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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

Scared my husband is having another emotional affair.

62 replies

Frustratedlady · 15/04/2014 09:42

I have bipolar last time I was on a severe depressive episode my d?h had a emotional affair. Well since then and before it he has refused to have any friends even though I have encouraged him too but he just wasn't interested.

Fast forward I am on a extreme psychotic depressive episode again and he has found a female friend. He messages her about 6 times a day or so he says and he talks on the phone for about one to two hours a week.

I am very paranoid ATM so would appreciate some advice as to whether I'm being paranoid. I'd welcome being told that it's lonely being with someone who is depressed and that's why he has a sudden need for friendship.

I have discussed this with him but he says I'm being paranoid that there is nothing going on and he will not stop a friendship because of my paranoia even though I haven't actually asked him to. He says if I behave so paranoid he will end up being secretive and that is dangerous.

Well as I am psychotic and paranoid I really don't know what to think. Please tell me I'm being paranoid.

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Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 16:21

Thanks rollercola I didn't stay as me and dh had a massive row. He has been reading my posts on another site and I also posted there about this relationship problem. Things got very heated and when I said I was leaving he said he would get me committed if I did. So I have phoned my psychiatrist and tomorrow I'm going to see about getting legal advice.

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Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 16:27

I mean I didn't stay at my mums.

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struggling100 · 16/04/2014 16:29

Just because you have MH issues does not mean that you don't have a sense of what is reasonable or right most of the time. It sounds like you've really lost your confidence in yourself - and that your pattern of interaction with this man has something to do with that. It really concerns me that you say you self-harmed out of panic because he wouldn't support you - I wonder if this is a pattern where you feel ignored and rejected, which makes you need to act out that rejection by hurting yourself? I suppose what I'm trying to say is that there may be behaviours here apart from the EA that are not very healthy.

As far as this woman is concerned, I think that amount of texting and contact would be a red flag in any relationship, particularly as the content of the messages is hidden.

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 16:32

Thank you struggling he refused to end the friendship and still claims I am being irrational and paranoid.

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tribpot · 16/04/2014 16:42

Of course your husband can't have you committed for going to stay at your mum's house. But I fully understand why you would want to seek advice from your mental health team.

Please let your mum know what you're going through; you need someone else able to advocate for you. What he has said is unforgivable in my view.

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 16:58

I have told my mum about the emotional affair (or suspected) and the previous emotional affair (now) but not that he threatened me with admittance.

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mansize · 16/04/2014 17:14

Is he Victorian, by any chance?

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 17:15

Much needed lol mansize.

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RollerCola · 16/04/2014 18:46

Oh gosh, he's really trying to control you isn't he? On what basis does he think he can have you committed? Please try and get away from this man, just being around him is clouding your judgement. You are NOT going mad you are completely in the right to question his affairs with other women.

Go to your mums and tell her what he's said. Don't be scared or ashamed to tell people in real life. They will be on your side and they will help you. Don't listen to him, please try and get away.

Thinking of you x

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 19:35

Thanks rollercola. I will leave.

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ormirian · 16/04/2014 20:20

Cruel, manipulative man. So sorry. Yes, it's hard being with a depressive, but the options are to be with that person properly, accept their condition, support as much as possible, or leave! What he is doing is the absolute worst thing, not only NOT supporting you, but actively undermining you.

Moxiechick · 16/04/2014 21:22

Wow. This is awful!
My ex had an emotional affair with a woman in another county online too and was also very secretive about his phone. Of course for months when I knew something was up I was just 'paranoid'. He also displayed a controlling behaviours.
I put up with it for 3 months after he said he ended it and found out twice that it hasn't ended contact after promising. More fool me!
We've been separated for 2 months now and I'm beginning to feel better but he has done so much damage.
I really feel for you and hope that you get all the support you need to get out of this situation. Thanks

Moxiechick · 16/04/2014 21:22

*country not county!

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 21:42

Thanks both well he has ended the friendship after I left but now he is calling me abusive and saying I made him end a platonic friendship because of my paranoia and jealousy. I feel so defeated and suicidal he even had to kick the bathroom door in earlier because I tried to take a overdose. But he is still calling me horrid names and crying over this lost friendship. My mum came up I'm going to stay down hers tomorrow on.

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tribpot · 16/04/2014 21:56

It can only do you good to get away from this person, OP. Please get the help you need once you're safe at your mum's house.

Frustratedlady · 16/04/2014 22:00

I will tribpot. Thank you.

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ormirian · 16/04/2014 22:44

Stupid man!. He can have friends to help him through this but there is no need for secrecy. Why could he not share the things they said with you? In the circumstances it's not an unreasonable request.

