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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

So many problems, so much hurt

57 replies

serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 15:58

I am going to just pour this out and see if it is even possible that anyone can help.

My DH has a chronic condition that causes ED. We have not had sex in many years. It is been quietly accepted that is our life. We are nice to each other and never, ever discuss it.

To my knowledge he has never cheated (but read on) and I have not. He is in pretty good shape. A mutual friend thought he was 5 years younger recently. I am getting older (50) and I have let myself go. I am gym fit, but overweight (this may soon change, read on). I look Ok; nicely dressed/groomed. But I appreciate under my clothes it's all gone sideways.

We are professionals and affluent. DH is in a job that pulls in a LOT. Our lifestyle is actually quite modest but the presence of money comforts me (he knows this, it dates from an crazy childhood) and I understand that it defines my self-worth in the absence of affection.

Lockdown has been hard. As a person that thrives on company and a job that demands it, with none of the activities, sport, holidays etc that he enjoys his MH has taken a hit. I thought my own MH was good enough to handle LD. Turns out that's wrong and I've become more and more inverted and am finding re-starting our social life very challenging. I get some relief in that my job is outside the home, at work you would not recognise I am struggling. That said, I thought we were OK and that as an established team we'd get through.

Here comes the trouble. On Monday night a load of photos of his dick came up on my photo roll. Challenged, he claimed he was trying to see if he could get himself aroused as it's been years since we had sex and he wanted to see if he could. I didn't believe him, giant stressy row and really not much digging led to the discovery of cam girl sites and hangouts. Images have been shared. Money has been spent. The things he's written are playing on a loop in my head like some sort of hideous fucking porn movie with my husbands voice.

He has always looked after our bank accounts. He told me that there was a certain amount half of which was earmarked. After a truly massive scene he coughed up the account numbers and passwords. There is only half as much as he has told me is there for the past five years.

I've changed the password and taken his credit cards and personal phone and iPad. I know there are ways around not having all these but I needed to drag some control back. He won't dare use work tech or our desktop (kids). I have screenshots which I will send his mother if I have to. I probably wouldn't, but the threat is present and understood.

He said he would leave but I've said no. Kids would be devastated. I'm not ready to let him out of my sight and what small control I have. I understand this is ridiculous. I do, but I'm clinging to this by my fingernails like I'm falling off a cliff.

The atmosphere in the house is quiet. Kids know there is a crisis, but all very civil.

My head is screaming 6 days in. Only one person outside knows. I have been totally normal except for a couple of late mornings. In every conversation I have, all day long, I'm screaming in my head that my husband hates me. I have to see my parents today with the screaming. I have at least 3 events planned with friends where I cannot tell anyone what's happening and still the screaming goes on. I have a physical pain in my chest and I cannot keep food down.

And the worst thing, the worst of all is I would change it all back in a heartbeat. But if we talk I know in my heart he's decided on out and I think hearing that might just be the final blow.

I don't know what I want from this post. I don't need a handhold. I don't need anyone to eew the camgirl bit, I already threw up in front of him while I was reading the stuff on hangouts. I feel like my nails are starting to tear off and I'm going to go over the cliff aren't I? Can we recover this? Where the fuck would we even start?

OP posts:
Ging7878 · 19/07/2020 21:48

If you feel that taking away them items levels the field then ok. It sounds like you need to have that conversation asap. Your living in a toxic environment at the mo and can't carry on like that even if it means hearing things you dont want to hear. If the messages were graphic and made you feel sick, how would you ever get past that? I hope you get the support you need IRL. You shouldn't of been disrespected and treated this way by your DH. I think it would help you to speak to a counsellor you feel comfortable with. I hope you feel a little better soon.

serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 21:54

Thank you @Ging7878 I know you think I'm barking. You may well be proved to be right given time. I can see why my approach looks batshit. In this week it's the best I've got. I'm hoping next week will bring better clarity.

OP posts:
SepticTankYank · 19/07/2020 22:06

I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Why do you want him to stay? It might seem the best way right now but if I'm honest, it seems like you're punishing him like a child. You have removed his access to items and threatened to tell him mum! I'm not sure if you're behaviour is changed due to this horrific situation but I would relook at your response, if I were you.

Why is there less money? Has he spent it/stolen it/used it for call girls? Why has he lied about the money?

