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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

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Have you had an affair and how did you get over AP

997 replies

bloomingdalelovely · 07/04/2020 18:41

Just that really - looking for input/comments from people who have been in this position.

OP posts:
PeanutDouglas · 29/04/2020 20:35

@Sosounhappy I’m so sorry. Your situation sounds awful. It is hard, especially when he’s being so callous.

As an outsider however, here are my thoughts. His life is a lie. His kids may idolise him, but it’s a lie. His wife may worship him, but it’s a lie. Why? Because he is lying to them. If he were a decent man he would tell his wife he needs sex and ask for an open relationship. If she agreed he would ensure his sexual encounters didn’t become emotion fuelled. He’s selfish and doesn’t care about drafting others down with him.

You are best off out of it. I know it’s difficult to see, but you really are.

PeanutDouglas · 29/04/2020 20:36

*dragging not drafting

Sosounhappy · 29/04/2020 21:06

Thank you peanut

Raaaa · 29/04/2020 21:19

I'm watching this thread from someone who hasn't had an affair but has been cheated on, not in an affair sense eg. one women emotional attachment but various one offs, has sex then never speaks to them again.
I find it interesting as I've never considered the 'other women' could be hurting and actually want to be with guy and in fact it's quite complex emotionally for them.
In the end though, it seems like no one wins.

Sosounhappy · 29/04/2020 21:35

I am sorry Raaa and feel very guilty and ashamed

ginsndcv · 29/04/2020 22:16

I am genuinely remorseful. Mine is over. Has been for months. I’m not lining over him. It’s just a shit situation that I brought on myself.

I now live with what I’ve done trying to make every day better.

ginsndcv · 29/04/2020 22:16

Pining not lining

Labradoodlesnoodles · 29/04/2020 23:16

I think that every AP feels guilt, I feel everything from guilt, shame through to excitement, longing, love. Yes I have self pity for what I'm missing but I also feel so much guilt for my husband and his wife. It's such a massive head fuck, and I know it's my fault as I should never of got involved in the first place. I'm also aware of what you guys are saying, it's not real as we only saw each other for good times, and weve probably both told each other things we thought we wanted to hear rather than the truth, but it is still shit. I think it should be ok to acknowledge that here, as there is no one else in the world I can talk to and there is so much hurt that I need to work through.

Confusedwife1 · 30/04/2020 08:01

So how are people getting over their AP in lockdown? How are you all keeping busy?

I find myself endlessly checking for messages. I feel so distracted all the time I can’t concentrate on anything else. I have so much time on my hands.

PeanutDouglas · 30/04/2020 08:10

If you block him you won’t be checking for messages ! It’s quite simple. Block, then find another activity. I blocked then started a really good book, started cooking, making up for all the time I spent wasting on him.

Sosounhappy · 30/04/2020 08:11

I think that is the problem to much time

sniffysnuffler · 30/04/2020 08:36

I haven't had an affair but a good friend of mine has. She and AP were colleagues, and still are. I keep on and on at her to look for a job elsewhere. I've been a shoulder to cry on and when they have to interact with each other it's like reopening the wound. Can you find a job elsewhere?

Another issue with my friend has to do with the reasons for the affair in the first place. She is not satisfied in her marriage, and has said that deep down she knows it should end, but she can't bring herself to make that decision. I think this is a really big obstacle to helping her move on - in my own experience, meeting someone new is a huge part of being able to get over an ex. While my friend is unhappily married, she can't do that (unless it involves having another affair, which is not a recipe for happiness). So, I'd encourage you to think about the future of your marrriage (which you might have already mentioned on here - this is a huge thread and I haven't read the whole thing!).

While I haven't had an affair myself, I am unfortunately well versed in struggling to move on from people I've been pretty obsessed with :( It's true that no contact is essential, although I never managed to do that without the occasional relapse (I didn't actually contact them, just looked at photos etc, which was a bad idea in itself - no contact has to include no looking etc). It's happened twice, and in each case, it was a gradual and painful process of basically waiting it out until I could bear to date other people, and then the new person would push out the feelings about the old one, even when the new relationship turned out not to last.

