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I don't know what to do about this rejection and it's threatening my relationship.

80 replies

Rejection · 16/07/2019 10:38

I feel utterly and totally sexually rejected.

Salient facts:

Dp works away a lot, for varying lengths of time. Sometimes up to 7 weeks, sometimes 2, more usually 3/4, and then he'll be at home anywhere between 3 days and 10. Normally 5/6. When he's home he doesn't work. He has a demanding, stressful job.

I WFH. I have 2 dd (not his). I run the household while he's away (I'm not sure why that's relevant?! Just giving the whole picture).

When he's home we have a good sex life. Sex most days, doesn't get stale. He clearly fancies me, is turned on by me and is usually constantly seeking sexual intimacy!

My problem is that once he goes away, it's like a switch has flicked. He doesn't mention sex/feeling horny/ask me anything about how I'm coping with no sex/. There is no intimate conversation unless I start it, and then I'll get a very basic message of "I watched some porn". He watches a LOT of porn while he's away. He doesn't masturbate without it. He describes it as a tool to make him cum, which I accept. I don't have a problem with porn (he watches amateur stuff so much, much less chance of exploitation). But he will NEVER volunteer any sort of discussion. He also has lots of videos of me which I don't think he watches all that much. Fair enough, I guess the same thing gets boring.

I have explained to him countless times that I NEED the intimacy to be sustained while he's away, but he always has an excuse. It's usually "We haven't spoken for a couple of days, that creates distance for me and I don't want to share stuff."

Or: "We had an argument, that doesn't make me feel close to you." Both of these things are rubbish 9/10. He says that he doesn't feel comfortable discussing sex unless we're emotionally connected. Which for me is all the time! So we don't speak for a day or two - so what?! We barely argue, he's very laidback.

The big thing for me is that he will NEVER seek that sexual interaction with me while he's away. He never tells me he's horny, what he watches, whether he's thinking about me while he masturbates, what I've been doing, doesn't ask for videos, doesn't FaceTime for mutual masturbation, doesn't do phone sex, etc, etc.

I don't want a log of when he's cum or what he watched, I want an open dialogue of sexual needs while he's away. I cannot stress enough how much he NEVER EVER instigates any sort of sexual discussion, never any "Hey baby, I'm so horny, cannot wait to get home and cum, thinking about what we did at X time". Or "I watched this XYZ porn and it turned me on so much."
He is simply not interested in me, or sharing with me, unless he's at home. And he KNOWS how much this bothers me but he never changes. He's not making any sort of effort at all.

This last time I deliberately haven't instigated any sexual conversation, I've just sat back, watched and waited. All other contact is normal. And over 4 weeks he has not raised one, single thing. I feel totally and utterly rejected. He's home in the next couple of days and I honestly don't think I can be intimate with him. God, I'm nearly in tears writing this! How pathetic. This has been going on for over 3 years now and nothing changes. But if I raise it, yet AGAIN, it will be counter-productive. I don't know what to do any more.

There's literally no chance of him cheating. Fuck it, this is massively outing, but it's relevant - he's a Dr on a remote island. He's the only one so the entire population are his patients. He doesn't leave the island at all.

Any advice would be great. Sorry for the epic length!

OP posts:
FuriousVexation · 16/07/2019 10:47

Yeah, I'm not into phone sex either so my sympathy is with your DP.

I think you need to make a decision OP on whether you can hack a relationship that's based on lots of working away time for him where you won't get sex. And come to an agreement that you either find another outlet when he's away, or exit the relationship.

Isitmeorhimthistime · 16/07/2019 10:49

He could be cheating though? Even if the population are his patients it's possible?

SavingSpaces2019 · 16/07/2019 12:34

If someone wants to cheat - they will find a way.
This guy doesn't see himself in an actual relationship with you.
His main 'home' is on the island where he spends the majority of his time working, socialising and having a life.

