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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

What am I feeling? Separated but now mixed up

16 replies

Whoopeewanda · 28/07/2017 22:29

My story. Sorry it's long.
Been with exdh for 14years, married 12, 3dcs 10, 7, 4 and separated 3 months. He was nice and engaging to all and initially was to me but we became antagonistic and frustrated with each other post kids. He gave me no emotional support and I was emotionally and physically tired by the kids but coping. He felt there was nothing he could do. Two years ago he raped me, wouldn't listen to me when I wanted to stop. Things got worse as I couldn't bring myself to dtd after. He apologised when I told him about it, but seemed to think that was enough. It made me distance myself and both of us stopped talking openly and stopped making love. Two years on after trying counselling and him continuing to bury his head and wait for me to get over it. I couldn't and after threatening to leave since a year I finally did.
Initially I felt good, relieved, strong. He totally relaxed and handover and contact was pleasant, not like our previous interactions, negative and closed. Two months later post separating I'm starting to have feelings for him again and wonder what that was about when he tells me he's met someone else. I've been devastated since. Not in a omg I've made a mistake but in a frustrated we could have made it work maybe scenario and how can he possibly move on so quickly when up until the end he didn't want me to go ; but wouldn't say anymore and was just really upset.

I tried to talk to him as to whether he thinks we did the right thing in separating and he said I'd made it plain enough and he now thinks perhaps he wanted to stay for the dcs sake and he is much happier now. He said he couldnt go back now, He's done it before and it didn't work. I'm not saying I want him back, just like that, but I'm so mixed up.
I do feel guilt, sadness, loss but yet when he was relaxed with me I felt so much better. It's another month on and he's still seeing his new woman and it's getting more serious. He says he wouldn't feel happy taking a risk again by getting back together.
I've written a letter trying to explain the feelings I had from the rape leading to us splitting and how I feel now but I'm not sure whether to send it. I don't say I want him back, just that I could now see a possibility, whereas I couldn't before, but I realise it may be too late for us. It's been helpful writing it down in the letter, but I'm not sure what I should do now? I don't want to be unfair to him, but I don't want regrets and want him to try and understand and give me an indication as to, could we resolve our issues, or is he not capable, as he used to say. Either way I need to stop the guilt, shame and disappointment.

OP posts:
Squirmy65ghyg · 28/07/2017 22:58

Please get counselling op. Flowers

Whoopeewanda · 28/07/2017 23:14

I had counselling where all this came out with dh. Then dh and I had individual counselling and then couple counselling where I said it wouldn't work as he wasn't saying anything different other than sorry and io felt it wasn't enough.

OP posts:
Changedname3456 · 29/07/2017 06:51

I think it's very unlikely it would work if you got back together so, IMO, you should view the letter as a therapy exercise and not send it.

Regret at not making something work is natural, none of us like having feelings of "what if" but that'll start to fade in a month or two more.

Whoopeewanda · 29/07/2017 09:38

Hi thanks Changedname. I agree I don't think it would work long term without him radically changing his spots, although at the beginning he was loving and caring. I guess I want him to take some responsibility for the rape and the separation. It's not something obviously I can openly discuss but I will consider counselling again. But I don't think it would work as well as him talking openly to me about what happened.

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chips4teaplease · 29/07/2017 09:46

Stop beating your head against a brick wall. He raped you. No matter what he's said, he's not sorry. He isn't going to be because he got away with it. If he was prosecuted, he'd only be sorry he was caught, not sorry for the rape.

Starting to have feelings for him again is part of the separation process. You have children together so your body tells you to keep him around.

Accept that you'll never get him to say what you want him to say, with any sincerity, and let him go. It's like when women want their exes to admit to 'the affair' or whatever they were up to that led to the split - they aren't going to tell the truth, so let it go and get on with life.

isitjustme2017 · 29/07/2017 17:43

He did a terrible thing to you OP so you know deep down you shouldn't be with him. To rape you and then not prove he is sorry and make things better, is testament to the type of man he is.
Having feelings for him after separation is natural. When the reality of being on your own hits, its easy to look backwards instead of forwards. And now he has someone else, you will be feeling sub-consciously jealous. Why should it work with someone else when it couldn't work with you!!
I hope time helps you heal OP

cremedelashite · 29/07/2017 18:12

I'm wondering if you're maximising the positive attributes of being with him and minimising the positive attributes of remaining apart. Would life be that good with him? And would it be as compromised without him? Is the reality likely to be a little different.

Whoopeewanda · 30/07/2017 23:47

Yes creme and others definitely. It's not the reality, I think the annoying thing is he's walked away unscathed having made me feel complete shit, I've taken most of the rap for leaving, he's still thought of as a great guy even by my sister who I told of the rape, I've not told anyone else outside of the counsellor. And now he has the audacity to be loved up being all perfect, generous gentleman with a new woman. Like he was with me, but he can walk away from any guilt as he's now happy and promising all sorts. Pah. I know I seem unhinged and wronged womanish, but the double standards here is ludicrous.

