Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

How to get over married man

44 replies

namechange123455 · 28/09/2020 10:43

Please don't judge as I am aware what I have done is wrong. I made the choice to end it and do what's right. I was told that there was no relationship on his side and it had become flatmates, but I know that may be a load of rubbish.

I am finding this very hard, yet he seems to be able to turn the switch on/off quite easily. I hate that I was weak and stupid and this has totally destroyed my mental health.

I don't always have people to talk to when I'm feeling low and that's when I'm likely to crack and engage in contact again. He is always there when I need someone to talk to and I feel pathetic that I've needed that from him.

Does anyone have any tips on how best to move on, get stronger and be the happy, best version of myself, while going through this rubbish feeling?

OP posts:
Ruminating2020 · 29/09/2020 14:31

@bluewkd1987

Op I'm kind of in the same situation. But it's hasn't lead to nothing yet and I am finding it pretty hard to keep it that way . I'm in a long term relationship and so is he . Married with young children . Both of us built up such a great friendship for the last 3 years . If he was a women he would be my best friend . But so his feelings have happened . I knew he was starting to have feelings for me about a year ago and so was I but both of us obviously kept quiet until a month ago we had had a drink and it all came out . He got upset saying he hates feeling like this because he shouldn't be having feelings for anyone but his wife and I'm the exact same too . Both of us have and are still having difficulties with our relationships but that's life so is everyone else so I like can't blame us liking each other because of that . We both clicked form the very start . We can talk for hours we are so alike and I hate it ! We both work together . There have been a few occasions where something could of happened but I feel so guilty that I have never made the 1st move neither has he and it's odd some days he is all I think about but then I have days where the thought of doing anything with him turns me and I go off him for a while . I don't know what the hell that is about . I have said to him we can't do anything but who knows a few years down the line both of us might be in a position to actually get together . I'm in bit of a mess . He phoned me every day , texts me all the time . He makes me laugh so much . And I am scared that something will happen between us the longer this goes on .
You have the self awareness to realise this and know that if this carries on then it may escalate. This is how affairs start even if you think it's just a friendship. I honestly think you'll have to nip this in the bud and move offices if possible. You may think you have enough resolve not to cross the line but why risk it? You said you are scared that something will happen and you are right to be. Trust your instincts and act now.
bluewkd1987 · 29/09/2020 15:30

Ruminating2020 Thankyou so much for your reply . I get so annoyed with my self when I have days where I really want to do something with him . I had that feeling earlier than after felt so guilty and started crying to myself driving him from bloody work . We have met up a few times . Just having a laugh . Talking and just driving around . He had mentioned going to a hotel . Now this bit really made me feel iffy with him . I told him that I wouldn't be having sex with him and he said he really just wants to spend time we me watching films . I know how stupid that sounds but we had an hour spare a few weeks back and literally just sat down and watched a film ! No awkward moments or nothing . I can 100 percent say now that if this did happen I wouldn't not even Kiss
Him I just really love his company but at the same time i don't think I could live with myself doing that to my partner and his wife . Even tho nothing is happening it is wrong . I think we are having an emotional affair . I said to him the other day that I just want every thing to go back to normal . I have said that I would have to find another job because other wise god knows how long this is going to go on for . X

Ruminating2020 · 29/09/2020 15:43

@bluewkd1987 It sounds like he is absolutely angling for a physical affair even if you think you can resist him. This is how my "friendship" with a coworker ended in an EA. Never had sex with him but I was annoyed with myself and with him when I made it clear to him that I would not absolutely not be having a sexual relationship with him. In hindsight, I think he saw that as a challenge but in the end he didn't get what he wanted.

You know that your relationship with this man isn't a healthy one so I suggest that you really take action to stop things from escalating. You enjoy the attention and his company, because you are experiencing the same feelings as you would in the first flush of love at the start of a romantic relationship. You have to get on top of this and not risk your professionalism, integrity and devastating those you love.

