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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

So what do I do now?

85 replies

Ormiriathomimus · 14/08/2012 12:34

Affair is over.
DH not in contact. OW leaving work for a new job.
He's made it clear that he wants to stay and is trying to fix things. He's told me what I wanted (sometmes more than I wanted). I think I know the extent of it.
All his friends are telling him he's a twat of the highest order and are totally 'on my side' (which helps).

But I don't feel that much better. Have had major ups and downs. I have had periods where I felt elated that our relationship had improved almost as if his affair was a shot in the arm. I have felt insecure and clingy. I have been so angry and hurt I felt like I would poison anyone who touched me. I have hated OW and I have been indifferent to her. I have never hated DH for some reason but I've been angry with him.

My self-esteem is at rock bottom. I need to work on that not him I know.

It feels like such a huge effort to carry on being happy and rational for the sake of the children when a lot of the time I want to curl up in a corner with a book and hide. It's been such a bloody marathon.

Right now DH is looking battered and a bit sorry for himself (his texts to friends imply that he is too). I am feeling calm but indifferent to it all. I know it will only be a matter of time before it all blows up again,

Have got some books on order from Amazon - one for him that gives him advice on how to help me get over it. And the Shirley glass book that someone lent but I managed to lose (oops!).

Where does it go from here? I'd like a roadmap please....

OP posts:
ScarletWomanoftheVillage · 14/08/2012 12:45

Hi Orm, sorry don't have a road map or any answers. Just wanted to say that perhaps what you are feeling now is part of the process of recovery? I imagine this will take time to get past, but I think you have done the hardest part.

I'm sorry you are feeling so flat at the moment. Does your DH know how you feel now? And does he have any suggestions as to where you both go from here?

Is your instinct to spend time with him, or would you like some time apart?

Have been wondering how you were getting on, sorry not to be able to help.

ScarletWomanoftheVillage · 14/08/2012 12:47

Perhaps also, there is no harm in curling up in the corner with a book. But chooses a good book, something diverting, something which takes your mind away from all this, and gives your brain a bit of a rest. x

ScarletWomanoftheVillage · 14/08/2012 12:47

Choose, not chooses

Ormiriathomimus · 14/08/2012 13:53

Thanks scarlet.

I don't want time apart really. I would like DH and I to have more time apart from the kids though - I love them to bits but it's hard to cope with this while constantly censoring everything you say and do so they don't find out too much. But I need him to know what to do to make me feel better - he is at a loss now (and so am I).

Have been reading lots of space opera sci-fi atm - can't get much more escapist and rarely a hint of 'romance'. But have just started The Jacaranda Tree by HE Bates and really enjoying it.

OP posts:
belagh · 14/08/2012 13:59

How long has it been?

Ormiriathomimus · 14/08/2012 14:04

Found the texts on 24th June, DH said he was just supporting her as she was hyaving a hard time, We had a row and he said some horrible things to me and said he thought it would be better if he left, he went to work the next day saying he would be coming home but I didn't know if it was for good, a friend came over to support me, DH came home and apologised, Tuesday evening I got the truth about the affair. So... not quite 2 months.

OP posts:
izzyizin · 14/08/2012 14:12

Many have walked the same path before but there is no road map as this is a learning curve that is unique to each and every individual.

That 'shot in the arm' was due to the highs of hysterical bonding. Now you're left with the lows of the reality that he can't be trusted as far as you can throw him - and if he's continuing to maintain that their affair was not sexual he's still lying to you.

The ow may have found another job but that doesn't mean that you won't fret that he may continue some form of contact with her and no matter how battered around the edges he may be looking, or how sorry for himself he appears to be feeling, you should be alert to the possibility that he'll seek to slake the thirst of his ego at her well again.

That said, what you are best advised to do now is embrace the philosphy that 'life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... it is about learning to dance in the rain'.

Start working on your self-esteem; a spa weekend and a makeover on his credit card should kick-start your desire to invest time in yourself and will result in a high-interest yield rather the piss-poor return you've got from his miserly interest paying fund.

Of course you've got dc to consider, but nevertheless put yourself first for a change. Take yourself off and hide for a few hours at a time; read any book that isn't about adultery or conflicted relationships; kick the shit out a cushion with her face on it but recognise that she didn't come into your marriage - he chose to go outside of it and he deserves metaphorical strangling with a remnant of fabric.