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thestamp · 30/07/2017 23:55

This is the nature of men who abuse (i.e. rape) women though. They're always nice at the beginning.

He was nice to you at the beginning, now he's being nice to her at the beginning. But he's still who he is, he will probably end up raping this poor woman eventually too, or abusing her in some other way.

Of course you're mixed up, op. You've been through hell, and you've also been so isolated (so sorry about your sisters response) that also throws another level of awfulness and confusion into it.

Give yourself time and space to rebuild. Get your focus off this man and onto yourself - don't send the letter, treat that as a journal. Concentrate on making new memories with DC and on your own. As you gain distance you'll start to heal. X

Whoopeewanda · 31/07/2017 08:35

Thank you stamp. Why do you and changedname think I shouldn't send the letter? It's not a begging him to come back letter it's more a summary of how I felt re the rape and his response. I have told him and with the counsellor but it's easier to write it down. I'm just wanting him to understand and for me to move on in the knowledge that he has some idea of why I've been as I have, unable to love him and have sex.
Some response from him would help I think.

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cremedelashite · 31/07/2017 13:18

Op- what/ who makes you feel you're taking the blame/(rap) for the split?

I'm really sorry about your sisters reaction.

You could send the letter. What is the desired response? It might have the desired response, it probably won't. Send it knowing this.

Life/ people/ circumstances should be just, but we know they're not. Although he appears to be smelling of roses just now- he's an unapologetic abuser. This doesn't make for a good life.

thestamp · 31/07/2017 16:05

My reason for saying don't send the letter is that if you do, you're giving him power over you in that you're then waiting for his response.

If he doesn't respond, you'll feel shit.
If he takes a long time to respond, you'll feel shit.
If he responds in a dismissive or denying way, or blames you, or wants you to leave him alone or get over it etc, you'll feel shit.

He would have to work quite hard and be quite selfless to respond well. In the nicest way, he's moved on and it's really unlikely he will have the energy or interest to compose a nice, thoughtful compassionate response. You are still feeling v v delicate so why give him, the one who's already moved on and who wasn't the victim in the situation, yet more power over you in that way?

Don't let him into your recovery. He's the rapist, he can't also be the one to heal you of the very thing he inflicted on you. Do your recovery yourself so that when it comes, you know you did it yourself, you didn't rely on someone else for it.

I hope I'm making sense. I just get this impression that you need to leave him behind and stop offering up your power to him. Ultimately you know best so I won't pretend I do. x

Whoopeewanda · 31/07/2017 22:47

Thank you stamp. I read my letter and weep, I don't think anyone could read it and not weep, but then I know I talked about it in couples counselling and didn't get the desired response, ie to feel my pain and acknowledge his responsibility in it and causing our split, but you're right it's unlikely. His reaction at the time was relief and so up himself
I also want him to face what he's done, not believe the crap he's telling himself and his new woman no doubt who thinks as I did what a fab guy and boyfriend he is.
So yes not very laudable reasons. And yes he is likely to ignore it or ag least get defensive but he couldn't deny it to himself. I would know I'd spelt out my hurt to him oftge night and his reactions since it.

OP posts:
Whoopeewanda · 02/08/2017 00:59

Hi stamp and creme. You'll be pleased to hear maybe that I've decided not to send my letter. As you say he's not going to pay much attention to it being as he is wrapped up in the new woman.
I opened up my heart and pain to him at the couples counselling and his reaction in saying sorry and then high stepping away in glee gave me a doomed feeling that he really thought it was now all ok and was the final nail in the coffin of our marriage.
If he ever changes or wants to understand more I shall show him the letter, but for now I'll keep it as my reminder of why it was we come to live apart.

OP posts:
thestamp · 02/08/2017 01:44

My heart goes out to you. It is so difficult when someone who has wronged you can't see what they've done and how it's impacted you. I think you've been really brave.

I wrote my father a comparable letter when I was younger. He replied basically saying "I'm sorry you feel that way". He died last year having never contacted me again, except to allow his girlfriend (younger than me) hit me up for cash a couple of years ago. It hurt terribly and only many years after the letter did I realise I had impeded my own healing by sending the letter and hoping for a response. I should have left it and just focused on myself. instead I went in circles for too long being upset that he hadn't acknowledged me.

I don't want that experience for you and I think you've made the right decision.

Wishing you love and peace.

Whoopeewanda · 03/08/2017 13:13

Thank you stamp. I spoke to my other sister last night and she was far more supportive. I won't tell anyone else and I do feel angry and sad that he could treat me like that, but we agreed I'd given him enough chances to be genuinely sorry and to treat me like a human being. I know he's capable of it which is what makes me cross. People say oh that's men for you, they don't think, but I know he can just like he's being with his new woman.
Anyway thank you stamp for your kind words. I feel your pain with your dad. I have been in similar place with my sister and I'm going to try not to allow it with my exdh.
I also think I'm going to need to take legal advice re divorce as I've left with very little and he pays me minimal maintenance.

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