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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 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:
rightteous · 16/07/2019 19:15

He’s a doctor on a remote island. He’s going to be extremely busy and focused on work and dealing with peoples bunions and looking up rank male bumholes etc it’s not exactly sexy! He’s going to be knackered and rung out at the end of the day. He’s probably had people coughing and dying on him too and had to tell people they’re dying from cancer etc. I think you are being totally unfair, selfish, self absorbed and high maintenance. Give the poor bloke a break and leave him alone when he’s working! I honestly cannot understand you or your feelings at all. If your initial post is on the level and you aren’t a troll then I think you need urgent counselling. You seem very strange and have weird ideas. I’ve never ever had those thoughts/feelings and I’ve never dated anyone who has ever wanted or expected any of the things you expect. You sound like you’ve got a histrionic personality disorder or sex addiction and you really should seek help urgently before you ruin a perfectly decent marriage.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 16/07/2019 19:24

You simply have different sexual and relating styles. Expecting him to be like you is not giving him the freedom to be himself - and I don't think that's fair.

Shodan · 16/07/2019 19:36

It reads to me like all you're concerned about is your sexual intimacy needs, and brushing off his emotional intimacy needs as rubbish.

He's telling you that he needs the emotional connection- are you giving him that?

I would feel incredibly pissed off if a) I told my DP I wasn't feeling sexy because I didn't feel emotionally close to him at that time and he poo-pooed my feelings and b) he kept trying to force something I wasn't comfortable with.

Have you also considered that maybe he doesn't want to get all fired up at thoughts of what the two of you could do together, when he's stuck on an island working and has no chance of doing those things IRL at that time?

simplekindoflife · 16/07/2019 19:42

"Hey baby, I'm so horny, cannot wait to get home and cum"

In all honesty, I'd laugh out loud if my DH said this to me over the phone! He goes away for work sometimes but we keep the intimacy going, just not in that way! Neither of us are into phone sex! Different strokes for different folks and all that, but I find it awkward and cheesy. I'd much rather wait till he comes home.

Don't force this on him. I think need to find a compromise.

rightteous · 16/07/2019 19:47

That’s why I’m thinking this must be a troll. Nobody really talks like that to their OHs do they?!?

rightteous · 16/07/2019 19:48

I’ve reported this post to mumsnet

NoCauseRebel · 16/07/2019 19:52

Nope, I don’t get it. Why would anyone want to hear about what their partner has masturbated to or want to watch them wank over FaceTime? That’s not intimacy, and if a bloke was on here posting that he’d be torn apart. Also, if a woman posted here that their partner was unhappy she wasn’t masturbating or thinking about him sexually and didn’t want to have phone sex she’d be told to ltb.

If you have an otherwise good relationship then this is you being shallow and unreasonable. If your sex life exists in person he doesn’t need to masturbate to make you feel wanted, what a ridiculous idea.

Shodan · 16/07/2019 19:53

That’s why I’m thinking this must be a troll.

Or a reverse, maybe?

BillMasen · 16/07/2019 19:58

Post as a man threatening to withdraw intimacy unless your female partner carries out sex acts on skype whilst she’s working away

See how many people have sympathy then

See how long it takes for you to be called abusive

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 16/07/2019 20:04

Sounds like really hard work to me.

Yawninfinitum · 16/07/2019 20:05

My DH works away

If he started demanding I discuss what sex I am missing, exactly what I’m using to masturbate and if I’m thinking about him and what he we did on X date, to have phone sex and (shudder) face time sex....

I would feel hounded and really upset and offended. I’d feel badgered and exploited

Yuck

You need to rein this in OP it’s not normal or attractive

BishopofBathandWells · 16/07/2019 20:50

Perhaps your DP prefers not to think about sex whilst he works away because it's easier to compartmentalise? He can't get any so why think about it? Constantly badgering him for sex via phone or camera is probably just rubbing his nose in it (if you'll excuse the expression!).

And yes, when my DP has worked away in the past we have had sexual discussions, shared pics etc. If he was nagging me for it on the same level as you are, I'd block his number.

beenwhereyouare · 16/07/2019 21:30

@Proteinshakesandshat - sorry you don't like the metaphor.

*@roothyb - I can't use a metaphor but you can use an idiom?

Three things:

Phone sex isn't the issue, feeling rejected is. It's right there in the title, her username, and the opening sentence.

If this were about any issue other than sex, most of you would be saying he doesn't communicate with her or talk about his feelings because he's not interested in her anymore. That the relationship is over. Her feelings should be respected as well as his. Respect can also include compromise. In this case if he let her know he misses sexual intimacy, she'd be less likely to need tangible evidence.

And why do some posters continue to think he's dedicating himself to his job and nobly abstaining from "lust"? When in fact she says "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,"

Rejection knows he's thinking about sex and accepts that he's using porn to meet needs. She's worried that he's moved on to live-chat sex acts. I think she's looking for reassurance that even while he's gone (which is most of the time), he'd rather be having sex with her. That he's not shutting her out. She needs to know she can't be replaced by masturbation and porn. Respecting her enough to occasionally share his needs with her would go a long way to easing that fear.

Rejection, it sounds like he really does feel "that way" about you. He just needs to demonstrate it in a way that works for both of you.

Flowers
Deathgrip · 16/07/2019 21:38

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??

Maybe he’s just not as sexual as you, maybe he just doesn’t need constant (or any) sexual discussion while he’s away, I haven’t when I’ve worked away in the past even for a month plus at a time.

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.

Then you are pushing him, whether you realise it or not.

Deathgrip · 16/07/2019 22:02

Have you been in a relationship before where this was the norm? Have you gotten the idea from somewhere that this is the norm?

I could be wrong but it seems to me like you feel rejected because your expectations aren’t being met and I’m wondering where those expectations came from? As you can see from the responses, this isn’t the norm for most people

NorthEndGal · 16/07/2019 22:12

It sounds like you have been trying a long time to make I'm into something he is not.
If he pestered you like that, everyone would be freaking out on here

Proteinshakesandovieshat · 17/07/2019 06:39

@beenwhereyouare it's not that I dint like your metaphor. It doesnt work, because food you need for survival. You dont need phone sex.

Phone sex isn't the issue, feeling rejected is. It's right there in the title, her username, and the opening sentence.

She feels rejected because he wont partake in phone sex. Its perfectly normal to know what to wank over face time or to feel that's not intimate. If she feels rejected because he doesnt want phone sex, then she needs to work on that. Just like any other issue. If you partner doesnt want to do a particular sexual act and that makes you feel like shit, you need to own that and deal with it or find someone who does like it.

She has no reason to think he has moved onto live chats.

Wanking and sex are 2 totally different things. Many people who live with their partners everyday may wank on occassion instead of having sex.

And wanking in private doesnt mean you have to be ok with live streaming it.

ISayWhatNow · 18/07/2019 18:34

Goodness, this thread has moved on! I'm definitely not a troll btw.

Ok, I accept that I'm asking for things he isn't able to give. Except that he used to...... I guess I'll have to suck it up and work around it.....

ISayWhatNow · 18/07/2019 18:35

Sorry - OP here! Forgot to name change 😂 Oh well 😂

beenwhereyouare · 19/07/2019 06:46

@ISayWhatNow,

Can you please answer one question?
,
Is it like the other posters think, that feeling rejected is really only about the phone sex? See, I think you're feeling rejected because while he's away, he doesn't seem to miss sex with you but instead uses porn for a solitary experience that you think has nothing to do with you. I get the impression that you'd be satisfied with almost anything that he shared, even if it's only to say how much he misses being with you or what he's looking forward to.

It sounds as though he loves you but I can understand how excluding you from that part of his life would hurt you.
I'd appreciate your response as I'd like to know if I'm that far off the mark.

Good luck! 💙

F2Feee · 19/07/2019 07:01

You actually sound like a sex pest and I can completely understand why he doesnt even want to discuss it while hes away. Sort your own needs out just like he is. You actually want him to tell you how horny he feels and what hes watching? Gosh you sound desperate and embarrassingly needy.
He has explained he needs that emotional connection so why are you hounding him? He isnt into phone sex - what dont you get about that?

ysmaem · 19/07/2019 07:07

Discussing sex over the phone/text/facetime/messenger just isn't for everyone and he may feel out of place and awkward participating in it which would be a massive turn off for him. And I get that you want him to share some insight into what he has masturbated over but masturbation is a private, personal act and he probably wants to keep it private and personal and probably feels maybe embarrassed and uncomfortable sharing any details with you. I think this one of those situations where you need to decide whether or not you can live with it or not.

KurriKawari · 19/07/2019 07:20
  1. This isn't rejection because you do have sex.
  2. You don't mention any other part of your relationship. Is he a good husband, step dad etc.
  3. You need to leave him alone. I'm not surprised he goes to a remote island to get away from you.
chansondematin · 19/07/2019 08:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AgentJohnson · 19/07/2019 08:42

There are a boat load of men who have sex on the brain and who are obsessed with phone sex, sending dick pics etc. Why’d you insist on hooking up with someone who isn’t as sexually demanding as you.

The problem isn’t your differing sexual needs it’s wanting the match with someone who isn’t your match.

I’d be interested if you partner can meet your sexual demands on a permanent basis because it sounds like his time away could be respite from the physical demands of your relationship.

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