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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

I'm having an affair

231 replies

Rgy3250999 · 27/04/2018 15:09

Well I don't quite know where to start.

I've been with my DH for well over a decade, since we were teens and we have a young family together. We used to fight and fall out a lot when we first started dating, probably because we weren't overly compatible and he didn't show me a lot of affection. I have issues in the past which I accept have probably made me quite needy, although he really wasn't affectionate a lot. We both had family issues and I suppose that pushed us together even more as our relationship was like a form of escapism.

Fast forewarn a number of years and we had a family together. The arguments calmed down but we still weren't affectionate and sex was very rare and not great (little effort from him mostly).

I have had depression (undiagnosed so presumed) and haven't been the easiest person to live with at times. I've struggled to hold down a job due to social anxiety and his lack of affection meant that I used to question him a lot after nights out and ask about work colleagues etc. I know this was wrong and I understand this has probably pushed him away. He used to look at porn but then stopped because I felt quite jealous so now when I talk about his low libido, he's quick to remind me that he was more normal until I interfered.

Anyway, we have tried to make it work and plodded on. Deep down we do get on but there is a lot of resentment on both sides and when we have tried to make an effort, it feels forced and fake. It never lasts and we go back to our usual routine of being like friends with little interest in each other and not much affection or physical contact. We don't argue much now as I think we're both past that stage and we do get on ok, but it's not fulfilling.

So, I was feeling lonely and stupidly set up a profile on an online dating site with a fake picture. Not to get dates or anything, but to have conversation with other men and remember what it felt like to be young and have that excitement. I intended to stop and delete the profile but it became addictive and I probably withdrew further from my marriage.

After a few weeks, I exchanged numbers with one man and we talked a few times (he still didn't know what I looked lIke) and it led to phone sex late one evening whilst my DH was in bed. However, he wondered where I was and came looking for me very quietly and caught me. I felt terrible and he shouted and got upset. I explained what I had done and why and told him that these men hadn't got a picture of me and I hadn't met anyone. He eventually agreed to forgive me and we both said we'd try to get the spark back. I cut off contact with that other man and deleted my profile.

Then a few months later, my husband was poorly and I was trying to look after him and the kids. He spent over a week in bed sleeping and I was lonely. The sex and affection that had been promised hadn't been overly forthcoming even before he was poorly and I was now so tempted to create a new profile that one evening I signed up to the site again. I chatted to various men briefly and eventually one man came along that seemed really nice. He wasn't amazingly good looking but we clicked and he made me laugh. We exchanged numbers and talked a few times on the phone, plus sent hundreds of messages and I felt addicted to the attention and having so much fun. I knew I should stop but I couldn't.

After a few weeks of talking, he suggested we meet and that's when I thought it would end. I was just going to ignore him or block him as i knew it was over anyway but because he had been so lovely and I'd basically tricked him, I opened up about my home life and told him the truth. To my amazement, he didn't block me. He said he was sad as he had felt such a connection and hadn't gelled with anyone that well, even when we talked on the phone. I agreed as it was effortless and so natural. I was that taken aback by him not blocking me that I agreed to meet him. I didn't think I was capable of it really as I'm very shy normally and have social anxiety issues. I also knew it would be wrong and the voice in my head said it'd be ok because I would stop myself. I've always told DH that I'd never meet anyone else and believed that to be true as it had only ever been talking and I did/do love DH and my family.

That day I was so nervous but I met him. It was like I had forgotten everyone else (selfishly) and pretended to be an actress or someone else so I wasn't doing anything wrong. We had a long walk together in the sunshine and although I was nervous, we laughed a lot and it was really nice. We had a few kisses and cuddles and although it felt a bit awkward as deep down I knew it was wrong, I didn't want to stop. Still I told myself that this would be it and I'd end it. I had proved to myself that I could still date and be found attractive and I thought that was all I wanted.

He messaged a lot after that meeting though and I couldn't stop the contact. My DH didn't suspect anything and although he's a nice man really and a good father, home was boring and the messaging was exciting and actually felt far more loving than what I had at home.

Fast forward another week and this online man asked me for another date. This time to the cinema. Again, I didn't think I'd turn up but I did and thinks felt amazing. It was like we were a proper couple. We were further away from my home so I could relax and not worry about being caught. We held hands and cuddled a lot and then it turned really quite passionate with the kissing. I could feel he was erect whilst we kissed and I knew he wanted me. He said he hadn't felt anything that electric and passionate before and that he thought he was falling for me. Part of me felt terrible but then another part knew he meant it and I felt truly loved. He really looked after me and kept looking at me when he thought I wasn't looking and stroked/kissed my hands so gently.