Please, please, please get out. If he gives you the cold shoulder or gets annoyed, that's not your problem and don't try to "just be friends" because it will go round in circles.

EarthSight · 29/09/2020 22:20

You definitely need close friends, not a boyfriend. If you can, definitely work on developing that before getting into a new relationship. It will make you more independent and less reliant on a lover for all the wrong reasons.

Mydogmylife · 29/09/2020 22:58

@bluewkd1987
You are mooning over this guy like a love struck teenager - if you think the relationship has legs, both of you do the decent thing, leave your partners and get together properly. You are massaging each other's egos and thinking you are star crossed lovers. It's not fair on your partners, as the old saying goes 'piss or get off the pot' . Sorry I know I sound harsh , but I can't be bothered with all this handwringing over an office romance and the lack of loyalty to your dp. Even if you no longer love him surely he deserves honesty from you? Think how you would feel if you thought this situation was reversed?

Ruminating2020 · 29/09/2020 23:04

@Mydogmylife you're not being harsh. I think it is good that @bluewkd1987 sees that this is dangerous and what she might potentially lose if this continues.

wheresmymojo · 29/09/2020 23:04

I actually know someone who specialises in helping women (and men) in this situation - they use a combination of hypnosis and NLP to speed up the 'getting over them and moving on' stage.

Let me know if you're interested in their details (it can be done as easily over Zoom as face to face).

PatCreme · 30/09/2020 10:21

I read this and you could be the woman my husband had an affair with. He told her that our relationship was basically over and how we hadn't had sex for years and loads of other lies and mistruths designed to make him sound so hard done by.

But in reality, you're probably not. There's enough threads on here with the same story and they can't all be the same bloke. They just all know the cliches. And apparently, they work.

I echo the advice of other posters - block, delete and get on with your life.

Shakespearsister · 30/09/2020 10:52

First of all I would cut-out the self loathing and being overly dramatic : you didn't break the law, nobody died and you haven't ruined your mental health. You had an affair with a married man. It happens, a lot. I can understand that its not something you are particularly proud of but it happened and you ended it. It's done. Past tense. Chalk it up to experience, learn from it and get on with your life. Keep yourself busy and try not to obsess about it.

Ebonyrose1 · 30/09/2020 14:01

Maybe it's rare for people to be truly happy with one person for life. Becaue that's the goal we are given from being young. Find someone. Fall in love. Have a family or go see the world together. Stay faithful and loyal and love in sickness and in health. I've never cheated personally but there have been times I've thought about a different life. Recently I've considered meeting someone else because I've clicked with him and there are massive voids in my relationship such as sex, fun, conversation. I've had chats with my partner about it many times. He reassures me it's the kids. We are tired. We don't get any help with the kids. To an extent he is right. But that doesn't stop me being sad that we've not had sex for over a year. He sleeps on the sofa. We never get to enjoy a drink and a night out. Everything changed when we became parents. He talks about conspiracy theories all the time and be depresses Me with his negative thoughts.

The thing is people are not perfect. Sometimes you just grow out of love for someone and it's incredibly hard if you change and no longer enjoy the same things. Or conversations feel dull.

I can't stand men who just want to get in a girls pants. I really can't. The ones that sleep around and play games are arseholes. But I do get that from time to time someone just comes into your life. Gives you something new and fresh. New conversations. New humour. You are attracted to eachother and you end up with feelings. I know acting upon that is cruel on a partner at home oblivious. But it happens so often. Maybe that person you were with in your twenties is no longer your soulmate in your 30s. But you can't just end it because you have children, animals, a home and financial commitments.

I truly think the fact it usually takes two incomes to survive is the hardest part about leaving a relationship. How can you leave someone when you can't rent or provide for your children on just one wage? How do you leave the family home when you need to divide all the stuff and work out what you need to rebuy for your new life but you won't have the money to do so? Sometimes money traps people. It sounds cruel. But it does.

For every arsehole out there cocking his leg over someone behind his partner's back I bet there's someone who can't just leave despite being miserable for the above.