When he comes back from work, he's getting hotel service and sex on tap.
Plus he gets to just have downtime and relax, a nice little break from work.
No responsibilities, no expectations and no demands.

You're very convenient for him.
You manage the boring, tedious, monotonous responsibilities and facilitate a cushy life for him.
All HIS needs are being met.

When you're out of sight you are also out of his mind to a large extent.
This guy doesn't sound like a partner, more like a Friends With Benefits who you skivvy around.

Doesitevenmatternow · 16/07/2019 12:40

I have no idea why savingspaces feels qualified to make such outrageous claims.

Op he is not into phone sex etc. You're taking it personally when it probably isn't. I am sorry, I don't have much advice but you need to either accept this or find a way to connect that suits you both.

No help I know, sorry.

SavingSpaces2019 · 16/07/2019 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BlackBirdInMyGarden · 16/07/2019 12:56

I’m sorry you feel rejected but you can’t force someone to take part in sexual acts when they don’t want to and it makes them uncomfortable.

This is a big incompatibility and it even if you were to cajole him into performing this stuff with you do you really want to? How could you enjoy sexting for example if you knew the other person really wasn’t enjoying it?

I do feel for you but you’re not going to get the kind of intimacy you want from him when he’s away. It’s not really intimacy anyhow when one party is uncomfortable and doesn’t really enjoy it.

If in person sex every few weeks is not enough for you I think you may have to accept your practical circumstances mean you are not sexually compatible for the majority of the time - and decide whether you can live with that or not.

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 16/07/2019 13:02

Yeah I wouldn’t want to do phone sex either. I love my husband and enjoy sex but phone sex just feels awkward and weird to me and if one of us worked away I think I’d be like your DP. As others have said only you can decide if you can live with that.

batvixen123 · 16/07/2019 13:04

I think SavingSpaces is being unfair. Lots of people work away - that doesn't mean they aren't in an 'actual relationship' with the people back home.

I do think it is a tough path to walk for both of you, esp as there is clearly a specific area of sexual incompatibility there which is phone sex/dirty talk. I think maybe as with all these preferences the person who isn't comfortable with that style of sexual activity gets to use their veto. Honestly, I don't like phone sex either (I just feel stupid and utterly non sexy) and so I do sympathise with him.

justasking111 · 16/07/2019 13:07

Phone sex not my bag either, upbringing perhaps, but when he came home we did make up for it. You are a bit of a drama queen to be honest OP.

roothyb · 16/07/2019 13:10

I'm not into it either. If my other half pushed it on me I'd show him the door.

Onemansoapopera · 16/07/2019 13:11

I'm with your other half DP. Cant think of anything worse.

Jessbow · 16/07/2019 13:17

How on this earth does phone sex ( someone huffing and puffing down a phone I presume) make for intimacy?

''Doesnt facetime for Mutual masturbation''.... Is that a thing then?

Weird.

tinyvulture · 16/07/2019 13:21

I get your point, OP. And I don’t think you are demanding constant phone sex - just some acknowledgement of missing you sexually when you are apart. That is something I want too. However, from the sounds of the replies, it is something many people are a bit revolted by.... I guess your DH is one of those. So, it’s a mismatch. You can’t change his feelings on this issue, or (probably) your own. The only things you can change are a) whether you are with him at all, b) long term, his work circumstances. Maybe it doesn’t work for you, as a couple, living apart so much?

roothyb · 16/07/2019 13:38

@tinyvulture I think she's after a bit more than just acknowledgment 😂

The big thing for me is that he will NEVER seek that sexual interaction with me while he's away. He never tells me he's horny, what he watches, whether he's thinking about me while he masturbates, what I've been doing, doesn't ask for videos, doesn't FaceTime for mutual masturbation, doesn't do phone sex, etc, etc.

It's not that it revolts me in anyway, but if I had made my feels clear to my partner I would expect them to respect them and not continue to push.