You've had a shock made worse by your blind faith in him and you'll continue to feel shaky for some time to come. Be good to yourself, spoil yourself, pamper yourself, and above all get to know yourself - get back in touch with the essential and marvellous creation that is 'you'.

Once you've accomplished this you won't need him to prop up your self-image. At that point you can decide whether he's worth it; whether what he brings to the table of your relationship enhances your life and you'll be able to move forward with integrity and honesty.

If it should be that you leave him trailing in your wake, that'll be down to him choosing to have so little regard for you but I have a feeling that if you take yourself in hand and get your act together, he'll never look at an ow again - which is considerably more than can be said for a lot of the adulterous twunts that come to the attention of this board.

belagh · 14/08/2012 14:13

It is really early days then. Don't be hard on yourself and don't expect to feel a certain way

MadAboutHotChoc · 14/08/2012 14:16

Take things slowly - you can't rush this process.

Take time out to read the Glass book - hopefully the book will help you clarify your thinking about the affair and your marriage.

Do things for yourself to boost your self esteem - coffee with friends, a long soak in the bath, a pedicure, an hour on your own with a book etc. Maybe look into new hobbies that you can do away from the DCs.

Ormiriathomimus · 14/08/2012 14:18

Thanks izzy.

I am so glad you arrived here. I wanted to apologise to you for being snitty on my other thread. I was just wanting everything to be alright regardless, and people kept throwing cold water on me. Wink Sorry x

OP posts:
Badvoc · 14/08/2012 14:26

Work on you.
Make yourself happy.
Do things that give you pleasure or just for the hell of it.
You can't change the past or your h. You are not responsible for his behaviour.
Be kind to yourself x

belagh · 14/08/2012 14:51

ok swapped from mobile to PC now

I also meant to say it can take a long time to feel normal or any real feeling of normal. Can be a year... or 2 but it will happen

Your take of the world has been abruptly altered. Things you thought of as fact... your life, who you thought your husband was

You need to look after you... watch your self esteem, mood, watch out for trying to be too controlling and fixing things (all natural reactions)

Your adrenalin boost has probably dropped off now, this can make you feel very very low

Read lots for you... for example my husband manipulated me over years, my boundaries blurred, I ended up being the one who was responsible for everything for him... well sod that!!!!! I am reading about co dependancy (I hate the term but somethings make sense) it's good about re-establishing boundaries with someone who has blurred them to his own end... I don't think he consciously made these decisions but the poor love is incapable of controlling his own actions... (please note heavy sarcasm in the last part of that sentence)
My HB is a lovely guy when he isn't acting out and he may have problems... Not my problem!!! He has to sort it out. Everyone in his life makes excuses for him... Why?? He is a grown man!!!!

There are books on all areas of infidelity some are awful some are quite good, books on mindfulness and self esteem.

this may be a time to re assess your priorities

izzyizin · 14/08/2012 14:54

No apology needed, Orm. If people throw cold water on you catch it in a glass and add a couple of ice cubes plus a shot of the tipple of your choice Grin

Unless you're an ostrich or have a very large carpet, sooner or later the stark reality of the way in which infidelity impacts on the psyche of the betrayed partner will rear its ugly head.

When that happens the only way to deal with it is to face it head on and shine a bright light on its darker recesses. It ain't pretty, and it can get pretty ugly, but it has to be done to stop the rot before it perversely and aversely impacts on every aspect of life.

Take it one day at a time and make sure that you award yourself time every day to commune, or otherwise enter into a dialogue, with your inner self. You may be surprised at what you learn and how many old and outdated modes of thinking you discard on your journey - you might want to keep a diary for reference to see how far you've come.

Self-knowledge nurtures self-belief. Self-belief nurtures self-worth. Self-worth nurtures self-confidence. You'll get there, Orm... it won't be without a struggle but the old saying 'no pain, no gain' is true and you will emerge from this ordeal older, wiser, and one hell of a lot stronger Smile

Ormiriathomimus · 14/08/2012 16:27

LOL! The tipple of my choice is one of the things I need to address.... Hmm I have found myself self-medicating a little bit too regularly since I found out. I had almost stopped (due to ADs) before that. This whole shitty situation has really blown me apart.

OP posts:
shorttermnamechange · 14/08/2012 17:46

Hi Orm,

I agree with so much that has been said here. You have had a huge shock and are having to rethink all the things you previously took for granted - like the total faith you had in your husband. I think that because the cheater knows in their own mind that they are recommitted to the marriage, they expect you to believe it too and don't fully 'get' that in doing what they did, they have utterly destroyed your previous ability to take them at their word, without any doubt. That utter blind faith has gone forever and it is such a sad thing to lose it. No wonder you feel as you do.

