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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel totally deflated by husband

116 replies

Mintsmints · 30/04/2021 00:31

Over the past six months I have had depression and have felt totally down about myself. This has followed a period of depression suffered by my husband. He is still on anti depressants that have killed his sex drive (not that he had a huge one anyway). We have not had sex in 5 months. This has been hard for me as I feel a bit unloved but I have not said anything and he has thanked me for understanding.
Anyway I have been feeling much better and have started to take care of my appearance more and dressing nicer for my own self esteem but also to try and get my DH to notice.

A few days ago I made I comment about buying some nice underwear from Marks and spencer and my DH said with a glint in his eye and a cheeky grin that I could try Anne Summers. He had always loved me wearing sexy underwear, anyway I laughed and said that Marks has some pretty sexy pieces as well. Anyway I order some from Anne Summers and Marks and Spencer.

The Anne summers came today so I decided to put them on to give DH a surprise when he came in from work and for the first time in ages I feel sexy. Anyway for circumstances out of his control he was very late and I ended up getting chances as DS was due home.

As we were making tea I said to gage his reaction that I had been waiting for him in sexy underwear and it made me feel really sexy and I can’t wait to show him. He gave a nod and a smile and said he wished he has been home on time.

After we put DS to bed and he was asleep I suggested going upstairs and slipping back into it to show him and he turned around and said “not now save it for another day”. I must have looked deflated as he immediately went on the defence and said I am putting him under pressure to preform. I replied that it’s not that at all and I just felt really good in it and just wanted to show him as feeling sexy and nice is so rare at the moment. He slammed his cup down and said “go and put the fucking thing on then”

Anyway I leave the room and came upstairs and have packaged the rest of the order back up to send back and have cancelled the Marks and Spencer order. He has been in a huff ever since saying I put him on the spot and you don’t wear stuff like that without expecting anything. I said the underwear was mainly for my benefit to make me feel good but I am sending it back now as every time I wear it I will feel I am putting him under pressure. He said fine.

I just feel so deflated now, I felt so good and positive and I just wanted him to agree and maybe get a wow or something. I don’t want to wear the stuff now.

OP posts:
SilverGlassHare · 30/04/2021 08:50

Unless you share the same DH, you don't have experience of this "very situation" at all.

Friendofdennis · 30/04/2021 08:51

I can imagine that he made you feel stupid when he said ‘go and put the .... thing on then’’ Your feelings of attractiveness would probably have evaporated instantly. It was mean of him to say that. You must have felt pretty rejected

DinosaurDiana · 30/04/2021 08:52

@SilverGlassHare

Unless you share the same DH, you don't have experience of this "very situation" at all.
Maybe we do, then you’d look very silly.
Whatisthisfuckery · 30/04/2021 08:57

Sorry OP, that must feel really shit for you. Antidepressents can really kill your libido though, and I mean absolutely stomp it flat and that in itself can be quite upsetting. Just being reminded of it makes you feel shit about yourself. I know it’s difficult not to take it personally but if it is the tablets then it’s really isn’t.

Can he talk to his doctor about going on some different antidepressents? Lack of libido is a perfectly legitimate reason for trying another. I know it’s hard but can you have a chat to him and suggest he goes back to see the doc? This really is one of those nobody’s fault things and it would be a shame if it puts strain on a good relationship.

Levis501star · 30/04/2021 08:58

@GalaxyGirl24

I can see both sides BUT I think he's being inconsiderate of your needs as well. He could've at least just said, I don't feel I can give you much sexually tonight but I'd love to see it on to build up the anticipation at least or validate that yes, you do look sexy in it (obviously he wouldn't have said those words but you get my sentiment).

This would have been a great response from him.

Though when I was ill, if I'd said that to my eXH he'd have thought he was on a promise and made references to it every 5mins in a joking manner (joking but clearly not joking).

Nothing turns me off more than a man desperate for it when I am sick. Depends on level of mental sickness though I guess.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 30/04/2021 09:04

As others have said, I can see both sides. I just think you timed it wrong for reasons outside of your control. You should have left it for another day when it became clear he was going to be too late rather than trying to push it. He was most likely tired and a bit annoyed at the traffic, not the best state of mind to find your mojo.

SilverGlassHare · 30/04/2021 09:13

@DinosaurDiana That made me chuckle.

Keepitonthedownlow · 30/04/2021 09:15

I think the issue deep down is the lack of communication, closeness and connection. I think that, under the circumstances, you may need to speak to him rather than focus on the sex side of things. Good luck.

emilyfrost · 30/04/2021 09:19

@BlackCatShadow

He was just tired. Confused

I think you over-reacted and I understand why, but it was just a case of bad timing. I guess he is under a lot of pressure or stress at work, which is affecting his libido.

Don't force things. Take care of yourself though.

This. I think you were very manipulative to throw a strip and package them up to send them back just because he was stressed and tired.

You forced the issue; you should have read the room on the bad timing when he was late home from work.

MunchyCat · 30/04/2021 09:36

I think this was just bad timing unfortunately op.

He'd had a day at work, was late home and tired, you were looking forward to it but he felt under pressure, which is the last thing you need if you have sex drive issues.

I don't think either of you were in the wrong.

FuckyouCovid21 · 30/04/2021 09:36

It was him who suggested OP should get her underwear from Ann Summers with a glint in his eye and a cheeky grin, so it's not wrong that OP thought something might have been on the cards. He could have been a bit nicer about it, maybe proposing another time/day rather than telling OP she was putting him under pressure

Honeydrops5 · 30/04/2021 09:49

I don't know op....it depends. How is your relationship in general? If its fulfilling, he is loving, you still have closeness and intimacy (obviously not sex but there are plenty of others ways) then I agree with pps and think there needs to be more patience on your behalf. However I'm worried if his "not tonight" is abit of a cop out and there would never be that night in question. Yes he is on meds but its been 5 months running now. That is along time. You are human and he must understand you have needs that arent being met. Is he acknowledging this? Do you both communicate about how you feel away from the bedroom. There needs to be some glimmer hope that he is giving you otherwise I'd be worried this was it forever

WorraLiberty · 30/04/2021 09:52

@FuckyouCovid21

It was him who suggested OP should get her underwear from Ann Summers with a glint in his eye and a cheeky grin, so it's not wrong that OP thought something might have been on the cards. He could have been a bit nicer about it, maybe proposing another time/day rather than telling OP she was putting him under pressure
After we put DS to bed and he was asleep I suggested going upstairs and slipping back into it to show him and he turned around and said “not now save it for another day”

He did just that.

LilMidge01 · 30/04/2021 10:02

Feel free to ignore this but...can you maybe get that sexy feeling and also get him excited without pressure to follow through...I.e. take some snaps of yourself wearing the underwear and send to him to enjoy at his own leisure. Make it clear when you're with him that there is no pressure right now, but if he wants you to put it on in person, all he needs to do is ask...

MMMarmite · 30/04/2021 10:22

I think you could have been more sensitive to his feelings. He was not in the mood for anything sexual. Rightly, he didn't want to force it and for it to be unnatural. "Save it for another night" wasn't a rejection, it meant "I'd really like this, but now is not the time, please hear that I'm stressed and tired". Then you pushed him further and he snapped at you.

noblegreenk · 30/04/2021 10:24

I see both sides. Your timing wasn't good but the way he handled it wasn't nice either. It was his suggestion that you bought some of the sexier ann summers lingerie though so I can why you'd then feel peeved.

EmptyOrchestra · 30/04/2021 16:41

I don’t think some people here really understand what it’s like to lose your sex drive due to medication which is understandable because it’s pretty impossible to understand if you have a normally functioning sex drive. Sex drive ebbs and flows typically, so people think it’s like those times where you’re just not really in the mood / can’t really be bothered, but you’re not averse to it and could get in the mood with a bit of effort.

But in my experience (where a medication completely removed by sex drive for many years, and then occasionally it will come back and then go again) and those of others I’ve spoken to who’ve been through similar, it’s completely different to that. It’s not “I’m not in the mood”, it’s actually an aversion to sex. It was like anything related to sex had been cut out of my brain - just the idea of it made me feel ill, and any idea that I might have to do it actually made me distressed and scared.

It had nothing at all to do with my feelings for DH, and it’s really annoying when people say that a lack of sex must be due to loss of attraction or feeling as that’s not at all the case. Now it comes and goes like a switch being turned off and on, usually in time with my cycle (the medication that caused this was hormonal).

It’s been awful for my husband and bloody horrible for me too. I would give anything not to feel like this, and doctors certainly aren’t interested.

Anything I perceived as pressure from DH made matters so much worse - it becomes a vicious cycle where all physical intimacy goes because you’re worried they will take it as a cue that you’re up for sex, or will get upset and annoyed when you have to stop it, then the emotional blackmail starts (like packing all your underwear up to return).

He tried to let you down gently. You pushed the issue, he felt pressured and he snapped at you. You then acted in a way that will make it even more difficult for him to initiate any intimacy that’s not sex related. And it gets worse from there.

The best thing you could possibly do at this point is try to understand that this is not personal and in fact has no relation to whether he finds you attractive or not. You need have an open conversation about how you feel without placing blame or being manipulative of each other - it’s not your daily obviously but it’s not his either, you can’t change the fact you want sex and he can’t change the fact that he doesn’t while he’s on this medication. There’s no compromise to be had here. If he could just power through and get in the mood once things started, he would already be doing that.

