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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

Relationship and Sex, HELP

19 replies

Flyingbirdie · 09/02/2021 11:37

Before I start my story, a quick introduction of myself.

I am a female, 37 this year, has an amazing career, high earner, always confident, friendly and independent.

My partner is 1 year older than me. We met 15 years ago when we worked in the same company after my graduation from Uni. We have worked together for 2 years before we both came clean with our feelings towards each other. At the time, we were both in a relationship with our Exes but not working out. so we both separated from our Exes and got together.

As you can guess, although we had deep feelings for each other, our start was rocky because it involves broking up with our exes and hurting others. But we came through it.

At the first year our sex was mazing, I never knew I could enjoy sex so much with someone. We really love each other. 1 year into our relationship we got a flat together and move in.

That's when the arguments started, I think I had trust issues with him, for me, trust is earned while for him trust should be given unless someone betrayed their trust. We were so young then, we argue and we then make up.

During this period, our sex life has stopped, then it never picked up again. In the first few years, I feel so much resentment and don't know what to do, and he didn't want to talk about it. Then slowly year pass, the sex or shall I say sexless was always a issue for me but we sticked together regardless, I feel like I love him so much I almost dont want to give up.

The 5 years later, we moved in our first house together with a mortgage. Our relationship has improved, we dont argue much anymore, maybe because we both grow up, we still love each other so much, although sexless, we both dotnb want to slip up, so we started to see a sex therapist together, it turns out my partner had anxiety issues, some related to our early years, some related to his childhood. The session made us understanding each other more, I feel less resentment towards him or the feeling of rejection. however it didnt solve our issue, we only successful had 1 sex after the sessions. then the session stopped because of covid last year.

So we are having this sexless relationship for almost 10 out of our 12 years relationship. I most got used to the sexless life but it still doesn't stop me from thinking about sex, I really want the sexual intimacy between us.

Other than sex issue, we are very happy with each other, I am a positive person, day to day, I am always happy and cheerful. I am still deeply in love with him even after all these years, I am sure he does as well.

Yesterday during another conversation regarding trust and sharing, it came out he has a crush on one of his female colleague, he joined this company 2 years ago and that girl who is in her 20s joined the same time, he said there is nothing I need to worry about and it is just school boy crush.

Now I am much mature, I don't get jealous easily anymore. I understand there will always be office flirtations and crushes, but nothing will come out of it if we don't act on it. however on the other hand, it doesnt make me feel good he kept this crush a secret for 2 years and not telling me while I share everything with him.

I dont know what to think of the situation today, what should I do next?

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 09/02/2021 11:40

I haven’t read the whole thread but please split up. Don’t waste your fertile years on this man.

Flyingbirdie · 09/02/2021 12:22

@DinosaurDiana

I haven’t read the whole thread but please split up. Don’t waste your fertile years on this man.
I wish I could Diana, but I still love him very much, it is so difficult.
OP posts:
121hugsneeded · 09/02/2021 12:34

He's checked out already. Put the house up for sale and move on.

Regularsizedrudy · 09/02/2021 13:00

He’s with you for convenience, it sounds like the relationship ended a long time ago

Itstimetoquit · 09/02/2021 13:36

I think you should end it,it sounds to me like he thinks it's over anyway! How long will it be until he acts on his feelings x

Flyingbirdie · 09/02/2021 13:41

Thank you guys, but he says he doesn't want to break up with me neither and he loves me, and want to make me happy, he was in tears.

I trust him that he wants to make me happy however I always feel there was no enough actions following.

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 09/02/2021 13:49

Have you ever had any reason to suspect that he is gay ?

Cockenspiel · 09/02/2021 13:50

Sorry OP but you partner has feelings for someone else and may have already acted on those feelings.

Him telling you about her is his cowardly way towards ending things or changing the relationship to an open one so he can go out and have sex with other women. He probably hoped you would admit to having a crush too.

Regardless of him, you need to end this relationship for YOU

Do you want to live the rest of your life never having any intimacy or a sexually fulfilling relationship?

