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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

I'm here again

144 replies

anonamum123 · 24/04/2025 20:50

After so much advice previously, particularly to my post regarding recovering from infidelity in February, I wanted to update and say this is a rollercoaster. I stayed in my marriage following months of infidelity last year. I kept finding out and he kept promising to stop.

In February 2025, it turns out they were back in touch although I had to find out myself again. Do i actually have anxiety or is my body telling me I am unsafe with good reason - my intuition feels similar to anxiety?

He decided he needed to leave for 2 weeks to appreciate what he has. I agreed, and was ok when he was away. I thought I would cope well long term because I wasn't anxious, i wasnt drinking and i slept all night... No worry.

He came back mid March full of promises.

Fast forward to the last couple of weeks. I found out he had bought 28 viagra tablets at the end of February, and 28 again last week. He has not been intimate with me and has no history of erectile dysfunction. He lied about buying them and has kept the majority at work, hidden in a ceiling tile. Is he trying to impress a 22 year old? Urgh...

He swears blind he does not want to leave, that the tablets are for us... and that he has tried taking them with good intention for him and i but he has always fallen asleep beforehand.... Am I stupid here, I really want to believe him but his actions and words dont align? He's sleeping with her isn't he? Am I completely foolish for wanting him to be telling me the truth?

But what kind of person would keep doing this, when i have said i am open to moving forward with reconciliation, who would continue to treat someone this way? Or does he want me to end it.. I don't understand this behaviour.

I have offered him to leave, said if he doesn't want to stay then please go... But he says he does. I said he is making it very hard because this behaviour will make co-parenting amicably really difficult - what the hell do i do? He has recently been diagnosed with ADHD so i understand he is finding it hard, but is mental health a justifiable excuse nearly a year on? He said he will get meds, but denies the affair.

I'm not entirely warm towards him, because i am waiting for his actions to align with his words, and for him to introduce quality time again with intimacy... But he has been back for 6 weeks and it isnt happening... Why come back home to me, to break me further? We have 2 young kids - this is no longer fair on any of us surely, but he can't see it? He is generally very intelligent, so i dont understand his behaviour, or does he think i am stupid and won't figure it out?

He's currently discussing our next business venture, which seems crazy if he is actually having an affair, because a divorce would surely halt any future venture while a division of assets were underway.

Thanks for reading this far.

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 24/04/2025 20:55

Ffs just leave him

ExpectantEs · 24/04/2025 20:57

Your mental health and anxiety will be so much better once you leave this man.

I know it's not easy to leave with young children, but I really urge you do because it won't get better

Gotback · 24/04/2025 21:01

From my experience, you don't fall asleep right after taking viagra. I'd say he's shagging around. Come on, love, you know what you have to do. Best of luck.

LittleGreenDragons · 24/04/2025 21:10

I only read part of your post.

You have a lying, cheating man in your life and you are full of anxiety until the time where he left, then the anxiety came back when he did. Put the two together and leave him for your own sanity and health.

Raininginparadise2 · 24/04/2025 21:28

OP for your own mental health and self respect you need to leave this man as he has no love or respect for you. You deserve a much better life without him in it.

Feelthesunswarmth · 24/04/2025 21:30

He had an affair over 12 years ago before you had children. So this affair with his young employee isn't his first betrayal of you. Very likely there have been others.
I don't know why you are still with him OP.
He is a lying cheating man.

BlossomMoon · 24/04/2025 21:31

This relationship is doing you no good at all.
End things, and focus on you.

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 24/04/2025 21:37

Oh sweetheart. I'm not sure what sort of sign you are waiting for. You've had more red flags than I could shake a stick at.
This is it, this is your life. If you don't do something, this is your future, over and over on repeat.
Are you waiting for him to change? He won't. You must see that by now. Are you waiting for him to agree to splitting up? He won't, his life is easier this way.
YOU have to do this. Make the change. Take control of your life.

Odiebay · 24/04/2025 21:40

He left for 2 weeks to shag and date her in peace.

He doesn't want to leave because he wants you at home doing stuff for him and to have her on the side.

Yes he's sleeping with her and has been for a long time. No it will not stop.

Please get and std test and leave him. He is disgusting.

supercali77 · 24/04/2025 21:43

You did much better without him around, is what I'm seeing.

OchreRaven · 24/04/2025 21:45

He’s planning his next venture because he doesn’t actually think you will leave no matter how many times he betrays you. Is he right?

TheRealMrsFeltz · 24/04/2025 21:46

So he’s claiming that since February- when you know he was in contact with the OW - he has taken viagra in preparation for having sex with you (even though he’s never needed it before) but fallen asleep first… 28 times. He must think you came down in the last shower.

It sounds like you co- own a business and so leaving you means jeopardising that. If the business is his passion and livelihood, and he’s got a wife who is avidly burying her head in the sand about his infidelity - what possible incentive does he have to leave you? His actions are telling you loud and clear he’s only interested in the business, he’s actively sleeping with at least one other person, and he had utter utter contempt for you.

You’re worth so much more than this. Have you spoken to a solicitor to get advice about what a split would look like and what you would be entitled you to?

Iammatrix · 24/04/2025 21:47

He is messing with your head!

The fact that you have posted this and you know
it is wrong.

Stop worrying about this farce of a relationship.

But I suppose as long as you keep focused on trying to work out the signals and lies he is feeding you, he has got you hooked.

And now he is talk about business ventures! Arrgghh!

anonamum123 · 24/04/2025 21:51

TheRealMrsFeltz · 24/04/2025 21:46

So he’s claiming that since February- when you know he was in contact with the OW - he has taken viagra in preparation for having sex with you (even though he’s never needed it before) but fallen asleep first… 28 times. He must think you came down in the last shower.

It sounds like you co- own a business and so leaving you means jeopardising that. If the business is his passion and livelihood, and he’s got a wife who is avidly burying her head in the sand about his infidelity - what possible incentive does he have to leave you? His actions are telling you loud and clear he’s only interested in the business, he’s actively sleeping with at least one other person, and he had utter utter contempt for you.

You’re worth so much more than this. Have you spoken to a solicitor to get advice about what a split would look like and what you would be entitled you to?

Yes, that is what he is saying. Although he said he will have lost some... I know this is crazy.

Yes, I have sought advice and the shares in the business are a matrimonial asset, so would be treated as part of the division of assets. There are other assets we have, and also that he has privately, that would all be on the table... We didn't have a prenup, so i am sure now he is concerned.. but not enough to stop.

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 24/04/2025 21:51

He decided he needed to leave for 2 weeks to appreciate what he has

Oh FFS. You really can't be that naive.

anonamum123 · 24/04/2025 21:54

Eyesopenwideawake · 24/04/2025 21:51

He decided he needed to leave for 2 weeks to appreciate what he has

Oh FFS. You really can't be that naive.

Well, I was at the time yes... I believed our family was his ultimate priority, until the viagra purchase. Stupid maybe, or hopefully naive? Who knows. I don't feel i have clear evidence, because this split would be a complete mess, and my children are at the heart of it. I'm obviously scared about the future, and I am not really sure what to do next without clarity because he will say he hasnt done anything

OP posts:
PrincessofWells · 24/04/2025 21:56

CandyLeBonBon · 24/04/2025 20:55

Ffs just leave him

No, don't leave him - kick him out.

Sassybooklover · 24/04/2025 21:59

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 24/04/2025 21:37

Oh sweetheart. I'm not sure what sort of sign you are waiting for. You've had more red flags than I could shake a stick at.
This is it, this is your life. If you don't do something, this is your future, over and over on repeat.
Are you waiting for him to change? He won't. You must see that by now. Are you waiting for him to agree to splitting up? He won't, his life is easier this way.
YOU have to do this. Make the change. Take control of your life.

This!! The only way your life will change, is by you taking control of the situation. Your husband isn't going to change, he's not going to leave - why would he, you're at home keeping house, looking after the children, he has no reason to leave. He also knows he can throw as much crap at you as he likes, and you will put up with it and won't leave him. He will continue having affairs, again there's no reason for him to stop, because you don't take any action. You will be stuck in this soul destroying cycle forever more. Your anxiety level isn't very good now, so what will your mental health look like in 5 years time, when your self-esteem has been completely eroded away? Life is too short to waste your life away with this man.

Eyesopenwideawake · 24/04/2025 22:01

anonamum123 · 24/04/2025 21:54

Well, I was at the time yes... I believed our family was his ultimate priority, until the viagra purchase. Stupid maybe, or hopefully naive? Who knows. I don't feel i have clear evidence, because this split would be a complete mess, and my children are at the heart of it. I'm obviously scared about the future, and I am not really sure what to do next without clarity because he will say he hasnt done anything

So you need to catch him in bed with someone to accept that the bleeding obvious?

Raise your bar. Have faith in your ability to cope. Because you will.

Bumblebeestiltskin · 24/04/2025 22:02

He's lying. Unsurprisingly. You need to find your self respect and tell him to leave - not suggest he can "if he wants to".

Iammatrix · 24/04/2025 22:11

My earlier post may have sounded a bit harsh. But your situation reminds me of the relationship I had with my ex many years ago.

Thankfully I am out it now and I am happily married. He is the father of my now adult DD, who is a lovely young woman, recently married. He did not walk her up the isle. He wasn’t even invited. But she does have contact with him. I let her decide and did not offload my problems with him onto her.

What did the damage over and above the constant infidelities, was the lies. That someone who professed to love you would just lie and lie.

That’s why I say he is messing with your head and you are posting this thread to try and get
some clarity on what you know to be his lies.

I finally meant it when I said it was over and when I meant it he got it and scuttled off
and never came back.

OchreRaven · 24/04/2025 22:19

You don’t need a reason to break up other than he makes you unhappy and anxious.

Of course he is a liar and a cheat but you don’t need to find him in bed with anyone to know that. What he has done already is enough to erode your trust and you can’t continue.

You are only in your early thirties. You will walk away with half of everything and can start to get your life together. Most people settle down for the first time at this time in their lives. You have so much better waiting for you. He won’t change.

FuglyBitch · 24/04/2025 22:25

Imagine this was a story your best friend was telling you about her DH, what advice would you offer her and what would you think?

GustyBaloo · 24/04/2025 22:31

You need to turn this around and take control of the situation.

Your situation.

You'll never feel peace of mind again if you stay with this man.

He left for 2 weeks. It is within your control to TELL him that he is leaving for good.

Anxiety appears when feeling out of control.
Your life is in his cheating hands.

Reclaim yourself, you are worth so much more.

Arancia · 24/04/2025 22:43

Your attitude is entirely wrong. You don't give a cheater the power of choice, you keep that to yourself. You don't offer him to leave, you tell him to pack his shit and get out. Why are you so adamant on staying with a man who wipes his dirty feet all over you? Do you have severe low self esteem issues or something?