Best thing you can do is to take sex off the table - say that you understand that right now he is struggling and has no interest in sex, so you’re not expecting any and won’t be initiating it. Say you would like more intimacy (cuddles, holding hands, kisses etc) and promise that you won’t be expecting it to turn into sex, and that it’s up to him when he’s ready. Then stick to it, or things will worsen again. If it is a case where it’s not as severe as what I’ve experienced, this increased intimacy is more likely to lead to him feeling comfortable to initiate sex when he feels he can.

Other than splitting up, that’s really your only option. Obviously you don’t have to stay in a sexless marriage, but he can’t make himself want sex and nobody should have sex they don’t want (i tried that early on, thinking I would get in the mood if i made the effort - it only made things worse).

BlueVelvetStars · 30/04/2021 16:48

OP you have my sympathies.

Enjoy your underwear for you. 🌸

Lullaby88 · 30/04/2021 23:22

Also just to add if a man did this to a woman everyone here would tell u to divorce him. Just saying.

BlueVelvetStars · 01/05/2021 00:03

@Lullaby88

Also just to add if a man did this to a woman everyone here would tell u to divorce him. Just saying.

what a load of crock

TedisnotH · 01/05/2021 01:21

Why is it always the woman who is in the wrong? She has not has sex for many months, she put on sexy underwear, felt good about herself, told her H, and he rained on her parade. And swore at her!
The only one in the wrong is him.

EmptyOrchestra · 01/05/2021 05:05

@TedisnotH

Why is it always the woman who is in the wrong? She has not has sex for many months, she put on sexy underwear, felt good about herself, told her H, and he rained on her parade. And swore at her! The only one in the wrong is him.
What crap - I guarantee you that if the roles were reversed, people would be telling her to LTB. So you don’t think her continuing to ask when he’d said no was wrong?

Imagine if a woman posted about her loss of secs drive due to medication, so something she can’t fix.

She says she hasn’t been able to have sex for five months, and she’s appreciated her partner not pressuring her.

Then her DH starts making comments about buying something for the bedroom. She goes along with the conversation because she feels bad about how things are.

Despite knowing how she feels, her DH decides to surprise her with a purchase after work. This would have felt like pressure anyway but she was late back.

Later in the evening he starts dropping hints about it - obviously this feels like pressure.

Then he presses the issue and says he wants to go and resume whatever it was. She knows that he will want it to lead to sex, which she doesn’t want. She tries to let him down gently but he continues pushing it so she snaps. Then she explains that this feels like too much pressure.

Then he storms off and packs up the purchases, saying he doesn’t want them now anyway.

You think that man wouldn’t be ripped apart for pressing the issue when she’d said no? Of course he would be.

He has no sex drive - he doesn’t want to be surprised by sexy underwear. It’s not a sleight on the OP, but buying stuff in the hope it will make him want sex and then getting upset when he still doesn’t want sex (because it has nothing to do with OP or how she looks) has been seen by him as pressure to have sex, and I would see it the same way in his position.

The main wrong here was pushing it after he said no. That was all OP, and a man would be heavily criticised for this.

Mintsmints · 01/05/2021 05:20

Thanks everyone. I have always had a higher sex drive then him which has at times been hard. I can count on one hand the sex we have had over the past 18 months.
I know now my timing was not great.

He won’t see the doctor about changing his pills and he is planning to be on them at least till September as that is when a big project at work comes to an end. So I guess I will just have to deal with it.

I just feels he can’t be bothered with me physically at all.
I have fibromyalgia and sometimes when I am in a lot of pain it helps if he gives me a bit of a sensual massage. Not sure why think it may release endorphins or something. It can basically make the different between me sleeping at night or not. By sensual I am talking about massaging me but including my boobs and thighs. Not bringing me to orgasim (though that really helps too) but just including those areas.
The other night I was nearly crying in pain and he gave my legs a 1 minute rub and said “right you are done”
Now that is hard as I can honestly say I would do anything to help if he was in as much pain. I can understand why he does not want to preform but I don’t think giving your wife a rub for 10 minutes including boobs and thighs is asking the earth.

OP posts:
georgarina · 01/05/2021 06:45

I think he should have been a lot more sensitive to your feelings - if he wasn't in the mood you can still be appreciative and make the other person feel good.

Like if someone makes you an amazing meal after you've been talking about it, and you're not hungry, maybe you'd try a bite and say this looks amazing, can we have it later, not just 'oh let's wrap this up for another time.'

SilverGlassHare · 01/05/2021 07:11

@EmptyOrchestra excellent, humane and wise posts. Well said.