After the film, he asked if I'd like to see his new home as he had just moved a few days before and said I could visit him (or not, no pressure) at any time and he would love to see me. I agreed to go to his place and followed him back in the car.

I knew we would kiss and I was actually a bit scared of how I felt and what I'd allow myself to do but still I didn't turn around. We got inside and kissed a lot. We laid on his bed cuddling and he made me feel amazing. The kissing was so passionate and we were both massively turned on. Although I didn't allow him to touch my naked body, he groped me a lot and I ended up giving him a hand job. Afterwards, it still felt amazing. We laughed, we talked, we cuddled. He got another erection and it felt good that someone wanted me so much.

So that was yesterday and now I'm wondering, what next. If we meet again next week, I'm sure he will touch me at the very least and I'm fairly sure we will end up having sex. This is already an affair but having sex would really seem like a proper affair to me, especially as me and DH were both virgins when we met and haven't been with anyone else. My head is a mess and I don't know what to do. I can't believe what I've already done and either my DH or this other man is going to get hurt which I didn't want.

OP posts:
RondaRed · 27/04/2018 16:43

Op is this about yourself or a friend? Is this a reverse? The style of writing is unusual.

tootaloot · 27/04/2018 16:43

I wish people would stop overusing anxiety as a get out of jail free card. Real anxiety is dreadful and debilitating, and the amount of people who have it in real life seems disproportionate to the lashings of people claiming to have it on here to excuse their behaviour
^ This

AltheaTrell · 27/04/2018 16:44

You want us to pity you while you destroy the lives of your husband and kids. I don't think so.

You made this choice, not your circumstances. Don't expect us to feel sorry for your poor decision making.

BeyondFear2020 · 27/04/2018 16:44

It’s ok if you want to end your marriage. It really is.

You might feel trapped, but change is always possible even if it means thinking somewhat outside the box.

What’s not ok is having an affair. If you want to end your marriage, do it. Don’t get someone else tangled up in the situation. Having an affair isn’t fair on anyone, and there will never be a good outcome. End it now. You might feel hurt. The other guy might feel hurt. But you both knew what you were getting into. Believe me it’ll hurt a hell of a lot more a few months down the line. Or it’ll hurt your husband if/when he ever finds out.

Don’t be deceitful. It’s not the right thing to do. You have had a difficult life, but you know the difference between right and wrong. Do the right thing here. I know it’s difficult to give up the attention and affection you are getting from the other guy, but if you work on yourself and your self esteem a bit more, you can make it so that YOU are the source of your own happiness and self worth, not some man.

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 16:45

You mention that things with your OH are boring. I get this feeling too, and I wonder if because of our childhoods etc we are stuck looking for happy ever afters or unrealistic expectations of relationships?

I do think though that long-term relationships ARE boring because life itself is often mundane and boring but what you need to consider is how lucky you are that someone said they want to spend the rest of their lives with you as your companion. We are led to believe that marriages should always be exciting and full of sex and passionate, but honestly, is this what you expected when you said vows that are supposed to be life long? It's just not realistic.

Maybe just actually try working on your marriage and move forward, instead of getting bored and looking elsewhere.

If you can't make it work, separate. Marriages end all the time. It's not a failure or sign of weakness it's just life when people change.

RondaRed · 27/04/2018 16:46

Its not your DH or the new man. Its your own issues and your own disappointment in your life. Only you can change it. You know what to do.

m0therofdragons · 27/04/2018 16:47

I wonder if it'll be as exciting when he realises you're, in your words, "hard to live with" and have periods of not working and bouts of depression.

It's not your dh's job to make you happy. You make you happy and bring that to the relationship or choose to leave.

PatisserieDeBayeux · 27/04/2018 16:49

"he groped me a lot and I ended up giving him a hand job"

And they say romance is dead grin

Indeed. And Anais Nin, eat your heart out.

SandyY2K · 27/04/2018 16:51

If you aren't getting the affection you need from your husband...and you've discussed it with him...you need to let him know you arent happy with things.

Is your husband happy?

Some couples live under the same roof, but have separate romantic lives...maybe you could discuss that with your DH.

Although you say he was always like this...so you made a wrong choice in marrying him and you're still making wrong choices.

You need to think about your future, because having an affair won't end well for you.

mimibunz · 27/04/2018 16:53

I don’t think you can be a ‘hater’ if you’re over 40 and wear pearls. Just sayin.

something2say · 27/04/2018 17:01

Regarding the work thing, it's very dangerous to not work. You may have sent your CV in and nothing may have happened......is that going to be it?

Having worked in DV for years and years, I have very little good feeling for women who don't work as I think it is dangerous for them.

