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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

Unknowingly cheated on for over 15 years

357 replies

iamnotwhat · 20/02/2016 14:10

I'm so confused and I'd like to know what others think. Be easy on me though please, this is my first time posting a thread

I'd been away with the children between Christmas and New Year as my husband was having to work and didn't want us to miss out on seeing family. I'd gone away at Christmas thinking I was happily married, but my husband had changed when we got back.

I left it a couple of days - partly to see if I was imagining things but largely as he went out with work friends after work so I hardly saw him. After a couple of days I asked him what was wrong and he said he was fed up of trying to change me - he was/is into really kinky stuff that I just didn't want to be involved in. After a week he told me he'd need to go away for a few days every month to "get things out of his system" so he could be a good husband and father the rest of the time - the trouble was he was a pretty rubbish husband at the best of times, and I wasn't willing to share him with God knew who so I said no.

A day or so later the truth came out - he'd been having sex with other women from three days after we first got together right up to the present day. He'd had sex with someone who liked similar stuff to him after Christmas while I was away with the children, as she'd said it would make our marriage stronger if he shagged her behind my back.

I've had my doubts about things throughout the 15+ years but every time I asked him about anything he'd make me feel stupid and manipulative. He made me doubt my own mind.

We'd stayed together for over 15 years (10 married) as I thought we loved each other deeply. I coped with the bad things that kept coming our way as I thought I could deal with anything while we had each other. I now realise that our whole relationship was built on lies.

It turns out that the other woman is pregnant - allegedly by my husband - and now she wants nothing to do with him. He keeps telling me how much he misses her and how thinking of life with/without her makes him feel sick, while also hoping to get back together with me (telling me he's started the process of "changing" his ways).

Basically I think he's a sex addict. He's got a very addictive nature and I think he's addicted to this other woman too, rather than being in love with her. I moved out of the family home with the children pretty much straightaway but said I'd support him if he got help for his addiction. Am I wrong to do this? My family want me to keep him at arms' length. They're concerned as he's at my new house a lot, phones and texts a lot - I see more of him now than I did when we were together!

I hope this makes sense... I'm just getting bits out of my head while typing...

OP posts:
iamnotwhat · 22/08/2016 15:46

Thanks maras2. Just as I thought things were looking up a bit along comes something else!

OP posts:
iamnotwhat · 22/08/2016 15:46

Thanks maras2. Just as I thought things were looking up a bit along comes something else!

OP posts:
Woody67 · 22/08/2016 16:56

Oh dear, what's happened? Hope you are ok.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 22/08/2016 19:01

Hi, I've been reading your thread and couldn't not reply. You have been so strong, kicking him out, dealing with moving, dealing with him, the divorce everything.

What is the current situation - are his financial contributions stable? Did his threats to start drinking amount to anything or nothing? Has he been consistent with his contact with the DC? Has the situation with the OW and her pregnancy developed? Has he tried to employ every manipulation tactic under the sun? Or whatever else is significant that it would help you to get off your chest or get advice on...

FreeFromHarm · 22/08/2016 20:05

OP, You are me... 4 years down the line ....you need to cut all contact, as alpha said it will only get worse, report everything you do not owe this man anything .

springydaffs · 22/08/2016 23:08

I'd rather he "gets better"

erm, he's not going to get better. Think 20 years down the line and he'll still be doing it. Does 20 years of unremitting manipulation and control harden your resolve?

To STOP talking to him
STOP feeling sorry for him
STOP listening to his whining on and threats and hang-dog shit

I think the key word there is STOP! You are flogging a dead horse - he will NEVER come good. Ever. This is who he is, this is what he does, he will do it for ever and always.

What you have to focus on is minimising the damage to the kids. Read up about domestic abuse/manipulators/controllers; do the Freedom Programme to clear out your head. yy you are doing all you can to minimise the damage to the kids - but you're not grasping exactly what you're dealing with here, what sort of man he actually is. The first thing to address that will minimise the damage to the kids is to protect yourself eg STOP contacting him, talking to him. He opens his mouth and out comes shit and it will always be thus. You can't hope things will change if you are kind and patient and loving and decent. It doesn't work like that will people like this - they have no humanity to appeal to!

I would urge you to look more closely at codependency . Melodie Beattie's books are good on the subject.

iamnotwhat · 22/08/2016 23:34

It's been a long and stressful day and I feel totally drained. Thanks for your kind words and good advice this evening - I've just had a quick read. It means so much to have your support. I'll post properly tomorrow when hopefully I'll have gathered my thoughts together a bit better. Thank you x

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