BuggersMuddle · 16/04/2014 22:52

I find it entirely bizarre that he 'refused to have friends'.

DP and I are not the most sociable people by many standards, but we still have friends. A lot have become mutual friends or we tend to see as a couple since marriage or whatever, but we still have friends.

My DF is even more anti-social (because he would quite merrily revolve his world around my DM), but still has ex colleagues he emails and grabs the odd beer with.

Does he really have no friends until he seeks someone out on the internet? That is pretty odd IMO.

Frustratedlady · 17/04/2014 07:13

Buggers he has no friends he used to say when encouraged by me that I was his best friend and lover and he didn't need no more. Now I personally didn't think this was healthy so I encouraged him to go out meet people. I suggest he goes for drinks with work I suggested he join a martial arts group (something he had before he met me but quit when the group closed down) but he would say he didnt want to waste what precious time we had together with other people.

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tribpot · 17/04/2014 07:19

How clever - the implication being that you should want the same thing, Frustratedlady. If he wanted to devote himself exclusively to you, you would feel immense pressure to be just as 'devoted' in return.

Then once you're ill and unable to focus entirely on him, he goes seeking adoration from another source. To bring you to heel and remind you what's required if you want to keep him.

Spiritedwolf · 17/04/2014 07:29

I hope you are safe. Whatever help you need for your condition, it sounds as if this relationship isn't helping you. If the friendship was platonic and he cared about how distressed you were (worrying about being paranoid and having an episode) then why wouldn't a loving partner immediately set your mind at ease by being totally open about the communications he is having rather than being secretive and giving you genuine reasons to be suspicious?

The thing is, even if they haven't crossed the line by the content of the messages and phone calls, the sheer quantity of them when he is in a relationship with you suggests that he's putting too much time and energy into that relationship.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean he isn't having another emotional affair. Wink (Sorry, I know it isn't funny, I hope you are okay x)

If he was telling the truth about you being abusive, jealous etc, then why would he want to prevent you going to your mum's? Why would he be threatening to 'have you committed'? I don't think he's the victim in this, no matter how hard it is to support someone through serious mental ill health.

That said, I think you are right to get in touch with your psychiatrist and to seek help to get through this crisis. It may be that a short stay in hospital may be helpful to you to keep you safe and help you get access to extra treatment and support that you would need to wait a long time for as an out patient, and give them a chance to get your medications right. But you can discuss this with your psychiatrist, it wouldn't be like 'being committed' as a punishment for telling your husband to end his emotional affair.

I suggest that you also tell your psychiatrist about H's emotional affair, how he dismissing your right to be suspicious by telling you its just your paranoia, how he's threatening you with 'being committed' and accusing you of being abusive. Talk over with your psychiatrist whether these things might be exacerbating your illness, and explore the idea that he might be gas lighting you (trying to get you to believe you are more ill than you are in order to control you).

Please don't harm yourself. Seek help from mental health professionals and the Samaritans I know that you are feeling overwhelmed with everything at the moment and it must be really distressing. But it is a crisis. It will pass with the help of treatment and you can be happy again, honest. If your relationship is breaking down then that will be another source of stress, so lean on the professional services rather than your H to help you get through it.

Take care of yourself. Stay safe Thanks

Spiritedwolf · 17/04/2014 07:32

Cross-posted. Good to hear from you this morning :)

Frustratedlady · 17/04/2014 07:39

Tribpot you are giving me much needed perspective and logic. My mum saw the state on me last night and is coming to get me at 9:00.

I don't feel much right now I feel numb and like I can't think straight. Yes he is using the fact I have friends and am bisexual so he said it doesn't matter if I have make or female friends, to say that I am abusive and wrong.But I have always had friends and he has met them I even encouraged him to be friends with them. But he wasn't interested. I have a female friend who is in a long term relationship (I don't have many friends only 3 and one is my cousin) and I encouraged him to come on couples night outs with me and her and her partner and although he came on one or two he was never happy.

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Frustratedlady · 17/04/2014 07:43

X posted spiritedwolf thank you very much I will tell my psychiatrist all about this as I really need help. I guess I am scared of a inpatient stay because I don't want to be away from my kids.i am very scared he is gas lighting me and that he is using my mental illness to control me.

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Frustratedlady · 17/04/2014 17:20

Just to update I showed my mum this thread and she is very angry on my behalf. I am staying with her for a week I was in such a mess today she just sent me to bed for a few hours to clear my thoughts it helped. But I'm scared of speaking to my husband again as I know he will twist my thoughts around so that I am unwell and don't know what is right or wrong.

This morning I couldn't even think straight I was in such a mess me and the kids left the house with no socks and un unbrushed hair. My mother has agreed to go home and get some stuff for me and the kids as I didn't pack any.

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