You're like me and several other posters, coming from a shit background. Ive always believed in work to get me thro. Money equals choices, power and safety.

If I were you, I'd volunteer somewhere for the next six months to get a start on my cv. Seriously. No one is going to clean up your life. Get into self help books on crap childhoods and work your shit out. I would leave the guy as well.....and private rent if you have to, using housing benefit until you are working.

Honestly what choice do you have? BUT don't stay like this. Your problems are not insurmountable but they will take time and effort x

Iflyaway · 27/04/2018 17:01

this new man is lovely

Wonder how "lovely" he'll turn out to be when you appear on his doorstep with kids in tow.....

OP, please stop expecting a man to save you. The more you run away from problems - and we all have them - the deeper the shit you will get into.

Get into an honest discussion with your DH. That your marriage is not working and how to split amicably for all your sakes. Your children are nr. 1 here.

something2say · 27/04/2018 17:02

Just to add, women trapped in DV cannot work. That is what I am saying. It is dangerous to not have your own means x

Weezol · 27/04/2018 17:06

Your first job is to make an appointment with your GP. You say you have depression, but it has not been diagnosed, I'm assuming the same can be said for anxiety.

Please din't claim you have conditions like this until you have a diagnosis.

Until you take responsibility for your mental health you will not be able to plan a future.

SomeKnobend · 27/04/2018 17:08

Grim as fuck. You don't love your h, cheated several times with the dating sites, phone sex and full blown affair, but you don't want to leave him because he's the money and you can't find a job. Nice.

If you want to use your dh for money and waste a few more years of his life, you could at least do him the courtesy of not fucking someone else in the meantime! Get a fucking grip. Better still, do the honest and fair thing and leave your dh so he's not wasting his life. You can claim benefits while looking for work.

Guavaf1sh · 27/04/2018 17:12

You can not justify this behaviour. You can’t. Stop trying. It’s okay to leave your husband and find someone else but you must end the relationship first. Plan an exit. Doing what you’re doing with no plan will cause a huge explosion of bitterness and anger and ruin many people’s lives

DannyLaRuesBestFrock · 27/04/2018 17:39

I could feel he was erect whilst we kissed and I knew he wanted me

😂😂 Okay

Angharad07 · 27/04/2018 17:45

Hmm OP. Ok, I do feel a bit sorry for you as I imagine you feel a bit stuck given your financial and work position.

What I would say is that you don’t sound happy with your DH and you don’t have the confidence to leave him because your past has caused many insecurities. Please remember never to rely on others for your own happiness because they can’t give it to you, it just doesn’t work like that. People can brighten our lives but they can’t change the way we feel.

I do think you should make steps to break it off with DH but put things on hold with “affair guy” because it will only complicate things for your family and your own emotions. I’m assuming you’re married? If so your DH is required to share his assets with you when you divorce.

I think what you really need is to go back to work and face your anxiety because it’s really holding you back from living. Perhaps go to your GP and inquire for counselling services as you have a lot playing in your mind. I understand that you’ve probably tried to battle your deamons many times but don’t give up! You can be a great success if you just keep trying!

STOP AFFAIR
make moves to push yourself to face your anxiety
arrange GP= counselling
work/ JSA =speak to job centre
leave DH: you’re not happy with him and evidently never have been

Good luck but whatever you do don’t give in to selfish temptations x

ivykaty44 · 27/04/2018 17:48

If you don't want to be with your child then have the decency to leave.

bertielab · 27/04/2018 17:54

Come clean with yourself and end your relationship first or work on it but your DH doesn’t deserve this.

Poorly in bed and you wanted sex - switch it round? How would you feel?

SoupDragon · 27/04/2018 17:55

the sanctimony on MN at times is intolerable.

Yeah, thinking an affair is wrong is just SO sanctimonious 🙄

Rgy3250999 · 27/04/2018 17:57

Bertielab I didn't want sex. I just missed company and companionship. If this was just a week of being in bed in a normally great relationship there wouldn't have been an issue. It's the fact that the relationship always feels so lonely.

Ivkaty44 - when have I ever said I don't want to be with my children? I've said that I'm not finding anything as fulfilling as it should feel but my children are well looked after and loved. I would never walk out on them.

OP posts:
pigmcpigface · 27/04/2018 17:58

One can think that something is wrong and still respond in a kind and compassionate way to the wrongdoer, though, right? I mean, how much good does this virtue-signalley blast-from-a-hellfire-preacher stuff do?

SoupDragon · 27/04/2018 17:59

No, there’s nothing kind and compassionate about a cheater.

ivykaty44 · 27/04/2018 18:00

I can only apologise, that wasn't meant to be child but husband, Ian sorry for confusion

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