I think you need to think about the honest effect leaving will have on The kids (likely short term and kids get over this all the time. They don't need to know the ins and outs) and staying will have on the kids (long term, more negative, what will it teach them about relationships and their future relationships) and consider what is best for you and them.

ThanksThanksThanks

Ging7878 · 19/07/2020 22:07

I really don't. Your doing whatever you need to do to just to make it through the day at the moment and I really do understand that. I once used to take my days in half hour slots of time at a time like high grant did in about a boy so whose the barking one now! I didn't mean or want to upset you.

serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 22:18

@Ging7878 you really didn't. Best thing about this week is that it's harder to be even more upset. Half hour slots? Totally exhausting. Xx

OP posts:
serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 22:18

@Ging7878 you really didn't. Best thing about this week is that it's harder to be even more upset. Half hour slots? Totally exhausting. Xx

OP posts:
NellieandRufus · 19/07/2020 22:22

Have you actually spoken to your husband and asked how he sees the future?

I know you are probably in shock right now but removing his tech and not allowing him out of your sight is not going to help. If there’s no trust then there’s no marriage.

I think counselling is a good idea but I think maybe you should do it alone first. Do you think your determination that nobody is leaving stems from a fear of being on your own?

TOFO1965 · 19/07/2020 22:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 22:39

@TOFO your post took my breath. Thank you x

OP posts:
serioushelpneeded · 19/07/2020 22:39

@TOFO your post took my breath. Thank you x

OP posts:
TOFO1965 · 19/07/2020 22:43

[quote serioushelpneeded]@TOFO your post took my breath. Thank you x[/quote]
I am so sorry for the pain you’re in. It’s ghastly. Good luck! xx

DirectTalker · 19/07/2020 22:51

Sorry, you've taken his personal possessions and threatened him?
Christ, if you were a man, you'd be chastisted for emotional abuse!!

Give him his stuff back. If he gets his kicks off to that stuff, tell him it's a problem, explain that is a boundary crossed in a loving relationship and if he doesn't understand why that hurts you, then there's a need to discuss it further with a professional.

RLEOM · 19/07/2020 22:58

It sounds like he's a classic porn addict: ED is a symptom, paying money for porn when there's an abundance of free porn out there, lack of sex or wanting to have sex with you. If he is, he must've been addicted for years without you knowing.

billy1966 · 19/07/2020 22:59

OP, if this has indeed been going on for years with thousands spend, you need to secure as much money as possible.

I would want half of what the full savings pot was originally, in my sole name.

Your marriage may or may not last buy the pain of the money will linger!

You need to think of your children and providing for them long term.

RLEOM · 19/07/2020 23:00

Also, you can't go all psycho b#tch on him. I know it hurts but it is what it is. Don't do anything drastic, no matter how much you're hurting.

BraverThanYouBel1eve · 19/07/2020 23:03

You are all over the place which is a natural reaction to a very challenging situation. As an immediate next step I would recommend signing yourself off with stress and not attending any events or anything like that for at least 2 weeks. Then breathe. Make sure you have your space to think things through - so either ask him to leave the house or at least try to physically separate within the house. Counsellor is way better than a friend for something as intimate as this. Don't threaten porn revenge, it's vile and won't solve anything. Not saying that what he's done isn't vile but you being vile as well will not help the situation. Don't even touch alcohol until you're better. Look after yourself. Breathe.

Interestedwoman · 19/07/2020 23:10

Thank you @Ging7878 I know you think I'm barking. You may well be proved to be right given time. I can see why my approach looks batshit

Hi OP, no-one thinks you're barking or anything. To discover this about a husband who seemingly had ED must be a dreadful shock. I had a lover who had ED and he was perverted and obsessed with sex, he'd try it on with lots of people and was really into porn, and sexual activities with anonymous male strangers etc. I didn't fully realize the extent of it for a while. Maybe having ED makes some men more obsessed with sex- they have to try harder and harder things in order to get off. ED is emasculating, so they try it on with women to try and get that boost/feel more macho.

What I've realized recently is you need to let yourself feel that shock. I was the same with humour etc, I found his behaviour laughable at first. Only now am I going into the shock- it is a bodily reaction and I think it's best to fully process it at the time.

Reach out to your friends, your true friends will support you. And yes, seek counselling, it'll help you process how you feel, when you're ready. xxxx I had counselling at various times but only now am I seeing one where I'm ready to go in to the intensity of the emotion/physical sensation of shock.