It sounds to me like you're incredibly co-dependant housemates.

Flyingbirdie · 09/02/2021 14:02

@DinosaurDiana, at first I couldn't help but wonder, but we had sex life for a year and all his exes are female.

@Cockenspiel, I told him about my crush in the past, I don't see it as I need to keep a secret but he did, I guess he is not as open as me. I don't depends on him financially but maybe emotionally because I love him. Can we love someone without sex?

OP posts:
mum241986 · 09/02/2021 15:53

Omg I feel for you. I don't know how you've gone 10+ year without sex. I'm struggling after 12 weeks. Do you want kids some day? X

LemonBreeland · 09/02/2021 15:57

I don't understand how you have lasted this long in a celibate relationship. Is there other intimacy? Or are you basically flatmates?

MrsWindass · 09/02/2021 16:01

It seem like the grass was not greener on the other side . Time to call it a day .

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 09/02/2021 16:05

From what you say, it isn’t mazing any more.

Move along now.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/02/2021 16:07

No sex and he has a crush on someone else. That would be it for me.

TheVanguardSix · 09/02/2021 16:14

Oh sweetheart. What can I say? Shall I tell it to you straight? He is with you because yes, he loves you just enough but also because he hasn't had a reason to leave... yet. I am so sorry to say this but he hasn't left because the girl at work either isn't interested or is not available. That's not good news though either, OP. I think he'd rather be with you than nobody else and be with her than you. You'll hate me, a total stranger on the internet, but honey I have lived this movie and I know it's ending. Flowers
What's in it for you, this dead relationship? I feel terribly sad for you because you're wasting the best years of your life. I sound harsh but I say this because I am in my late 40s and in a sexless marriage (for 6 years). At least DH and I have some fireworks and zing in our memory bank. But none of it's there now and it lacerates me if I stop to think about it. Fortunately, I've got the kids and life, in general, to keep me on my toes and keep me going. But I honestly cannot imagine growing old with someone who has unilaterally decided to call time on something vital to a relationship.
Sexless marriages get a free pass when there's illness and convalescence, high-risk pregnancy, etc, etc. But in your case and even mine, it's unkind and unfair to shelve a partner sexually without their consent or a say in the matter and expect us to be alright with this. I am amazed that you've spent your prime years in the shadows and you're not bitter about this. Flowers

TheVanguardSix · 09/02/2021 16:18

And may I add, you have the patience of a bloody saint! to go a decade, in your 20s and 30s without sex is just unimaginable. Flowers

Flyingbirdie · 09/02/2021 18:22

@121hugsneeded, yes I do want kids some day and he knows it.
@LemonBreeland,we are very close and intimate with each other, always hugs, kisses, joking around, just no sex.
@TheVanguardSix, thank you for sharing your story with me, do you know what is the issue with your DH, do you want to stay together? My heart ache when I think about leaving him.

OP posts:
Seadad · 09/02/2021 19:47

Noone can really say OP - but I suspect that while he's very attached to you and wants you around and to come home to - he doesn't envisage his future with you. Whether he admits it or not he is keeping you distant so that he is not encouraging you to become closer.
He's just not that into you. And unless some switch gets flicked back on this really won't change 'over time. You are very much enmeshed in each other- but without passion there can't be a happy ending. Please don't waste your best years with a bee that isn't drawn to your pollen. You won't flower forever - and tok often we only understand this when looking back!

121hugsneeded · 10/02/2021 05:04

You are a high earner. You put up with no intimacy. You enable him.

Wether he's asexual, gay, straight or somewhere in between, they key elements here is he's NOT into you sexually.

You are missing out. He sees you as a provider, see what happens when you stop providing. His true colours will soon show .

I'm Speaking from experience as a whimp, a people pleaser, a good egg who puts up and looks after everyone one else. please have the gumption to change things that I didn't ( still don't ) have. Otherwise you'll end up like me. Still flogging my gusts out for everyone else's benefit. Still not appreciated. And still not happy and in the same faux relationship that I should have got out of 20 years ago, while I was young still.

Don't become me.

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