Perhaps if we were able to be independent and taught from a young age you don't need to be tied down and with someone we would all live happier. Not everyone finds the perfect person. There are flaws in many relationships. Control, cheating, violence, laziness, poor parenting. Two of my friends have partners who hate them going out. They want then tied to the kitchen sink.

I just think these matters are complicated. It sounds like the guy was getting his leg over and had no intention of leaving his wife. But without knowing the full facts who knows.

Morally it's wrong to cheat. No you shouldn't go with someone else's partner. No you shouldn't meet up for sex with people who offer you nothing else. But people do it all the time because humans are just flawed and loneliness and the lack of excitement in life can drive people to these places.

As I've said I've never gone there. But things in my life are complicated and I am starting to consider what's best for my children whilst trying to make sure I live a life for myself that's positive too.

TiggerDatter · 30/09/2020 14:21

Great post @Ebonyrose1

Ebonyrose1 · 30/09/2020 14:49

@TiggerDatter

Thanks!

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 30/09/2020 21:25

He can switch it on and off because he has someone else, and you're not as high a priority for him as he is for you. You've taken the first step though, in realising it has to end.

SoulofanAggron · 30/09/2020 21:50

I am finding this very hard, yet he seems to be able to turn the switch on/off quite easily.

That's because he was using you.

Block him on everything so you're not in touch with him any more than you have to be and it's less easy to contact him, and delete his social media and everything so you can't see how he's supposedly getting on. Tell any mutual frriends that you don't want to hear anything about him.

Remind yourself that the constant messaging etc was just to charm you and to make you see him as indispensable.

Keep reminding yourself of how he's damaged your mental health. Get help from your GP, and if there's still room for improvement go back so they can try something else. Find a therapist and/or get on the list for counselling.

You ended it- you saw through him. Be proud of yourself.

londontobristol · 30/09/2020 22:00

@TiggerDatter

Great post *@Ebonyrose1*
Agree
Reflection2 · 01/10/2020 15:04

I am in a similar boat, except I too am married. I never believed in a million years I would end up in this situation, have never cheated on a partner before.
It's happened very gradually and I have fallen hard for MM who has been clear that he will never leave his wife, despite the problems in his relationship because he can't live apart from his kids.
I have ended it, blocked and deleted everything and asked him not to contact me again.
I truly believe he could have been the love of my life, as ridiculous as that sounds as I have never in my life experienced a connection like this or feelings so strong for anyone, sadly including my husband (we are in the process of separating and there were issues long before I met MM. Mainly his alcoholism which I can no longer live with)
No advice as such as my heart feels shattered and I am grieving for the happiness I could have had with this man.

thecatsarecrazy · 05/10/2020 11:53

I'm sorry for jumping on this post but I feel people will understand. As I said upthread I stupidly got involved with a married man. We never slept together, some kissing and messaging. He ghosted me in April. He got drunk last night and messaged me from his Twitter account, with a wedding picture of his beautiful wife. First time I have ever seen her. He said something like I want to explain. Then he blocked me. I read it this morning. I made another account just so I could reply because I'm not letting him have the last word again. It's been 6 months since he ghosted. There was no need for him to contact me. It was just cruel. I'm pretty calm now but it has shaken me up

Millymootoo · 05/10/2020 17:03

I guess someone always gets hurt in these situations. I might be wrong but it feels like it's often the women. I think women seem to catch different feelings to men. Like personally I couldn't shag someone without the feelings. I can guarantee I'll have feelings if I sleep with the man. I don't understand how men can turn off that emotion. I feel like sex and kissing and flirting creates feelings that should be mutual. Anyone who can do those things for a fumble behind the wife's back is a pig.

But I do agree that situations are not easy. It can be incredibly difficult to do the right thing when money and children are involved. I suppose you can argue not to do it in the first place. But we all just want to be loved and wanted don't we.