The Glass book says that it is entirely normal to feel you are taking a few steps forward, followed by a few steps back and also that it can take a couple of years to feel properly better and even then, it won't be exactly the same as it was before.

I also really agree with those posters who have said to spoil yourself and to put yourself first for a change. It will give you someone more important than him, to focus on. It will help you to rebuild your strength and self esteem.

This is early days - don't feel you have to rush through the process in order to make him feel better. If he is feeling sorry for himself and fed up - well tough shit. He put you here and he just has to suck it up until you feel stronger. If he cannot hack it, then he is ultimately not worth the effort.

Ormiriathomimus · 15/08/2012 05:17

Oops! SIL and I polished off a bottle of wine and told her about dh's affair. She was shocked and upset for me. Wondering what she'll say to him today

Yes, blind faith is exactly what I've lost. And a huge amount of respect. One thing I could always say about him was that he was loyal and honest. Ha! I actually now find him a rather pitiable figure.

OP posts:
Badvoc · 15/08/2012 07:15

I think reality is hitting now isn't it?
The shock and disbelief have worn off to be replaced with.....?
Losing respect and trust for ones h is a terrible terrible thing.
I didn't know how you get last it.
But if anyone can you can.

Ormiriathomimus · 15/08/2012 11:24

Oh FFs! Dh just rang. The pain in his side is probably kidney stones and he's been referred to hospital immediately. I've had to leave work to take him and he might be in overnight. Feel sorry for him but it means everything else will be put on the back burner. Ah well....

OP posts:
shorttermnamechange · 15/08/2012 12:58

Sorry that you've had to deal with this on top of everything else.

Tbh, though, it might be a good thing to take a few days out and not focus on the affair - give yourself some space to breathe.

I hope your dh will be better soon, so you can get back to kicking his arse Wink

Ormiriathomimus · 16/08/2012 10:03

Garrgghhh! He was there all afternoon but they didn't even scan him. So I picked him up about 6 - just after having lit the BBQ for 9 people. Drove down to pick him up, came back, BBQed, walked DS1 to his mates for the night. DH in a lot of pain. Took him back for 8 this morning. Should be out of the scan now - waiting to hear the results.

I have decided that my issues come down to

  1. I never witnessed his ending of their relationship. I am as sure as I can be that it is over but it would have eased my mind so much to have actually seen the original exchange of texts or heard the conversation. As it is I saw the text he sent and the letter he took into school but there has been no response. And according to him it was all over by then so a bit pointless. There isn't much he can do now I guess as I suspect she still won't respond but it has done damage that will take a while to heal. There is a nasty suspicious little part of me that wonders if the conversation went along the lines of

DH: 'Sorry darling, my wife has finally managed to work out what's going on. We'll have to cool it for a while!'
OW:"OK...but I'll miss you so much'
DH:' It'll only be for a while, until I've calmed her down a bit'...
Sad

That is how crazy I still am over it all. I have to take it on trust that he has told me the truth and trust isn't something I have a great deal of right now.

Not to mention his first response to my asking him to write her a letter was 'OK, if you really want me to but it seems a bit cruel' Hmm

  1. I want some feeling that he is grateful that I took him back and was ready to work towards forgiving him. And that my taking him back was a bigger 'gift' than him choosing to give her up and stay. I have seen some texts he sent to friends about 3 weeks after I found out that hinted he was having a really hard time. He said it was because he wasn't sure I wasn't going to kick him out, I don't beleive that - I was doing my damndest at the time to be loving and kind to him and we were having amazing sex (one of his main bugbears previously) - I think he was in agonies over her.

I think I can let everything else go now - silly little things still come up that are peripheral but I can learn to shut those out. However those 2 factors are going to be a problem ongoing.

OP posts:
BonDepart · 16/08/2012 11:10

Orm, actually the conversation you've got in your head is one that happens a lot under these circumstances. I'm sorry I can't reassure you and say it doesn't, because it does. These men are very reluctant to permanently give up their fix.
That said, because you're giving your marriage a go, then really I suppose you have no option but to believe and trust him. Otherwise you'll go mad.
But even so if you had been privy to the 'it's over' conversation - maybe told him to put his mobile on speaker while he told her or something like that - you still wouldn't have absolute confirmation that it was over for good. Even then it could have started up again afterwards.