I actually couldn't think of anything less attractive than seeing my OH bash one out over FaceTime 😂 or keep a straight face!

blackcat86 · 16/07/2019 13:52

You're making this all sound quite hard work. Expecting your partner to ask you how you're coping without sex? I mean really. You need to adjust your expectations. Your partner might not feel particularly sexual whilst away at a stressful job. Surely you can get yourself a decent vibrator for when he's away without the need to discuss it in detail if your partner isn't comfortable. Most couples say they miss each other (as in the emotional connection and not seeing each other). If someone said they missed me sexually I'd probably wonder if we just didn't have enough of a relationship to connect on a deeper level.

loveyoutothemoon · 16/07/2019 13:59

I don't see the issue here, but that's me. There's nothing wrong in him not wanting intimate conversation on the phone.

Rejection · 16/07/2019 14:02

This isn't about specific acts - it's about his shutdown when he goes away. I totally agree that a person shouldn't feel forced into something they're not comfortable with.

He could lose his job if he started a personal relationship with a patient and he would never take the risk!

He's actually coming to the end of his work up there and there's a lot more work for him down here so he'll be home a lot more. We live together and the relationship is heading towards engagement. Which he's said, btw! Not me reading a situation wrongly.

I just want to know what on earth is wrong with me that he refuses an intimate relationship when he's away? I'm now thinking maybe he watches live sex shows/web cam girls??

I want to get to the root cause if I can. If I could understand then perhaps it would help to accept it??

OP posts:
Rejection · 16/07/2019 14:08

I gave a broad range of options to demonstrate that I'm not demanding this that and the other. I don't specifically want phone sex, FT or whatever - I care that he doesn't think about me sexually when he's away. Those were just examples of things that could be part of a sexual relationship when we're apart.

OP posts:
avalanching · 16/07/2019 14:08

I don't get this, DH is military and can be away for up to 6 months, yes of course we sometimes talk about sex but it doesn't equate to intimacy for me at all. I couldn't think of anything more awkward than phone sex and I'm certain DH feels the same! Some of what you describe would make a lot of people feel uncomfortable. If it doesn't float his boat you can't force him, but don't take it as rejection, it's no different to having any other different sexual preference.

user1479305498 · 16/07/2019 14:09

I honestly would dump my DH if he wanted all this, would find it utterly weird.— each to their own I guess. If sex and intimate chat matters that much to this level to you and he isn’t in to it you have a stark choice, accept that is who he is or find someone who also gets a buzz from it

missmoz · 16/07/2019 14:09

SavingSpaces sounds quite, quite mad. A lot of couples cope with one half working away, on oil rigs, in remote places etc...bit of a dramatic conclusion to reach there.

I don't really know what would make someone in a loving relationship uncomfortable about hearing about their partners sexual needs, but there you go, it clearly does. I'm afraid you have to adjust your expectations about phone sex/videos. It's not going to come from him and you can't push that on someone.

Perhaps you could address the intimacy more though and say that you need to know he misses you? Texts would fine.

And yep suggest you find some other ways to get yourself off when he's not around and focus on your time together when he is.

Rejection · 16/07/2019 14:09

I should add that we have done all of those things over the years so I know he's ok with them. It's just always been at my instigation, NEVER his.

OP posts:
Rejection · 16/07/2019 14:13

Maybe I'm just asking too much of him. Maybe I'm unknowingly putting pressure on him. I would never mean to.

The difficulty coming up is that he's coming home very shortly and he will expect to pick up where he left off. But that doesn't work for me. I have made this very clear.

OP posts:
LenoVentura · 16/07/2019 14:15

I would suggest that if you've done these things over the years but only at your instigation and never his, that's because he's not actually OK with it, he's doing it because it's what you want. Sometimes in relationships that's what we do, but it doesn't mean he's into it. Why do you want your partner to do things that he doesn't want to do sexually?

LenoVentura · 16/07/2019 14:16

If you're sexually incompatible, then that's a pity and it may mean that the relationship has to end. It's not fair to either of you to ask you to live long term without the sort of sex that you want.

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