Best wishes Flowers Flowers

BraverThanYouBel1eve · 19/07/2020 23:13

Also if it comes to divorce, which is a possibility, then abusive behaviour will affect your chances of child custody. Adultery, generally speaking, will not (unless mixed with child neglect or putting children at risk). So make sure that whatever you do to resolve the situation cannot be interpreted as abuse. Porn revenge is unlawful and threats of porn revenge will classify as abuse. Taking away his phone is abuse. So take time to pull yourself together, because you must be civil in this.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 19/07/2020 23:27

This happened to a friend of mine. She actually caught her husband out twice on cam sites. She stayed with him, and five years later still hates his guts! Its a complete mess really, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Musti · 19/07/2020 23:29

You know what is the worst thing about this? It's the fact that he knows you are living a sexless life because you love him because of his condition and he's using family money behind your back to get sexually satisfied elsewhere.

I am absolutely fuming on your behalf.

Shizzlestix · 19/07/2020 23:39

You need to return his belongings. You need to show trust, although this may be almost impossible at the minute, but you can’t move forward without giving him his stuff back. It is controlling to confiscate it.

You can move on from this, but only if you both want to and you’re painfully honest with each other. Be strong, OP.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/07/2020 23:39

I'm so sorry. This sounds awful. I agree with the suggestions to get signed off work. I would keep your powder dry, copy all the important docs sng get legal advice

Interestedwoman · 19/07/2020 23:50

PP's make a good suggestion to take time off work and other stuff. You need time to process what you're feeling.

I would get what evidence you can from his devices, if you can access them, or ask him for the passwords so you can view and gather evidence, then give him them back.

You don't need to show trust at this moment because he hasn't earned it- quite the opposite, he's shown that you can't trust him.

It must be awful. I would seek professional help. xxx

@Musti Makes a good point that he was depriving you of sex, when he seemingly was kind of up for it. I imagine ED can make people have performance anxiety/enjoy 'real life' sex less, though, as every time they get off with their partner they experience shame. That's not an excuse though, he wasn't considering your feelings at all.

slugsaver · 20/07/2020 04:06

I can feel the panic in your posts OP @serioushelpneeded.

I'm struggling to understand - and I don't mean that in a disparaging way at all - is it that you had an unspoken agreement and now it's been uncovered that your husband has a whole side of his life you never knew existed (the cam 'girls')??

I can understand completely your upbringing leaving scars and fear of financial ruin. I have the same fears myself. Also you repeatedly state the ways you've 'let yourself go' and compare yourself to him. I understand this as well.

I think this situation has shaken you and made you question your world view. As it would anyone but for some reason it seems to have really shaken you up.

Could you get a really good well respected counsellor for yourself OP?? As well as serious legal advice (now, in case, not later). The legal advice as to how you would stand financially in a split is very important.

I think you need to try take the focus off him / what he is doing / money / looks. Find out how you stand legally and remember you were a fully rounded person before him and you are still a fully rounded person in your own right whatever happens.

ExpectingatChristmas · 20/07/2020 09:00

Sorry for the late reply. I think you both need counselling separately and together. It might be best to start off separately at first.

I think you need to address your fear of the relationship ending and know that you could be happy without him. This isn't to say you should leave but it would help you to view the situation from a better angle.

What I would say is that when the shock has settled you really need to consider if you can ever get past it. If you can it needs to be addressed now and then stay in the past with him gradually building back trust.

If you can't get past it then you really need to leave no matter how much it hurts. I know many couples who have tried to get past cheating and seemingly have to the outside world. However, it has then led to it being brought up in every argument later and the same issue that constantly repeats has ended the relationship later on.

Others I know the person who has tried getting over it and made steps to move on with the relationship I.e. marriage and kids never really has. It has then been them that has ran off with somebody else later on where the past isn't an issue anymore.

Sometimes even the person who has messed up leaves later because they can't handle living the rest of their life in the shadow of their mistake knowing that their life isn't ever going anywhere no matter what they do.

Ultimately what I am saying is if you feel you can work through it, I mean really work through it then go for it. Please don't wake up in 10 years time though and regret wasting your life because you couldn't come to terms with the fact that your relationship was actually over in all but name a very long time ago.

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