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Scared being single with a chronic disease while having a young child

4 replies

Pelene · 05/11/2026 20:44

We have a 3 year old and since her birth my husband has said several times that we are not compatible and he sees no future with me. Usually it happens in the heat of argument and today it has happened again. I think he is truly unhappy and there is a lot of resentment in our relationship. I suggested couples therapy but he refused. The truth is, I am terrified of staying single with my daughter. We are both living abroad with no support network nearby, it’s just the 3 of us. In addition, I have chronic health issues which are quite unpredictable and can leave me incapable of taking care of myself let alone the child for some weeks. It has happened quite a lot in the last 2 years. In that situation I really really need someone to stand in for me for my daughter. So I cannot imagine doing it alone. In addition, our daughter is extremely sensitive and has her own health issues, and she loves her dad. It breaks my heart to think that she would feel abandoned by her dad. I think it could be really damaging for her on top having a sick mother. I also do not imagine splitting her between us and not seeing her every day. I just don’t know how much time I have left because of my health and not seeing her every day means I would have even less time with her. On the other hand, I don’t know how to continue in this unhappy relationship. I really feel lost and stuck between a rock and a hard place.

OP posts:
Dinnerontheterrace · 05/11/2026 20:50

I can understand your worries. Do you have family back home to support you?

pikkumyy77 · 05/11/2026 21:00

I am so sorry. But I think you need to take seriously the idea that you need to plan forward to manage your child’s situation if you are incapacitated, hospitalized, or die.

Look hard at your situation, be direct and honest with your dh. How much does he want out of the marriage? Will he help you set up and manage a separate household?

Pelene · 05/11/2026 21:04

No, I do not have family to support me. Only an elderly mother with her health issues and a brother with severe autism. They rather need support from me.

OP posts:
thisismeithinkorisit · 05/11/2026 21:07

pikkumyy77 · 05/11/2026 21:00

I am so sorry. But I think you need to take seriously the idea that you need to plan forward to manage your child’s situation if you are incapacitated, hospitalized, or die.

Look hard at your situation, be direct and honest with your dh. How much does he want out of the marriage? Will he help you set up and manage a separate household?

I was going to say all this. choose a calm moment when things are ok and say essentially neither of us are happy so what do we do and how does it work? discuss what splitting up would look like. discuss how staying together would look like. moving home. staying put.
you need to be honest with each other

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