So you're right to know that this is something you need to find a way to deal with. FWIW I think your fears about it are perfectly normal. All of that said I have no idea how you get to a place where you do trust that it's over. Maybe it's only with time and his consistent actions showing you that he is full committed and present in the marriage that the trust can be rebuilt.

I think you're doing very well. I read your original thread from the beginning and you've been amazing. I hope your husband proves that he deserves a wife like you.

izzyizin · 16/08/2012 11:21

What is apparent to me on this thread is that this is the 'real' Orm talking - not the woman who refused to believe that her h was capable of deceit, or the woman who was so desperate to retain her public image in the light of his gross betrayal of trust that she wanted a renewal of her wedding vows to prove to the world that he loved her over and above the ow.

In gaining such clarity of vision you've come a long way in a very short time, Orm. You can now clearly see what it comes down to when the impact of an adulterous relationship on the innocent party is stripped down to the bone.

You now know without doubt that he doesn't walk on water and he's merely a man who's worth is exactly the value that you place on him. And if you choose not to place any value on him, that will be his loss and your gain.

Taking away all the peripheral distractions and coming to the realisation that he's not quite as essential to your wellbeing as you once thought is liberating.

That 'nasty suspicious little part' of you is your natural instinct, honey. Trust it because it will always be as unerringly reliable as the pole star, and I have no doubt it's guided you to an accurate appraisal of the likely scenario that occurred after he set off to school with a letter for the ow in his pocket.

You don't have to take anything on trust, Orm, and you'd be well-advised not to do so. He's proved he can't be trusted and he's going to have to work damn hard before you'll trust him further than you can throw him.

Even if he were to throw himself heart and soul into regaining your trust he may never achieve that particular reward, but that is the price he must pay for acting like a lowdown, deceitful, duplicitous, lying gobshite rather than the man of honour and integrity he purported to be - not just to yourself, but to his employers and to the community at large.

From what you've said, it seems to me he's feeling sorry for himself for all the wrong reasons because I cannot see any evidence of genuine remorse on his part. This, in itself, suggests that your former idol not only has feet of clay, but also that his trotters are clad in the non-attractive lustre of self-entitlement. In short, he's sorry for getting caught and for the inconvenience it's caused him.

That said, I'd advise you not to hold your breath while waiting for him to show any gratitude to you for not kicking him out on his arse when you finally saw the light about the true nature of his relationship with the ow, and for being willing to continue your marrage despite him having trashed all you held dear.

As you know, the 'amazing sex' came about because of the well-known phenomena of hysterical bonding. That sex will always remain 'amazing', a reminder of how it once was and how it could possibly be again but, in terms of scoring points over the ow, it was a hollow victory because she doesn't have to live with the consequences of his affair, and you do.

With regard to his kidney stones, the pain they're causing him is nothing compared with the pain he's caused you and, unlike the one he's afflicted on you, his ailment will pass swiftly.

You may feel crazy but you're not, Orm. Your head is screwed on right and I have every confidence that you will go from strength to strength now that the balance of power in your relationship has shifted in your favour due entirely to you being honest with yourself and seeing him for what he is.

Ormiriathomimus · 16/08/2012 11:24

THanks bon. I think I do need to find a way to accomodate it - but he also needs to know how callous and dismissive he was. At the start I was so desperate to stop him leaving he reckoned I'd just accept what he said. Long term that isn't the case.

OP posts:
Ormiriathomimus · 16/08/2012 11:28

THankyou izzy. I do feel like I've come a long way. I wish I hadn't had to.

OP posts:
izzyizin · 16/08/2012 11:48

I wish you hadn't had to too, but it is what it is and all you can do is take it one day at a time.

Keep that dialogue with your inner self going and use adversity to grow in wisdom and understanding of the human condition.

These experiences shape us and the challenge is to not let them distort our shape into a pale replica of all that we can be.

Finding out about his affair after all of his lies may have seemed as if it was the end of the world, but life goes on and you have the opportunity to bring a new order to your relationship with your h and, more importantly, to your relationship with yourself.

I suggest you put the question of whether your marriage is viable after the blow he's dealt it in the lap of the gods, and adopt the view that que sera que sera.

You may be pleasantly surprised but, if not, you'll cope. No pain, no gain, Orm - and never forget that you're a winner.

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