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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

Friend severely depressed but struggling to sympathise

8 replies

Throwawayonemillion · 16/02/2026 10:25

My friend's marriage has come to an end as her husband said he doesn't feel connected to her anymore. Friend is now incredibly depressed, won't get out of bed and go to work today (even though new job she only started a week ago). She has moved out of the house. She is hugely angry at her husband and sending messages to all and sundry about how he is controlling.

The trouble is, my friend cheated on her husbandast year. He suspected and she gaslit him and denied it. But she told me that she loved her affair partner but that he wouldn't leave his wife(!) but if he would have then she would have left her husband. Well, husband never found out about the affair but obviously suspected and it has changed how he feels about her and he has decided to call it quits.

Friend is in regular contact with this other man, who has apparently left his wife now after all (but friend and him "aren't together" 🤔) and she says she loves him in many ways. However, she seems completely unable to see that her current depressive state is caused largely by her own doing, she is trying to paint her husband into a coercive monster (he could be, but I doubt it and her examples of him controlling her are quite ambitious e.g. asking her what time she'll be home from work) and she just will not accept that her affair had anything to do with her marriage ending. I've been sympathetic but clear that she needs to take accountability up to now as she does suffer with bad mental health already, but I'm running out of things to say before I just say what I think very bluntly and risk plunging her further into depression. Any advice? Thank you.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 16/02/2026 10:28

Her behaviour is her problem
You ca control your reaction to it - however from what you’ve posted I’d take a massive step bak
she sounds like a liar and a manipulator so probably not a good friend to you either

Olderandwiserpossibly · 16/02/2026 10:33

I'm afraid I would have distanced myself from her when she was having the affair last year.

And I certainly wouldn't want to get involved with her current situation.

From what you say she has other people to complain to anehshe has her ex affair partner. So I would let her get on with her life and take a big step back from your friendship with her.

Throwawayonemillion · 16/02/2026 10:41

Thank you, I agree that it is time to distance myself. I struggled to do so last year when the affair began as I believed her stories about her husband being horrible to her and so, while I didn't agree with the affair, I was still there for her. But it's clearer now that her account was not completely accurate. I will be moving away from this friendship.

OP posts:
IsawwhatIsaw · 16/02/2026 18:22

I’d step away from her . I wouldn’t want a friend like her..

TheAvidWriter · 16/02/2026 18:27

Hmm, she will get bored of sulking eventually and find another playmate soon enough. Your job is to look out for you and let her learn whatever she will want to take away from her choices. Not your job to peach this woman back together, that is her job only. I would step away to be honest as this has a tendency to spill over everywhere and taint the best of relationships.

Ilovelurchers · 17/02/2026 13:58

I'd believe my friend is she said her husband was controlling. And I would have every sympathy with her. Nor would I judge anyone for having an affair if they are in an abusive relationship.

LeavesTrees · 17/02/2026 14:04

I don’t believe the husband is controlling if she managed to have an affair without him even noticing! Also, why would she be angry at him for leaving if he was controlling? Makes no sense.
She sounds like she is reaping what she has sown 🤷🏻‍♀️.

ArthurBloom · 20/02/2026 11:30

Ilovelurchers · 17/02/2026 13:58

I'd believe my friend is she said her husband was controlling. And I would have every sympathy with her. Nor would I judge anyone for having an affair if they are in an abusive relationship.

Wow.

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