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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 so hopeless - what should I do

781 replies

Holdmyhand · 21/03/2011 17:01

I am really looking for some advice. My h has been h is having an affair, I found out 5 months ago. We agreed to try again. I tried. He kept in contact with her behind my back. We got on ok while 'trying' & physical relationship mostly ok. I recently found out he's still seeing her - he now says he loves her & not me but cares about me. We have 3 dcs under 8. I really dont want my relationship to end. When we don't talk about our relationship we get on really well. He said on Saturday that he will be moving out at some point to be with her but will always be there for me & kids.
We still had sex Saturday & Sunday but he did not want full intercourse. We still sleep in same bed.
I know he has been with her today.
I have been getting bad anxiety attacks about the future and what will happen and how I cope. Am on Ads. We are very short of money. Him moving out will have huge financial implications.
If he leaves I have to cope alone with 3 dcs, my job, the house etc etc I still love him - we have been together 23 years. I feel hopeless. My life has stopped.
I am not eating or sleeping. I can't even cry. I am in a daze. I spend all my time thinking about him. I have no strength to cope with this. I don't have any real friends & can't talk to my family.
Please be kind with your advice I feel very fragile.
What can I do to get through this?

OP posts:
carlywurly · 21/03/2011 22:11

agree with xales. Wasn't there a long running thread a while back where exactly that happened? The H left and then came crawling back a while later when he realised life with the OW wasn't quite what he'd imagined.. by then she'd got strong enough to tell him to do one iirc.

Hugs to you. This is foul but it will pass.

monstersplatter · 21/03/2011 22:25

Your story is so completely depressing. I am so, so, so sorry for you. I can offer nothing new, but echo all the advice given to you. If you want a shoulder and someone to listen to you and focus on you, I can offer that. Your children will be happier once you are starting to accept and deal with your emotions. You poor love. I would love to offer you help. But, I fear that nobody will really be able to until your heart accepts that you need it. Good luck.

solost · 21/03/2011 22:31

HOLDMYHAND: You are me - 7 months ago. I recognise everything you have written, I felt exactly the same. The only difference being, my H left me for the OW a a couple of days after I found out.

Its so hard, the pain is indescribable but it will get better.

7 months on, we are doing OK, I still have good days and bad days but the good days are starting to outweigh the bad. I worried most about the DC's (I have 3), I couldn't even bear to tell them the truth until 4 months after he left (partly because I secretly hoped he would realise what a huge mistake he had made, come back to us and everything would return to normal). It wasnt as bad as I thought.

You will get through this, and come out the other side a much stronger person. I was so scared of being alone (H and I had been together since we were 15), but I find I quite enjoy it.

Take care of yourself, your DC's will be fine. I am thinking of you and sending you support and x

Holdmyhand · 21/03/2011 22:51

Have to go to bed soon - another night of no sleep & early start tomorrow for work. H is having a bath - now baths most days, used to only bath once a week! Took his phone with him so no doubt txting her goodnight : (
Why is he doing this?

Thank you everyone for posts - I appreciate advice!

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 21/03/2011 22:54

Checking back to say good night x

Solost won't mind me saying this (I hope) but you may find it helpful to read the thread she started all those months ago. Like she said, her experiences mirror yours. Do you know it ?

Holdmyhand · 21/03/2011 23:05

Thanks will look tomorrow! Goodnight. X

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 21/03/2011 23:07

I will link it tomorrow if you like.

Don't go disappearing now...

sufficient · 21/03/2011 23:20

Oh Holdmyhand, you are me too :( I found out about H's affair 4 months ago. We have three DCs under 6. We "worked" on our marriage. 2 weeks ago I found out, through checking phone bills, he had never cut contact with OW.

I chucked him out there and then. He left the house with nothing but his phone and his wallet. It's a horrible realisation, but they don't want us. They want a happy family life, plus their bit on the side. I gave everything, and H didn't give an ounce, and it was never going to work.

After an affair I think the man (or woman) has to fight like hell to save the relationship, they have to WANT it with everything they have. Even then it might not be enough, but anything less than that definitely won't be enough.

So sorry OP, but you will be fine. Gather your strength and your dignity - you think you feel better with your H in the house but really he is poison. No matter what happens after, at this point in time he has to go.

PeterAndreForPM · 22/03/2011 08:19

How are you feeling this morning ?

LifeMovesOn · 22/03/2011 12:55

Just reading your thread- so, so sorry you are having to go through this.

You were me 18 months ago.

You need sleep (I know, impossible). you will be amazed how much better you feel even after a few non-disturbed hours, sadly I don't know the magic insomnia cure, but your body will help you soon.

With regards the finances please get into see a solicitor, some offer a free first consultation, otherwise they do one for £60. This will help you, believe me. They will be able to advise if you are elligible for help and there are benefits out there to help you and the children too. Don't despair.

I was with my DH for 23 years too; now I look back and wonder what the hell happened - but I've got my wonderful daughter and that's the most important thing.

I am getting over it big time, he's now moving in with his latest girlfriend and not a happy person. Kharma's a terrible thing . . . . Wink

Hugs to you xxx

Xales · 22/03/2011 14:41

Hi Hold

I hope you got some sleep last night and something to eat today.

The reason he is doing this?

Because your marriage is over as far as he is concerned it has been over for him for a while.

Because he doesn't care enough for you not to.

And finally because you are letting him.

