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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

having an affair, need to stop but don't know how

301 replies

howdiditcometothis12 · 03/02/2012 18:33

The title says it all really. I know that many people post on threads here about their DH/DW having an affair, so I apologise if I offend or upset anyone, it isn't intended. I suppose I would like to hear from women who have been in a similar situation and how they handled it, but all views are welcome. I'm prepared for a complete flaming, I know I deserve it. Everything is just such a mess at the moment, I'm confused and I feel sick.

DH & I have been together for 10 years, married for 4. We're both 30 years old and we have no children. Our relationship is generally good, but we miss out on a lot of quality time together as we work opposite shifts. This can mean that we're sometimes quite moody with one another due to tiredness and our sex life is affected, sometimes we can go months without having sex. I also miss affection, DH freely says that hes not a naturally 'touchy feely' person, but I am. Despite this, DH is kind, sweet and funny and I love him. I would never leave him and not a day goes by that I ever regret marrying him.

About 2 years ago I moved to a new department at work. OM already worked there. We just had a normal working relationship. However about 8 months ago we were paired up for a work project and had to spend many hours in one another's company. We ended up becoming close friends, but as we opened up to one another, I found myself becoming attracted to him and we were quite flirty with each other. I know I should have stopped it there and then but I honestly thought that it was just a silly crush, two friends mucking about, and that it would all stop once the work project was over. Once it finished and the intense daily contact was over, I thought I was right. But then about four months ago we had a work do, at the end of the night there was just me and OM left and we ended up kissing, then I went home (alone). I was mortified the next day and swore to myself nothing would happen again. But within a few weeks there had been another kissing incident, then another time we ended up having sex. I should have seen it coming really. The guilt was awful and I was disgusted in myself. I decided not to confess to DH as I know he'd leave me immediately, and I thought that the terrible guilt was punishment enough. I also promised myself that I'd never be so stupid to let myself get into a situation like this again.

Fast forward to now, and you've guessed it, I'm having a full blown affair with this man. We don't contact each other at home in case our partners are around and so keep contact to work only, but arrange to meet about once a week for sex. I'm ashamed to say that I like the attention, the ego boost and the sex. I tell myself that every time is the last time but it never is. He's like a magnet that I can't stay away from. I can't believe that my life has come to this, I've never strayed before and am usually so shy and reserved, people who know me would be horrified if they knew. It feels like OM has brought out a side to me that I never knew existed and I have no idea who I am anymore. Its not all good though, I'm painfully aware that OM is just using me for sex, he has no emotions involved at all. This hurts, but he's never lied to me or tried to make out that its something its not.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I want it to stop, I want to get my relationship with DH back to how it was. It would be easier to cut all ties with OM if we didn't work together but there is no chance of moving jobs in my industry at the moment. I keep telling him its over but then I am weak and I go back. I don't know how to change this.

How do I live with DH knowing what I've done? Do I confess? He would definitely leave me if he knew and my world would fall apart. But then thats my own doing isn't it? Maybe its what I deserve. Sad

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 07/02/2012 18:19

Have just asked DH

He says he wouldn't want to know if the "situation had been resolved", i.e. affair had been ended.

Am gobsmacked.

Shock
notfluffyatall · 07/02/2012 18:22

I completely understand that. It's like expecting him to say "Yes, kick me in the balls and make it hard!". Its a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Fairenuff · 07/02/2012 18:37

Kate why would someone say that? It's almost like giving you permission, provided he doesn't find out Shock.

KatieScarlett2833 · 07/02/2012 18:41

That's why I am gobsmacked Faire

He then asked me if I would want to know.

I said "hell, yes so I could stab you in your sleep

And he knew I was posting his reply on MN.

Though notfluffy may have an excellent point.

VanderElsken · 07/02/2012 18:45

Yes I remember my DH said that to me too and I was flabbergasted that he wouldn't want to know, as long as other people didn't all know, and it was resolved. I wonder also if that comes from people who have had some infidelity in their past somewhere and so kind of know that it isn't about the primary relationship as a failure.

Fairenuff · 07/02/2012 18:55

I think it must also depend on that person's self-esteem. If you don't value yourself that highly you are not likely to think you deserve the same level of respect as a person who does have high self esteem would.

KatieScarlett2833 · 07/02/2012 19:06

He is very confident rightly that I would never have an affair.

Nothing wrong with his self-esteem at all. He is very confident, well respected, content, etc.

notfluffyatall · 07/02/2012 19:20

"I think it must also depend on that person's self-esteem. If you don't value yourself that highly you are not likely to think you deserve the same level of respect as a person who does have high self esteem would."

I don't think it's got anything to do with self esteem either. I would say my self esteem is quite healthy but I would still rather not know.

ameliagrey · 07/02/2012 19:38

Does a lot not depend on whether the affair is over?

If someone has ended an affair and moved on, and their partner will never find out, why would they disclose it afterwards?

I can see that people's gut instinct is to say they want to know-( especially if they have had suspicions) but the reality may be different.