It's different in a way. But 10 years ago a stranger messaged me to tell me he had had a BBQ at his house and people were talking about me and how my then boyfriend was always cheating and lying. He tracked me down because he didn't want me to go through what he had gone through with his ex. Very sweet of him. I ended my realtionship. He became my comfort for the next month. We went for a walk one night at midnight. He brought his dog. We just talked and then he asked me back to his for a drink. We ended up chatting until the sun came up. Had a little kiss too. I felt like we connected. For the next three weeks I went around the odd time and often stayed up talking to him half the night. We did sleep together twice. Then he broke my heart. He was worried about my ex's sister giving him grief because she was married to a gypsy. He kind of told me it was over. He actually cried on the phone. I had been so intense and needy of him I was hardly surprised. About a week later he had moved onto another women coming out of a marriage. I was really cross and gave them both a hard time. Then occasionally he would text or ring. Then he saw me in the shop 8 months later. He was finally settled and had a baby on the way with another women. He kissed me on the cheek and said he was glad I was happy. He broke my heart. Nearly ten years later I still feel stung remembering that time. How I gave my body and feelings to someone that I thought wanted me. It took me a very long time to get over that fling. The sound of the birds waking up early in spring still reminds me of walking back from his at 5am.

We all get our hearts crushed. It sucks. But it's a chapter in your life that you will grow and learn from. Also he has lost someone good in you! His loss.

You just need to work through the days until it gets less Raw. But I understand how you feel. Some men really don't care about feelings it seems.

Crimples · 05/10/2020 21:56

@Ebonyrose1

Maybe it's rare for people to be truly happy with one person for life. Becaue that's the goal we are given from being young. Find someone. Fall in love. Have a family or go see the world together. Stay faithful and loyal and love in sickness and in health. I've never cheated personally but there have been times I've thought about a different life. Recently I've considered meeting someone else because I've clicked with him and there are massive voids in my relationship such as sex, fun, conversation. I've had chats with my partner about it many times. He reassures me it's the kids. We are tired. We don't get any help with the kids. To an extent he is right. But that doesn't stop me being sad that we've not had sex for over a year. He sleeps on the sofa. We never get to enjoy a drink and a night out. Everything changed when we became parents. He talks about conspiracy theories all the time and be depresses Me with his negative thoughts.

The thing is people are not perfect. Sometimes you just grow out of love for someone and it's incredibly hard if you change and no longer enjoy the same things. Or conversations feel dull.

I can't stand men who just want to get in a girls pants. I really can't. The ones that sleep around and play games are arseholes. But I do get that from time to time someone just comes into your life. Gives you something new and fresh. New conversations. New humour. You are attracted to eachother and you end up with feelings. I know acting upon that is cruel on a partner at home oblivious. But it happens so often. Maybe that person you were with in your twenties is no longer your soulmate in your 30s. But you can't just end it because you have children, animals, a home and financial commitments.

I truly think the fact it usually takes two incomes to survive is the hardest part about leaving a relationship. How can you leave someone when you can't rent or provide for your children on just one wage? How do you leave the family home when you need to divide all the stuff and work out what you need to rebuy for your new life but you won't have the money to do so? Sometimes money traps people. It sounds cruel. But it does.

For every arsehole out there cocking his leg over someone behind his partner's back I bet there's someone who can't just leave despite being miserable for the above.

Perhaps if we were able to be independent and taught from a young age you don't need to be tied down and with someone we would all live happier. Not everyone finds the perfect person. There are flaws in many relationships. Control, cheating, violence, laziness, poor parenting. Two of my friends have partners who hate them going out. They want then tied to the kitchen sink.

I just think these matters are complicated. It sounds like the guy was getting his leg over and had no intention of leaving his wife. But without knowing the full facts who knows.

Morally it's wrong to cheat. No you shouldn't go with someone else's partner. No you shouldn't meet up for sex with people who offer you nothing else. But people do it all the time because humans are just flawed and loneliness and the lack of excitement in life can drive people to these places.

As I've said I've never gone there. But things in my life are complicated and I am starting to consider what's best for my children whilst trying to make sure I live a life for myself that's positive too.

Great post
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread