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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:
Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 09:22

Cheating does turn you into someone you're not but to be honest there is nothing you can do. If you don't feel you're in a position to be supportive then you need to say to them that you can't discuss the matter with them or you just have to take a step back:

You can link all the articles in the world but it won't make a difference. To be in that situation anyway says all common sense has left, we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe so you really are wasting your energy, if anyone had sent me a link I would have just thought no this is different ..... and I'm sure a lot of people would think the same.

Dadaist · 12/05/2020 10:00

@Zebrasandfairytales - I think it’s like watching someone develop a hard drug addiction. At first it’s just a wonderful feeling, and then you go back to your life - but think about doing it again. And you plan a time to repeat it. You can handle this. You’re not really hurting anyone if they don’t know - it’s just some ‘me’ time you deserve.
But as with all addictions, you gradually become more invested, you need a fix more often, and when you do you need more to get that same feeling.
Eventually you discover you now need your fix just to feel normal - a message, a chat, a photo. And everything else in your life plays second fiddle to what is now a need you didn’t have before.
And you end up able to lie, steal from your family and children, in order to feed this need. It gives you a taste of heaven and then drags you into hell - and you lose your home, your family, your self respect, even your job. And you hurt so many people in the process.

It just depends where people are on the journey as to what you can do.

arboretum89 · 12/05/2020 10:55

@sugartitss

You seem to be enjoying yourself.

Your ex's OW is unlikely to be on here.

These are women (and men) who know they've done wrong. They already know and are in pain. Your posts add to that pain

They also won't help their cheated on spouses.

Maybe your life is virtuous and squeaky clean - and that you've never unwittingly caused pain to someone else.

I don't think this is the thread for you. It's also not helping anyone else

arboretum89 · 12/05/2020 11:04

Meant to say *this also won't help their chested on spouses.

arboretum89 · 12/05/2020 11:17

Agh! Cheated not chested. Lockdown brain.

SheWranglesRugRats · 12/05/2020 11:52

Having an affair is hardly causing “unwitting” pain FFS.

arboretum89 · 12/05/2020 12:34

I agree. Bad phrasing on my part, and that's not what I meant.

My point:

This is a support thread ('ffs') - posts like the ones I was referring to are not helpful to anyone, nor are they needed here. There's pain enough from every angle.

Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 12:50

Exactly arbore - it is not a nice thing to do, and of course it was a choice rather than it just happening but this is a support thread for anyone who is in this situation on how to cope when it ends. And much as you guys think we are the lowest of the low and it serves us right, keep it off this thread so we can just support and help those who need it. There are plenty of posts from partners where you can flog us all, you don't need to do it here. Presumably sugartits and such are very supportive on other threads to those who need it and aren't just trolling but hey, it's strange times indeed.

bloomingdalelovely · 12/05/2020 13:37

I'm still struggling today - thought I was doing pretty well and almost getting over it, then get knocked back like this. I guess it's 2 steps forward, one step back.
Think the general covid situation and the seemingly endless lockdown is getting me down and I'm transferring the upset/worry related to that on to this.

OP posts:
Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 13:42

@bloomingdalelovely you are gonna have days like that. I'm doing ok but then I'm hit with an over whelming sadness. Time is all we need , big hugs Daffodil

MLouise84 · 12/05/2020 13:50

A drunk driver hits a pedestrian, they are both hurt. Where does your sympathy lie? With the drunk driver who is hurt because he chose to drink drive? Or the pedestrian who was innocently trying to cross the road? Maybe there should be a support thread for drink drivers too?

Some of you are so wrapped up in the 'pain' that you caused yourselves that you can't see the truth. You are not victims.

bloomingdalelovely · 12/05/2020 13:59

@Dozycuntlaters - thanks. On days like this it can feel like you're back to square one - but I guess it is still progress.

@MLouise183 - terrible analogy. And victims or not, even self-inflicted pain is still pain, no-one is asking you to be sympathetic to people who inflict pain on themselves and others. This is a support thread and it's really helpful to hear from people who have been in the same boat and how they are trying to move forward. I don't consider myself a victim but I am in pain and trying to get myself out of this horrible situation.

OP posts:
Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 13:59

@MLouise84 that's a ridiculous analogy to make. Of course we know the truth, of course we know we've caused it ourselves but we are human and sometimes we need a helping hand. And hopefully if anyone on the verge of an affair they will read this and run for the hills.

MLouise84 · 12/05/2020 14:24

It may be ridiculous to people on this thread because you are in denial, but I think it's an accurate analogy, and I'm sure many others do too. How is ridiculous? The drink driver inflicted pain on himself and on others as a result of a choice....is that not what cheats do too? Or is it that you believe cheating isn't as bad as drink driving? Or is it that emotional pain is not as bad a physical pain?

Instead of looking to others in similar situations for support, why don't you instead look at the damage cheating causes, often to innocent people (including children) and ask yourselves if you're happy to be complicit in that (instead of taking your anger out on innocent people).

If there's any good to come of this thread it's that the victims of such actions may take some comfort in the fact that cheats hurt too.

Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 14:52

@MLouise84 ok I should ignore you but I'll bite.....

As you seem so keen to use that ridiculous analogy..... if someone is an alcoholic do you think he is going to get more help in a support group with fellow alcoholics so they can share their stories, find coping mechanisms and tips on how to stop or do you think they should just be vilified and made to feel like shit? What one do you honestly think will get the best results.

Look, no one is angry, not with the AP's other half, we're angry mainly with ourselves and also the AP but yeah mainly ourselves. We know this isn't our shining moment and we're getting out of it but regardless of the rights or wrongs it is hard and even harder if you can't vent.

And yes I totally agree it must be nice to realise that 'cheats' hurt too so if this thread puts even one person off getting involved with someone they shouldn't then it can only be a good thing.

But seriously if you have nothing to offer but recriminations and insults then please just leave this thread alone so we can carry on helping whoever needs it .

arboretum89 · 12/05/2020 15:59

@MLouise84

Every single person on this thread feels guilt and pain and horror at what they are doing

If you took the time to read you'd see people wracked with guilt.

Some people fall in love with someone else

Some people are in relationships that are so awful (and sometimes aren't allowed to leave - it happens and I've seen it)

Some people make a terrible mistake.

No one one here is happy with what they've done. No one is happy at the pain they've caused

Everyone wishes they hadn't done it

So here we are.

Advice or support is great

Everything you are offering so far, they already know.

Good people do bad things. Very often. The way to heal is to get help, get better and not to repeat the mistake - which is what this thread is for.

MarriedToABellend · 12/05/2020 16:05

Ffs Get a grip and get over it like his poor wife had to.
Didn't think how shit it would feel for her when shagging away did you?? Or if you did, you didn't give enough shits to prevent it.
Why should anyone care how shit you now feel?

You deserve a lifetime of misery for the pain and upset your involvement played in the distress caused to others including children.

Just because you didn't make vows or commit to 9ne other, didn't have to keep on being involved with someone committed to someone else.
You made a choice. Now suck it up.

Hope you hurt for a long fucking time!

Damnmeifyouwish · 12/05/2020 16:37

I thought I’d posted on this thread early on but didn’t. Probably because I had been in a period of no contact and then he responded to me messaging. Wish I’d left it as no contact.

Copied this from the affairs thread which got hijacked.

Name changed because people just attack on these threads.

I’ve been having an affair for the last 18mths on and off but in reality this man has been in my life nearly 15yrs sexually on and off. We’ve done a brief didn’t get together then one of us has always been in a relationship. This time it’s me who is ( now) married and he’s become properly single in the last six months. We are now friends and my husband is aware of this.

To say we are immoral and awful people is just an easy way to condemn us. I’m still a caring, loyal person to many people and I still do work in the community and give a lot to others. Who I have been disloyal to is myself ( my moral compass) and my husband. However affairs don’t just happen unless their is an unmet need whether that is emotional or physical.

For me it was emotional. My husband just won’t connect with me about my mental health and quite literally prefers me to see my AP when I am low and down because it removes the need to support me. Unfortunately sometimes we cross the line as we kiss or have sex. In the last 4 months we have tried so hard to remove the physical element from our relationship and have failed on a couple of occasions. He’s never going to be in a relationship with me- at least not as long as our children are young. We’ve both done the blended families. It didn’t work out for him and I wouldn’t do it again consciously. At one point I would have given up everything for him. In some ways I think I still would but when thinking rationally I think I know we’ll never be together like that.