He will not change how he is behaving towards you.

You can change how you respond.

Holdmyhand · 22/03/2011 20:27

Long day at work. Saw h on way home parked up in his car on phone to guess who. I told him it upset me & he was not at all understanding. Don't know why but this flipped something in me. I have phoned and set up counselling for me & opened my own personal bank acc. I have started going through joint finances and told h we need to discuss options & when he can move out. We are now going to sit & work out options / plan next step. At the moment I am calm & rational - hope I stay that way!!! Please send me hugs / strength. Dreading going to bed.
Have taken off wedding ring too.

OP posts:
lint · 22/03/2011 20:30

You are doing the right things.
Keep being strong.

Thinking of you and sending you many hugs.

Xales · 22/03/2011 20:39

Wow! Have lots of hugs from me.

Can you not take your youngest into your bed and your H go in his?

You really cannot keep on sleeping in the same bed.

Expect to have downs and ups. You are mourning the loss of your relationship, your future that you had planned your love Sad. There will be many but eventually they will be less and less.

Keep coming and posting on here. However stupid you think a thought/feeling is I bet someone on here has shared it and can help you through it.

Hopefully having taken this first step will help you sleep a little.

perfumedlife · 22/03/2011 20:53

Just seen this Holdmyhand and your pain is leaping off the page. I am sorry. What a bastard.

The thing to try and remember is this. When you were a little girl, at school, you had your family and your friends, your life probably felt really full and good. You didn't know how you would love your kids so hard you would fight lions bare handed for them. All that was in the future. You just lived each day, and loved it for what it was. You were happy.

The marriage and the children are a different life stage, but you are still, essentially, that little girl, the one who is capable of being happy without the man. What came first, happiness, or him? Happiness of course.

The other thing is, you cannot possibly love a man more than your children, it's not the same kind of love. When you seem to have no choices, nothing good either way you look, ask yourself the hardest choice of all. Him or the kids?

You have those wonderful little human beings, he cannot come close.

My mother inlaw still grieves for her marriage break up, after twenty long years. When she came to stay, she talked non stop about him, and how he destroyed any chance of real happiness she had.

You know what, that's an insult to my dh and his brother. That's like saying, the man fucked off, my life is over. What, two handsome, hard working , successful sons are no compensation for a man??

Don't make the mistake she made. You will come through this, you will. And you will still have your wonderful children, and love yourself all the more for surviving it, and being the decent one, the one with morals, who stood by her vows .

PeterAndreForPM · 22/03/2011 20:53

Hold on to that anger, it will help you through. Keep posting, you have made a first step in taking back some control of your own life. x

ledkr · 22/03/2011 21:09

Evening hmh,god i flinched when you said you were dreading going to bed,i remember that so well,putting it off then laying in bed with anxious butterfies in my stomach,fuming at dh. It helps to understand it,your body is reacting to your heightend emotions by making lots of extra adrenaline which when you are led in bed isnt being used.Concentrating on your breathing will help.breath slow and steady.I also found it usefull to go to bed just to relax and read/watch tv/rest my body,that way sleep is a bonus.Dont rule out sleeping tabs,i actually found herbal nytol enough to help me nod off.
I hope i dont sound mental but i taught myself a way to clear my mind thus sleep.First i spent some time collecting my thoughts and processing the developments of the day,then i actually visualised xh ow and any other worrys going into wooden box and shutting the lid.It takes abit of learning but it really worked for me.
The sleep thing does go off eventually especially when you dont see the cause of your pain that much.

sufficient · 22/03/2011 22:09

Well done HMH, stay strong.

Another crazy way of getting to sleep, I read in a paper once and it actually does work: vocalise your thoughts to yourself in a monotone voice in your head. "I can hear a car outside the window. I am now thinking about X. I am now thinking about Y." I think the idea is that you kind of hypnotise yourself into dropping off.

Or, my friend suggested that you make an early hours survival kit - take up to bed with you a flask of something hot and soothing, an easy reading book or magazine, a notebook and pen. So when you are lying there awake you have things to take your mind off it.

Holdmyhand · 22/03/2011 22:11

Ok - update- we talked about finances. We cannot afford for him to move out and rent somewhere & to continue with me living here. Selling house at moment difficult due to house being devalued & needing work. Have agreed he will sleep in room downstairs (small pokey horrible junk room!!!!) and we will lead separate lives. I kept calm. I know it's not ideal but at least I feel I took some control. I have told him that this is a short term solution and we need to sort out something in the long term.

OP posts:
monstersplatter · 22/03/2011 22:14

That must have been so hard for you. Well done though. I am in awe of your courage. Keep going, you can get through this. ((((((()))))))

PeterAndreForPM · 22/03/2011 22:15

That is reasonable (for now) in a difficult situation

Not so easy to just sell up etc in today's climate.

the main thing, get him the fuck away from you physically as much as possible so you can work on the detachment

A short term thing though...remember, and make sure he knows it

PeterAndreForPM · 22/03/2011 22:16

No more sex, no more cuddles, no more comfort from him....ok ??

carlywurly · 22/03/2011 22:17

Well done, that's a really brave conversation to have had. You will be ok, it may just be a bit bumpy for a while. Life will get better after you get some closure though, I promise [simile]

PeterAndreForPM · 22/03/2011 22:17

You are being very brave x

carlywurly · 22/03/2011 22:17

that should have been a Smile

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