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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

Can’t get over texting another woman

4 replies

Orangechocolate1 · 09/12/2025 10:16

two and half years ago I went through DH’s phone and saw he had texted an old flame. The messages were inappropriate and I was so hurt. The dates on the messages were exactly the time that we were going through a rough time and I had no sex drive. So I confronted him and he apologised and we had a talk. So two years ago I still bring it up in arguments. It still slips out and I get angry and upset. I’m aware I’m doing and I can’t seem to get over it. What makes it worse for me is that she looks completely different to me and whenever I see a woman who looks like her - I get insecure and upset. I don’t know what to do. We have two kids under 4 and day to day we’re good but it’s like a black cloud hanging over me

OP posts:
LondonLady1980 · 09/12/2025 10:39

In short OP, this is no way to live.

If you are still feeling like this now, I don’t think your feelings will ever change.

I would never be able to forget it either, no matter how much time has passed.

The question you need to ask yourself is, do you want to live with this level of misery for the rest of your life?

Is this what you deserve?

Do you deserve to feel so bad about yourself because of something incredibly wrong that HE did?

I don’t know you but I’m pretty sure you deserve to be happy and to feel confident in who you are and how you look. No man has the right to take that away from you, but he has done.

Choose what kind of future you want for yourself, and if you really want to spend your life with a man who has done this to you.

Nomorenaughtiness · 09/12/2025 10:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sashya · 09/12/2025 10:42

People will come around soon and tell you it's unforgivable and you should just leave. Or in general - leave as you are unhappy.
However - I don't think it's that easy or simple in any marriage, and certainly when you have small kids.

Getting through things like this take time and work on both sides. In some ideal world - you two would have benefitted from family counselling back in the day when it happened. To understand what was going on, what led to the rough patch, etc. And after you found messages - counselling would have been helpful too.

But you are where you are. I am guessing you don't have time, energy, money to get therapy, so you'll have to see if you can help yourself.
Personally - I'd say the issue is not how the old flame looked. He did not reach out to her as he was seeking her. It was his reaction to the situation and the state of your marriage then. Granted - not a great reaction, but again, you can't change the past.

Think how you two got into that rough patch. Think about how to avoid those in the future. How are you two now? Are you both making effort? Are you in a better place? Do you get some time for just the two of you as a couple, not just being co-parents?

As to your libido - small kids can take it out of you, it happens very often. We are tired, our bodies have changed, etc. It's easy to fall into that place and not bother. Unfortunately, it does affect the relationship, there is no way around it. Men feel neglected, and it makes them feel unloved. Yes - angry and hurt response is justified, on your side. But you also need to understand his side of the story - how he felt back then, etc. I don't think two people can get through this without being able to talk and understand the whole picture, not just your side.

Good luck!

Runrunrudolph · 09/12/2025 11:01

So I confronted him and he apologised and we had a talk

What did he do to try and regain your trust OP?
Because just apologising, having a talk and then trying to go on as though it never happened is not the way to handle such a huge betrayal.
No.wonder you can't get move on from his cheating if he hasn't taken any steps to address his behaviour and done everything to convince you he is truly sorry .

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