus · 17/02/2014 22:27

DS1 is 11 and DS2 is 8, DH saw them at the weekend, but it was hard for me and unfortunately I broke down and begged him to go relate but he declined saying he just wanted to move forward. What I just can't get over was that leading up to him leaving everything seemed fine. The evening before we all sat down as a family eating a meal, when boys were in bed we watched telly laughing at Benidorm, then went to bed. Next morning he got up as normal kissed me goodbye, then comes home and drops the bombshell. Why would anyone do that? how can you hurt someone like that without any warning, any psychologists about??

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kotinka · 17/02/2014 22:29

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LilyBlossom14 · 17/02/2014 22:30

so sorry op - it is horrid us saying there is an OW - but there normally is. And unwilling to go for counselling, more proof he has emotionally left you, he has prob been planning this for months. Shock to you, he has come to terms with this and is ready to move on.

He has done it because he is selfish and entitled. And he justifies it by saying he only stayed for the children, and by tearing you apart and pretending it is your fault (it isn't btw).

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chateauferret · 17/02/2014 22:32

Yep - that line means "I am a duplicitous twat and a selfish bastard; you are surplus to requirements now because I'm shagging someone else".

It will all go wrong for him when the ow realises that he will just as readily fuck her over too. He may then come crawling back. Be ready to slam the door in his face and leave him to drown in his own shite.

Bastard.

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Absolutelylost · 17/02/2014 22:33

This sounds a carbon copy of what happened in our house last summer. My DH didn't have an OW lined up but was definitely showing interest in other women generally. It may well be that your DH does have someone in the background, it's certainly happening to other women on this board currently. I was as floored as you obviously are and I had the most horrendous year but we are now tentatively reconciling.

Other people around me don't necessarily see it the same way I did but I believe my DH in effect had a complete stress breakdown and needed to completely get away.

He financially supported me and the family completely during this time, I controlled all the finances and gave him an allowance from his salary. He had a heart attack three weeks after he moved out, largely stress induced, and whilst he physically recovered, he needed more time to get his head around that.

With encouragement from MN, I stood firm against many aspects of his behaviour although I didn't feel like it at all. After 6 months, he asked about coming home. We've got a lot to sort out and but the balance of our relationship is much more healthy. I've grown a lot in the last few months.

Anyway, that's my experience. I wish you well OP. Take all the support you can and be kind to yourself.

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MisForMumNotMaid · 17/02/2014 22:34

I'm afraid i believe theres another women too. Its the duplicity thing. Initially their double life lie is because its not serious then because its habit. Thats why it comes as such a shock.

I'm so glad you have your family and that you have good relations with your BIL.

Citizens advise will be a great start. Take notes or a friend who'll take them because there's so much to get your head around in the early days. Its easier to write it out as a list and work through one step at a time.

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mamataurus · 17/02/2014 22:36

Well if it is another woman at least I will have an answer, but he stongly denies it, just keeps saying that somewhere along the line he has lost that connection with me. I try to keep busy during the day, but it's in the night when it just keeps going round and round in my head. I think he has never come to terms with the boys' diagnosis, and I just wish I had tackled that earlier on, but I have trod on eggshells around him.

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tessa6 · 18/02/2014 00:21

He will strongly deny it. All cheaters deny or minimize hugely. Don't drive yourself mad asking him. Snoop and research quietly if you can and you want to know. You have to detach and accept that he is not going to give you the full picture of this. You have one or two pieces of a jigsaw, he is hiding the rest. You are not going mad.

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kotinka · 18/02/2014 00:24

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tessa6 · 18/02/2014 00:26

Absolutely, good luck and I'm thinking about you. You sound really bright and strong and lovely.

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SadFreak · 18/02/2014 00:34

I am so sorry you are going through this.

Right now is probably the worse it will be. It will get better.

I am a 5 weeks on from a nasty bombshell that screwed up my marriage. I am still nowhere near my normal self but I am feeling slightly better than I did.

Try and keep your strength up. Eat healthily if you can and sleep when you can. I still cant sleep at night but do let myself cat nap/drop off on the sofa on an evening (something i would never have done before).

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Offred · 18/02/2014 00:37

I also think there is probably someone he has his eye on at least.

CAB is a good move for you, make sure you make yourself as financially secure as you can and do speak to CSA about child support sooner rather than later as they can only deal with a claim from the date you contact them. Don't wait until he starts messing you around to contact them.

I really feel for you but agree crying is good. It is also good for him to leave, although it won't seem like it now. Your life will be much improved when you come through this pain for not having been lumbered with his dead weight.

This is not the end of your life as you know it but the start of something better and hopefully happier.

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