So I take what I can from it. Someone whose company I just feel comfortable in. Someone who has always accepted me for me including the bads bits- quite literally we know the best and worse of each other.

Have I seen him? Yes several times at a socially acceptable distance. We still work and need to go out shopping. It wasn’t difficult to arrange.

Have we breached lockdown. Yes. Not my proudest moments but our mental health was so low and we met. He was who I went to the moment lockdown was announced.

My marriage is shit. It’s going to end. Not because I’m leaving for my AP but because it’s made it very clear what’s missing. My husband has had so many chances to support me, go to counselling but refuses to. Yet he’s more than happy to take take take from me and see me run into the ground frequently and ignore my mental health crisis. I really ill at the moment physically and still I have to micro manage the family from my sick bed.

It’s stuff like that which makes me feel less guilty about the whole situation but guilty I do still feel.

In the last week my AP and I have had a massive row. He became really unkind and dismissive over what we had emotionally. I know part of this is a coping mechanism. Much easier to pretend it’s nothing than accept it’s something.

I’ve gone no contact with him too. ( well I’ve sent him some scathing messages and he’s not replied). I think this is where I need to leave it with him too. So here I am looking for tips. It’s gonna be so hard.

MLouise84 · 12/05/2020 16:42

@arboretum89 I don't think everyone on this thread does feel guilt. I've seen a lot more self pity than I have seen guilt. It's embarrassing. Although I except there sometimes are circumstances where people are unhappy and genuinely cannot leave, that's not what I've seen on this thread. Instead it is full of the usual cliches.

'Good people do bad things' is another cliche thrown around by cheats. Good people make mistakes, off course they do. But do good people continue to make bad choices over and over again? Do good people risk deeply hurting others for their own fickle enjoyment? I'm not sure they do.

bloomingdalelovely · 12/05/2020 17:30

@Damnmeifyouwish you said AP has been unkind and dismissive lately - if you take that at face value, perhaps that will help you to maintain distance because you now know that perfect rose tinted picture of him just isn't accurate.

OP posts:
Damnmeifyouwish · 12/05/2020 17:48

That’s what I’m focusing on. I need to stay away from him. He’s not blocked me on social media but I am very tempted to do this myself in a few weeks if no apology forthcoming.

Tbh even an apology isn’t going to gloss over this.

ginandcv · 12/05/2020 18:32

I'm signing in to say Thankyou and goodbye. I'm not flouncing btw. I understand the frothers and why they feel the way they do.

I have had brilliant support here and via PM and it's time to move on.

I'd really recommend the ester Perel stuff, Shirley glass and this book I've downloaded 'it's called a breakup because it's broken'

I have a robust plan and good RL support.

I wish everyone peace and happiness Smile

Dozycuntlaters · 12/05/2020 19:11

Take care @ginandcv .... you know where we are if you need to vent or whatever . Daffodil

BackseatCookers · 12/05/2020 19:14

That’s what I’m focusing on. I need to stay away from him. He’s not blocked me on social media but I am very tempted to do this myself in a few weeks if no apology forthcoming.

Why not do it today @Damnmeifyouwish?

This situation isn't going to improve, he's a dick and he's being horrible to everyone in his life including you.

This isn't going to end well no matter what happens next so wouldn't you rather take control of your own life, block him and promise yourself to never speak to him again because he thinks of you as disposable.

In his mind you exist to serve his needs. He has made a mould of you in the shape he wants you and you've been falling over yourself to try and fit it.

It's not working. He doesn't love you. He doesn't want you enough to be brave and do anything real about it.

The biggest act of self love you could ever do is to see him for the wanker he is and leave him the fuck alone.

BackseatCookers · 12/05/2020 19:15

Sorry obviously this bit was meant to be bold:

That’s what I’m focusing on. I need to stay away from him. He’s not blocked me on social media but I am very tempted to do this myself in a few weeks if no apology forthcoming.