Dealing with the reality of that knowledge is not the same as thinking you'd want to know about it.

Ambersivola · 07/02/2012 21:10

Nothing is ever black and white and predictable. You never know when your next true love experience will happen.

I have a relative who was living with a girl for ten years. There were no children involved. They thought they were in love and very happy so decided to get married. On return from honeymoon the chap went back to work and on the first day back met his future wife. As far as he was concerned, it was love at first sight.

I'm with the Don't Tell DH Brigade. If OP ends affair and comes to terms with not seeing OM, then why should she tell DH that she had played away from home and risk losing DH as well?

But, even if the affair doesn't end and carries on in parallel with the marriage, how can any of the Tell OH Brigade know the intensity of the relationship with OM and the positive effect on the marriage with DH?

Look at one of the greatest love stories of recent years between our future Monarch and the love of his life.

suebfg · 07/02/2012 21:14

I just don't know how one could live with the lie throughout one's marriage.

AnyFucker · 07/02/2012 21:19

yeah, Charlie is a great example to all of us Hmm

hopefully, he won't gt to be our monarch

that's for a different thread though

notanotherstatistic · 07/02/2012 21:19

Ambersivola you have GOT to be a troll!

AThingInYourLife · 07/02/2012 21:29

"Look at one of the greatest love stories of recent years between our future Monarch and the love of his life."

:o

And of course no Princesses were harmed in the making of this romance.

Ambersivola · 07/02/2012 21:30

suebfg wrote

I just don't know how one could live with the lie throughout one's marriage.

Exactly! If you have not experienced the intensity of a secret love, you cannot foretell or imagine how you would live with the lie throughout your marriage. But, if it did happen to you, you would find a way of living life with a secret love and a husband.

21YrOldMan · 07/02/2012 21:32

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1401211-My-DH-had-an-affair-with-my-best-friend-what-to-do

Just some quotes from this thread to mull over, which is women commenting on a man's infidelity and subsequent year long deceit of the affair:

his has been an elaborate deceit and they have both lied to you for a long time, probably leading you to think you were paranoid and suspicious despite all the clues. You may have felt you were losing your mental health while this was going on. The cruelty of that is often more difficult to cope with than the affair itself.

I know what it is like, it is the ultimate betrayal. I feel I can't trust anything he says, the last years were all a lie. He says things weren't right between us over this period but I had no idea

But for you, this is as bad as the start, with the added problem that you now have to recompute a long period with a double betrayal

I think the 3 years of happily lying to my face would be the worst bit

your H must take the consequences now. He is the one who took his marriage vows.

The penetration (or lack of hmm ) matters far less than the total deciet they have shown to you. What is a marriage if not total trust in the beloved?

There is no marriage left to save here, in my honest opinion. The lies went on too long, way, way too long

The awful thing about a deceit like this is that you will have to 'rewrite' the whole period based on this new information.

The cold hard truth is that you know what your husband thinks of the value of truth, honesty, decency, and you know what level of respect he affords you - fuck all. You KNOW that. You KNOW what he thinks of you, the way he treated you for years and years.

I don't see how anyone could forget a betrayal like this

So, no-one said "If only they'd kept it hidden better, you'd be fine". No-one said "why did he have to ruin your marriage by telling you?". But there are a lot of comments emphasising the increased hurt of the year long "affair is over but he's lying to me" phase.

But if it's a woman having an affair, don't tell him as that would be a horrible thing to do...

AnyFucker · 07/02/2012 21:32

Camilla, isn't it time for your hot toddy ?

Run along now...

Ambersivola · 07/02/2012 21:33

notanotherstatistic wrote
Ambersivola you have GOT to be a troll!

Do me a favour. My first post to this thread and you call me a troll.

I have PMd the OP prior to writing in public on the thread.

notfluffyatall · 07/02/2012 21:37

Charlie and Camilla? Greatest romance? Really? I mean, fucking really?

Fairenuff · 07/02/2012 21:38

21YrOldMan great post.

OP, all the posters saying 'Don't tell him' are basing their advice on one great gamble. That no one else will tell him. Be careful about your decision.

notfluffyatall · 07/02/2012 21:42

Veryyoungman

I can categorically state that my advice would be exactly the same regardless of the sex of the unfaithful one. Absolutely, categorically.

Ambersivola · 07/02/2012 21:51

notfluffyatall wrote
Charlie and Camilla? Greatest romance? Really? I mean, fucking really?

No need for verbal abuse!

Camilla was on the scene first. Charles's duty was to marry and to provide an heir and a spare. Diana was in love with the idea of being a future Queen and too young to understand how Royals do things.

AnyFucker · 07/02/2012 21:53
Grin
ameliagrey · 07/02/2012 21:54

Start another thread for discussion of C&C?
Yes?

Not really the place here- if anywhere TBH.

AnyFucker · 07/02/2012 21:54

you are funny amber

great post

what other tricks do you do ?