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Build up my self-confidence....

5 replies

harryd0esntmind · 23/01/2019 17:28

Regular poster on the TTC boards, but have NC'd for this.

Really need a hand-hold/cuddle.

My self-esteem has completely deteriorated over the past two years.

I left a well-paying role in a company I loved to take a huge pay cut and work remotely as my fiance's (now DH's) was offered a promotion in a different part of the country (his hometown).
I was really keen to take the role as was playing sport to semi-pro level and this new role offered me the freedom to train more and hopefully go professional.
6 months in, so 18 months ago, I suffered an injury and which I have no chance of recovering from. I can still compete at a low-level, but I don't get any enjoyment/satisfaction from this.
Since DH's promotion, his sex drive has completely and utterly deteriorated. He says he's too stressed/tired and I absolutely haven't pushed him on that.
We got married in July and talked about starting a family. We dtd twice on our honeymoon, once in October and by absolute luck, fell pg.
It sounds so cliched but it actually was the happiest moment of my life when I saw that +ive. I finally felt like I had a purpose.
We had an early scan at 6+5, saw a heartbeat, and then at 8, I miscarried.
DH was devastated, genuinely, and promised me we'd do everything we can to ensure we fall pg again as soon as we can.
That was December. In that time, we've dtd once, outside of the FW.

Last night, I completely broke down and told him just how much of a failure I feel like. I'm not feeling successful in my job, I've lost my sport, I've lost my baby, I don't feel wanted by him...

He told me he's doing everything he can for me to fall pregnant again, and told me to just be patient and that it takes some people years to fall pregnant. He absolutely did not understand that we will fall into that category because we are not having any sex. He said that he's trying his best but apparently that's not good enough for me.

I'm 25, I'm a size 6. I make an effort with my appearance, even though I'm WTF and we have animals, I put make up and sort my hair out everyday. I try to keep the house immaculate (to help with my anxiety), dinner is always on the table when he walks in (he works longer hours than me, and he's an awful cook). I've asked him outright if he still finds me attractive, which he dismisses.

Our relationship is otherwise great. I am 99.9% certain he's not having an affair.

In RL, on the outside, I am happy and bubbly and confident. No one would suspect for a minute how unhappy I am. The only time I genuinely feel really happy is when I'm reading a book or walking my dogs. I understand that the more depressed I feel, the more unattractive/needy I become which is only going to push me further down.

So, my question is, what can I do to make myself feel better? How can I rebuild my self-confidence and my self-esteem? I want to be able to look in the mirror and not be so upset with what I see.

OP posts:
Lweji · 23/01/2019 17:42

I think there are two aspects to this.
On one, it seems like you're struggling to find yourself after some changes (work and sport). Is it possible that you expected a baby to replace work and sport as giving meaning to your life? I'd reassess both and try to find something that really interested you.

OTOH, you have your OH. Him being overworked is not good, even not considering the issue of sex, it can't be good for the relationship or his health. He needs to take stock too and reduce his work load. Is it really worth it?

Otterses · 23/01/2019 17:44

Oh OP. You know there's nothing wrong with you, don't you?

Your post screams to me that you do absolutely fuck all for you, everything seems to be to please your DH.

You don't seem to mention any friends? Have you gotten out much since moving with your DH?

This is no criticism Thanks I've been in the exactly in the same position as you.

harryd0esntmind · 23/01/2019 17:53

@Lweji I haven't even considered there being two aspects, as everything feels so heavy and hard to prize apart.
I think that's really accurate. I needed the baby to fill a void and now I feel like that's gone. I go to the gym, I have a few hobbies, but I can't find anything I am so passionate about.
He loves his job, he loves the people he works with. The role also took him back to his home town (high unemployment area) with a huge salary, so for him it's the best of both worlds. I can't see him leaving and in honesty, I wouldn't want him to.

Thank you @otterses, I know that deep down, but I can't seem to believe it. I feel like everything is my fault, and I am just a huge failure. And when I'm in that mindset, I can't seem to shake it.

I do have a couple of friends I've made in the area, through low-level sport - I'm actually going out tonight - but part of me is dreading it. I have no motivation to go and do anything.

And I hate myself for that.

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Otterses · 23/01/2019 18:03

OP, I felt like a failure when it happened to me too. I really, really struggled.

I think what actually helped me the most was finding a job outside of the home that I wanted to go to. It gave me 8 hours a day where I wasn't thinking about the miscarriage, and I think it helped me work through it all in a way. Even if you keep your remote role, is there any scope to maybe get a part time job somewhere?

Please be kind to yourself. Marrying, moving and losing a baby in such a short space of time is massive. I also think maybe counselling could help you work through it all Sad baby aside, you've lost a huge part of your life through injury, and I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating that feels. You need time to grieve that.

harryd0esntmind · 23/01/2019 18:29

@Otterses I did actually spend some time coaching, before I fell pg. I might consider restarting, that's a good idea. I work 60+hrs a week so getting a pt job as much as it's appealing, may be a bit much.

I did seek counselling after my injury but I didn't really find it helped. My perspective was very much, "this has happened, I can't change anything" which is perhaps too narrow minded... I will look into it again.

I've suggested to dh couples counselling but he refuses to accept that he have a problem. It's so frustrating...

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