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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

Envisioning my partner with other women

9 replies

twix23 · 16/02/2023 13:10

Hi I’m really struggling with my mind. Me and my fiancé have been together 5 years, before this we were together just a year, then we broke up and were apart for 2.
During those 2 years we still saw each other occasionally and slept together, we never really got over each other. I of course dated a few people and slept with a few, he did the same.
Unfortunately I know 2 of the women he slept with, 1 we still see every so often at events/gatherings as she’s best friends with his best friends wife.
Despite it being over 5 years ago, and us now being engaged and parents to a beautiful toddler with another on the way, every so often I torture myself with images in my head of him having sex with these women, in great detail! I ask myself, did he enjoy the sex more with them? Did he find them more attractive? Is he only not with them because they ended it? It makes me feel sick and I end up just upsetting myself, a really pointless exercise!
As you can probably tell I am very insecure and overthink everything. I try to tell myself he chose me, he wouldn’t have asked me to marry him or have children with me if he didn’t want me. But every now and then when I see one of these women’s names pop up, I start imagining them together again.
What is wrong with me and how can I stop this nonsense?! It’s not like I was a saint during the 2 years apart, so not sure why I can’t just put it behind me and stop being so ridiculous. I of course don’t mention any of this to him as it wouldn’t be fair as he hasn’t done anything wrong.
Any advice would be so appreciated!!!!!!

OP posts:
WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 16/02/2023 13:12

I’d probably go down the cognitive therapy route for intrusive thoughts.

Dery · 16/02/2023 16:13

Agree with @WhatAmIDoingWrong123 For some reason (probably connected with primitive survival conditions), our brains do seem to like to feed us crappy, unhelpful and downright weird thoughts quite a lot of the time.

The thing is not to attach importance to them but to let them float on by. I used to really stew on certain things and it was like pressing a bruise - I would get a kind of grim satisfaction from the ‘ouch’ factor. I still can stew but have become better at detaching from the thought. Imagine it’s like a balloon - you can either grab the string and tug on it, which is what you’re doing now, or shrug and let it float on by.

GlassBunion · 16/02/2023 16:32

That balloon analogy is great @Dery
Thank you. It's come at a relevant time for me.

GlassBunion · 16/02/2023 16:34

OP.
These thoughts are just thoughts and have no real bearing to your situation. Let the balloon float on by.

Fizzysnakes · 16/02/2023 19:03

Watching. This happens to me!

twix23 · 16/02/2023 22:03

Dery · 16/02/2023 16:13

Agree with @WhatAmIDoingWrong123 For some reason (probably connected with primitive survival conditions), our brains do seem to like to feed us crappy, unhelpful and downright weird thoughts quite a lot of the time.

The thing is not to attach importance to them but to let them float on by. I used to really stew on certain things and it was like pressing a bruise - I would get a kind of grim satisfaction from the ‘ouch’ factor. I still can stew but have become better at detaching from the thought. Imagine it’s like a balloon - you can either grab the string and tug on it, which is what you’re doing now, or shrug and let it float on by.

Love this balloon analogy thank you

OP posts:
twix23 · 16/02/2023 22:04

Fizzysnakes · 16/02/2023 19:03

Watching. This happens to me!

I'm sorry this happens to you too! It's sort of nice to know I'm not the only one, I thought I was crazy 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Fizzysnakes · 16/02/2023 22:13

Oh no I think perhaps we ARE both crazy

Skyblue18 · 22/08/2023 14:09

Creating a catastrophe in your head when there is no catastrophe leads to unnecessary despair. I hope you can find peace in your relationship without either of you worrying about previous sexual encounters 🥰

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