(Btw in case anyone is feeling sorry for my friend's husband, he left his last wife for her, and he only did so when his last wife found out he was having an affair and confronted him. So, not deserving of much sympathy.)

drcb83 · 30/04/2020 09:02

That is true - APs are often the 'catalyst' for something that should be happening anyway - a marriage ending.

MLouise183 · 30/04/2020 11:42

@drcb83 APs are often the 'catalyst' for something that should be happening anyway - a marriage ending.

Only for the weak minded. Decent people would end a crap marriage before using it as an excuse to cheat.

Does the betrayed partner deserve to be cheated on just because one partner thinks the marriage is coming to an end? Or do they deserve to be told? You'd be surprised how many people didn't realise that their marriage was suddenly crap until it was used to excuse an affair........and how many people then want to go back to their marriage after realising the grass isn't greener.

The end of any relationship is painful but being cheated on amplifies that pain so the 'marriage coming to an end anyway' really isn't a justifiable reason to cheat.

User2596 · 30/04/2020 15:15

Okay I need people to talk sense to me.

I went NC for 24 days in which I thought I was making a good progress, the first few days were horrendous but slowly started to feel somehow better. All changed when AP contacted me to say he was devastated and wanted to be with me, we agreed we will have a conversation about how to make things happen (leave our partners) to be together.

A bit of background, he has never said his marriage is terrible or that he was unhappy before he met me, he just said he couldn't get me out of his head and described it as a need to have me in his life, after two months together he said he had fallen in love with me.

He is much older than me (15+) has two small kids, I said to him I want children my own and he needed to consider that if he wanted to be with me in the real world, I really don't see how he would want a baby by the time he is nearly 50!

I know what I should do is give my marriage a chance and if not really leave my husband and find some peace for myself, but this man really has messed me up! The list of why I shouldn't be with him is so long yet I can't really give him up and always wonder what our child will look like, pathetic!

PeanutDouglas · 30/04/2020 15:52

Tell him if he really loved you he’d let you go. Then start the no contact again and work on yourself

Cheeseandwin5 · 30/04/2020 16:00

I can understand single people who get caught up with someone married, sometimes you can get fall into it and in to the lies.

What always gets me though is the amount of people who despite cheating on their partners, still see themselves as the victim. so many posters talking about how their suffering is unreal. You may be suffering but you are not the victim, they are the innocent wife/husband/partner who are caught up in the deceit and lies.
How incredible selfish of someone to think solely about their pain as a a result of their own actions despite others being potentially hurt more.
And there is always an excuse , didn't want sex, controlling, not paying attention etc etc and the classic- I would leave but I don't want to hurt (the unknowing partner) them. Always blaming the other party for their actions, as if they have no responsibility at all.

thebridgelooksbroken · 30/04/2020 20:37

@User2596

Why not ask your husband if he wants to give your marriage a chance, after you've told him about your shenanigans? Hmm

affor · 01/05/2020 21:04

Anyone spotted the other thread on affairs going on?

bloomingdalelovely · 01/05/2020 21:43

Yes. Shocking levels of mud slinging and vitriol on that thread.

OP posts:
User2596 · 01/05/2020 22:40

Yes! I read a bit and had to stop... how is everyone doing?

ginandcv · 02/05/2020 01:03

Every time I look at this thread and consider an answer I see people piling on and having a go. I completely understand why.

Let me say again I am fully remorseful. I made a massive mistake. My DH did nothing wrong. It's all on me. My AP left his wife. He didn't cheat.

Anyway here we are.

I've done many hours reflection. Lots of CBT.

I am treating each day as it comes. No more lies.

Babaoreally · 02/05/2020 07:24

Do you think your DH suspects @ginandcv?

PeanutDouglas · 02/05/2020 08:16

@User2596 I hope you’ve stayed no contact. It’s hard I know. I’ve actually been missing mine this week and it’s so hard

Raaaa · 02/05/2020 08:32

It adds a whole new loop when say the husband is cheating on his wife with another women, he does the cold shoulder on the OW which upsets her, he may find another OW to knock about with, so the first OW wants to get revenge, meanwhile the wife knows nothing of it.