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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Feel like my marriage is unravelling (long, sorry)

6 replies

maktaitai · 14/12/2010 23:21

I'm starting not to care whether or not we end up together. I'm sure I would after we split though, and ds is 6, dh is his world, he would be devastated. I think I need a kick up the bum. Care to provide?

DH feels I spend more time on my 'needy friends' than on him. I suppose he's right about that, I've lost sight of what is normal. DH is needy, my God he is, or he can be, but he does support me a lot as well. He wants a better sex life. I'm capable of getting interested - for the last few months i've sometimes looked at porn just before going to bed so that I'm at least taxiing down the runway before going to bed IYSWIM, but I do struggle a bit. I never have orgasms with a partner, it's never happened for me, and unfortunately due to medication he isn't orgasming either at the moment - we tend to do hand, fanjo, hand but there is usually a point where it fizzles out now. It's dispiriting. We have had discussions about our sex life before, as you do, and things that dh has said in the past have stuck in my mind - he once said that he didn't enjoy me going on top as I was so heavy, and a couple of years ago he said that he felt less than he would like to during sex (i.e. not enough pressure). I've been using an Aquaflex vaginal training thingy intermittently, which he did say had improved things a bit, but these comments come into my mind during sex and I feel upset. He is frequently too ill (depression, anxiety) to try sex anyway. He is very tactile, lots of hugs and kisses which is lovely.

Since first meeting me, dh has gone from having a well-paid professional job to working for himself, to being unable to work at all. It's not quite that simple, he is on a lot less medication now than he was when he was working, and I have supported him in his decisions rather than emasculating him (I hope). In the meantime he has supported me to study, which has been a huge deal. I should be much more grateful. But he agonises over his work situation, pretty much every day since we have been together - almost 8 years. I am so absolutely sick of discussing it, I can't tell you.

We had a long discussion on Saturday, and for the first time I found myself thinking 'I'm not sure I can be bothered'. He talked about moving out, which he has occasionally done, as he feels like a burden to us. Maybe it would actually be better... and yet i feel I would be a disaster as a single parent, I am not the most patient of people, and i worry about what would happen to dh's mental health if he were living alone, also what ds's relationship with him would be. I can't see anything in perspective.

This has turned into a ramble. I should be in bed with him right now and I feel like running away.

OP posts:
livinginazoo · 15/12/2010 08:46

You are not responsible for your husband's mental health or depression and anxiety or happiness, and repeat this ten times! If you want to move on with your life, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. And he is a big grown up who will just manage on his own.

You said he was on lots of medication and has been ill for many years. What treatment besides ADs is he getting. If nothing else he needs to get psychotherapy, anything to try and get better for himself and his family.

He is not working, criticises you sexually, talks about his work situation daily, jeeps you don't need a kick up the bum, you need a medal... no self respecting woman would feel like sex under these circumstances. He needs a therapist to talk about all of these issues with, and to not burden himself on to you. I suspect he is projecting his sexual performance problems on to you by criticising you, ADs do effect men in that way, as does depression. But still... not very nice.

You are right, you do need change - whether you decide to make those changes with or without him. You need a husband back not a patient. And do not feel guilty for giving your friends attention rather than your husband, you are allowed a life of your own and as long as you have a healthy relationship with your friends (i.e. you are not everyone's agony aunt or girl friday) you should nuture that. You need to be able to get out and do your own thing and be around happy people, both for your own sake and so you can better support him!

almostgrownup · 15/12/2010 11:56

Sounds like you have grown stronger over the course of the relationship, and your dh weaker, and you are no longer in balance. His work (or lack of work) situation is obviously a huge deal with him. When he talks about moving out because he's a burden, does he want you to respond with "no of course you're not a burden", so as to give him a boost?

You've been patient for longer than I would manage. So no kick up the bum from me.

maktaitai · 15/12/2010 13:47

thank you for taking time to post

bit of a crisis day today

think we may be seeing a way forward though

i think i DO act up as girl friday for everyone, being needed is catnip to me up to a certain point, and it does dissipate my resources

so i'm resigning off a committee that drives me nuts on a regular basis (the parish church council, i'm an atheist anyway)

dh was all set to go and stay with his parents for a few days but actually they weren't particularly welcoming (sorry I have to Grin it's all gone a bit alan ayckbourn) and in the end I really don't want to lose him

he has resigned from his professional association which means moving on to something else, he has been considering this for at least 5 years so it's quite a big deal

i have told college i can't come in for a couple of days and we are going to go swimming together tomorrow, more exercise would be good for both of us

dunno what to do about the physical side, maybe the exercise will help that too, also getting to bed earlier

Am rambling again - just wanted to say i really do appreciate it

OP posts:
maktaitai · 15/12/2010 13:48

oh i also think that Tom and Jerry dvds should be available on the NHS

OP posts:
livinginazoo · 15/12/2010 13:52

You didn't mention if your husband is seeing anyone for psychotherapy for his anxiety/depression?

maktaitai · 15/12/2010 13:57

No i didn't. He's had 1:1 sometimes and about 7 months of group therapy which was good but which ended badly with him leaving the group. He is currently considering going into another group setup which is a huge commitment (18 months' therapy of various sorts) but is supposed to have good outcomes. He'll probably go for 1:1 if that setup is not an option, but we won't be able to afford it until I get a job (hopefully in the summer).

God I really want a job full stop. I'm tired of being so broke.

OP posts:
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