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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

Intimacy problem.

6 replies

PJHB · 30/09/2024 10:01

This is problem that is distressing me. When my wife and I first got together everything was fine. Intimacy was fun and we both enjoyed it and told each other so. I was seperated for twelve years before meeting her, she about a year from her second husband. Things were fine until he turned up uninvited at a party and announced in front of my now wife and her friends that he was getting married. She went into a deep depression that lasted weeks, didn't want me around and when she did all she talked about was how great her ex husband was and what a great intimate life she had with him - to the extent that she said she everything to keep him happy,even when she didn't feel like it and wasn't comfortable with what he wanted her to do. She has never said why they split up, all I know is she met him at a dark time in her life and as she put it - was eager to please. She became preganant within weeks of meeting him.
We survived this but things have never been the same. She does not like me touching her,she says I'm too fast, too slow, too hard, too light and more telling me once that her ex 'got her'. I don't pressure her or initiate as she has said often that she will initiate intimacy when she feels like it. The problem here is she cannot reach orgasm and blames me each time although we never get too far. This leads to days of her not speaking to me, feeling depressed and 'empty'. I'm finding this too much after years of being together.

OP posts:
TipsyJoker · 30/09/2024 10:14

She’s depressed. She needs counselling. You could both use marriage counselling. It seems she never got over her ex. Sounds like she did things she didn’t want to with him and is maybe trauma bonded. There’s a lot going on here but the way she’s treating you isn’t right either. It’s unfair and quite abusive. She’s taking out her issues on you and that’s unacceptable.

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/09/2024 10:18

This is so far beyond a sex problem. She’s obsessed with her ex and she’s treating you like crap! Ignoring you for days on end is so abusive. Please want and expect more for yourself! This relationship is dead on its feet and it’s going to completely trash your self esteem if it hasn’t already. You’ve got to leave her, accept she’s never going to get over him and go find yourself again and then you’ll be able to find someone less messed up who you can be happy with. This is so deeply unhealthy and awful for you.

PJHB · 30/09/2024 16:43

Thank you. Part of the problem is she won't talk about any relationship issue, usually saying 'well how do you think I feel' or 'What about me' if I try to start a conversation. She seems to have a wall around her. We did try Relate once, the counsellor was good but every session somehow went back to my wifes ex husband and how good their relationship was. The mystery for me is, if it was so good why are they not together now.

OP posts:
SunflowerTed · 30/09/2024 17:53

I’m not sure why you are still together? Your self confidence must be in shreds

candlewhickgreen · 30/09/2024 17:57

She's not sexually attracted to you and constantly mentioning her ex and what he's like in bed is very cruel.

TipsyJoker · 30/09/2024 18:19

PJHB · 30/09/2024 16:43

Thank you. Part of the problem is she won't talk about any relationship issue, usually saying 'well how do you think I feel' or 'What about me' if I try to start a conversation. She seems to have a wall around her. We did try Relate once, the counsellor was good but every session somehow went back to my wifes ex husband and how good their relationship was. The mystery for me is, if it was so good why are they not together now.

Turning everything around to make the victim is emotional abuse. It’s called darvo. This is what she’s doing. I would always normally advocate for working on a marriage, except for when abuse is involved. I would speak to a divorce lawyer if I were you and get your ducks in a row. Don’t tell her. Get yourself sorted first and then serve her with divorce papers. Find out how you can get her out the house and if she complains that she has nowhere to go, tell her to go live with her wonderful ex.

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