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Relationships

DH - emotional affair with someone else - gutted!

39 replies

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 17:29

We have been married nearly 20 years and have 2 kids at primary school. I recently asked DH if there was somone else as he kept on disappearing off in the evenings for two or three hours at a time! He said there had been (he is generally incapable of lying when asked something directly) but he said it was going to end. Turns out it was an "emotional affair" - a friendship that had blossomed over the last year and had culminated, two months ago in several kissing bouts - no sex apparently (btw I do believe him re: the no sex). As far as I know there have not been any other women.

Apparently, according to his parents (who are also generally incapable of lying) he had been to see them in tears the day before I asked him if there was someone else. He was struggling with guilt and his parents urged him to break off the affair. The day after I found out he ended the affair via email and copied me in. I vaguely know who the woman is as I've met her once.

Am really struggling with my feelings over all this. Feel devastated. We had grown apart I guess but I feel so betrayed. He is sorry that it happened but somehow that doesn't seem enough - I need to feel loved by him again. I know the affair is over now and it is early days - but is it possible to rebuild things after this or for you would it result in the end of the marriage? What would you need in order to rebuild trust? I just can't think straight about it all. We are trying to rebuild things and talking things over alot (he is still here at home, I didn't kick him out) but it all seems so hard! Going to counselling helps - but is not a magic bullet!

Has anyone else come out the other end after something like this, happier with a stronger marriage (after a lot of graft obviously)? Any tips?

OP posts:
FermezLaBouche · 04/12/2012 17:34

What a knob.
Personally I feel this isn't just an emotional affair - there's been kissing and I would bet next month's pay there's been more. Having clung to a cheat before and watched myself turn into a jealous, possessive person on the verge of a breakdown, I could never forgive a cheat again. Ever. How can you ever return to a state of trust?

I really hope you get the full truth

Charbon · 04/12/2012 17:38

I've known lots of couples to get through a crisis like this and emerge with a happier, stronger marriage but only when certain factors are present.

The first is the unabridged truth and I don't think you've got that yet. It is extremely unlikely that if he has seen this woman regularly and in person, it stopped at kissing.

So you can't yet make a decision about this until you know the extent of it. Also, while you might have grown apart and have both been at fault for that, you are not to blame for your husband having a secret affair with someone else. If it's been going on for at least a year, I'm sure you did grow apart. Be careful not to assess the state of your marriage based on what it was while this affair was ongoing, because secret relationships very often cause couples to grow apart.

Xales · 04/12/2012 17:41

I hope for you that he is telling the truth, however...

He is not such a bad liar that he hasn't been developing this for the last year and only when it got deeper did you get more suspicious.

He was going to hers for 2 - 3 hours in the evenings and they were only kissing?

Sorry. From the multitude of people on this board cheaters tell the absolute minimum that they can get away with. More 'truth' is dragged out of them bit by bit.

You can't fix it. He was the one who gave himself permission to do this. You can turn yourself inside out and upside down. If he does not openly and honestly work on himself as to why he did this you will never have a strong marriage again.

I would suggest a STI check just for your own peace of mind even if you believe him and ask him to have one too as it may help to bring home how much he has done and how much he has damaged your trust.

Fairylea · 04/12/2012 17:42

It's not an emotional affair. It's an affair. Sex or not there was touching and kissing. And quite frankly if he is the type to kiss another woman and you didn't think he would I really wouldn't be too sure there was no sex. Sorry to be so blunt but consider having an std check. (I say this as someone who's ex husband left me for an ex he was with before me and he found her again on facebook after 7 years with me).

I really couldn't trust him after that... I don't think I could ever completely trust him enough to relax in the relationship.

For me it was better to divorce and meet someone else.

But I hope you make whatever decision suits you.

aftereight · 04/12/2012 18:01

Oh print, I feel your pain, my story is almost identical to yours, except I am two weeks down the line. It hurts like hell. Like yours, my H says there was kissing and touching but no sex. Like you I think that is the whole truth, but I can't ever be sure.
Have you read the Shirley Glass book? We are both reading it and it's helping me to rationalise my feelings, and H to understand just how awful the impact of his actions are. We are going to counselling, but I'm not yet able to commit to trying to make things work, I can't even look at H yet, though we are talking loads.
Take your time, don't make any decisions, and think about yourself. It's a truly awful time of year for this to happen, isn't it?

Sylvana · 04/12/2012 18:36

Sorry OP but I agree with the others, its very unlikely this was just kissing ... thats what 12 year olds get up to ffs. If it doesn't make sense, its not true. You need the whole truth here, he owes you that much. Hugs to you.

SolidGoldYESBROKEMYSPACEBAR · 04/12/2012 18:41

Married for 20 years with two young kids suggest that you and your H married very young. It's possible that you have outgrown or are in the process of outgrowing each other. Before you start making huge efforts to stop him leaving you, take the time to consider whether you actually want to keep him as your partner, or whether it's just fear of the unknown: there are worse things than being single, and one is living with a partner who would rather be with someone else but is ostentatiously being dutiful about staying.

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 19:11

Aftereight - hugs. It's shit isn't it? Thanks for tip about book.

I married him in my early 20s so, yes I was young Solid. I thought he was different from other men (ha!).

I guess at least he owned up when I asked him although I do wonder if it's the whole truth.

OP posts:
printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 19:31

Things were bad between us before he started affair. I know that doesn't give him an excuse. We were arguing lots, we are sooo different. We've never resolved our differences properly really. Guess we'd better do now or he might bugger off with someone else!

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 04/12/2012 19:33

So sorry.

I find it to believe that a year long affair didn't involve anything more than kissing.

In order for you both to be able to recover successfully, there needs to be FULL honesty and openness and he has to go to counselling to find out why he chose to have an affair instead of talking, counselling etc.

I would get these books:

www.shirleyglass.com/book.htm

www.lindajmacdonald.com/Mini-Books.html

Both are available from amazon and have helped so many people on here.

Abitwobblynow · 04/12/2012 19:47

And HE must read the books, not you.

I eventually realised we were going nowhere when I had piles of 'healing from an affair' on my side and on his side were the usual war adventure stuff.

Make that a requirement: that he must read the books, and then tell you what are in them/how they make him feel.

This test more than anything else (in my experience) lets you know the fibre of his fabric.

Charbon · 04/12/2012 19:50

Guess we'd better do now or he might bugger off with someone else!

.....is the wrong approach, I'd suggest.

If you adopt the stance that you'll now turn into superwife to stop this happening again or your husband running off with this woman, it'll ruin your self-respect, any respect your husband has for you and most of all, it doesn't work.

Instead, if you've had a difficult marriage but you've been putting up with it because it was easier than the alternative, consider this as an opportunity to end it.

If on the other hand your marriage wasn't as bad before his affair as either he or you is making out and/or you both want to rescue it, your husband needs to find out why he chose another relationship instead of confronting your joint problems - and you need to work out whether you can stay with someone who has abused everyone's trust.

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 19:51

Yes good idea Abit. He should read them.

Am also thinking about the STI testing idea! He'll love that!!!

OP posts:
printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 19:56

I also feel that he's not really sorry enough. He says he doesn't regret having the friendship with her, because he liked her company, he just deeply regrets crossing the line and kissing her.

Something doesn't sound right there does it? I think he must be missing her.

OP posts:
cpots · 04/12/2012 19:56

So sorry OP... your posting sounded so like my experience ... 23 years together 2 primary kids, even down to the 'The day after I found out he ended the affair via email and copied me in. I vaguely know who the woman is as I've met her once'.
Solid hit the nail on the head for me as well .... 'whether it's just fear of the unknown: there are worse things than being single, and one is living with a partner who would rather be with someone else but is ostentatiously being dutiful about staying. '
We tried (or should I say I!) for nearly a year until I had done all that I could to salvage something I knew in my heart was unforgiveable. He was still continuing his emotional affair the whole time!! Coward!!
3 year's on I am divorced and have never been happier, HOWEVER, it is a very hard road as many posters on here can vouch for, you need to do what is right for you and your DC ... my DC are happy, settled and are different children.
Good luck with what you decide ... big hugs xxx

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 20:03

cpots - glad its worked out for you and that DC are happy x

I just feel like someone is wringing out my insides, my stomach has been in knots for last 8 weeks.

OP posts:
Charbon · 04/12/2012 20:03

I think he sounds very emotionally attached to this woman and so the E mail was probably a sop to appease you. I don't think this is where it ends, because if there were strong feelings on both sides, an E mail is a very cowardly way of ending a relationship.

For someone who is ambivalent about staying in a marriage, or when both parties are - it's much better to have a clean break. It will destroy you if you see him grieving and I think you'll always wonder whether there has been further contact.

It's better if he thinks he's lost you right now, than thinking he's lost the OW.

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 20:10

Charbon - he did go and see her to end it properly the day after email was sent. He rang me to say he wanted to say goodbye face to face and that he was on his way, but he wanted to clear it with me first. It was in his lunchbreak. I agreed - was I mad?!!

OP posts:
Doha · 04/12/2012 20:11

Yep totally mad

printmeanicephoto · 04/12/2012 20:14

I also emailed her to tell her what I thought of her!!!! Made me feel better for a minute or two!

OP posts:
cpots · 04/12/2012 20:14

Print - I'm so sorry that you feel this way and I can't tell give you any miracle answers - he needs to be very honest with you something my ex never was Sad which made it harder for everyone!
My one bit of advice would be to really think about what YOU want in all of this, go with your gut ... stay strong x

EdithWeston · 04/12/2012 20:17

If he is severing contact, then the best way is email (or phone call with you listening in), so you know he is saying " I realised now that our relationship was wrong. I love printmeanotherphoto and am going to be making every effort to be the husband she deserves". No need to have a private meeting to say that.

He was the one in the wrong in expecting you to sanction further contact with his (possibly unconsummated) mistress.

Are you sure it's over, not just more carefully concealed? Sorry.

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Abitwobblynow · 04/12/2012 20:17

Don't be hard on yourself - you are currently shell shocked and numb. You do go along with really stupid things in this state, the rage will come later.

Again, so very very sorry you are feeling this terrible devastation I wouldn't wish on the worst most horrible woman in the world.

I think you should kick him out. It is what I should have done, watching him prefer another woman to me has left very deep scars on my heart.

Abitwobblynow · 04/12/2012 20:18

I meant to say: if he isn't around, and you don't see it, then you are showing yourself respect and you won't experience something you can never really forget.

Xales · 04/12/2012 20:18

So he told her it was over and then the next day went to see her to end it face to face. Why? Because he owed her? Because he cared about her? What about what he owed you? What about how he is supposed to care for you?

He put her feelings over yours straight away.

He lasted less than a day saying it was over and there would not be anything between them any more didn't he!

Will he need to go and see her again if she is upset or needs him?

He has to prove that you can trust him. Great way to start already going to see her the day after ending it Sad

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