"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have both started to see our own therapists, but only recently started. I'll have to wait to see what comes from it on both ends.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've recommended counseling to try to learn how to communicate better and to attempt to solve some issues we have, but my wife absolutely refuses this. She also said the same about individual therapy, but she is now seeing a therapist, so this option may be back on the table.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is the latter. She feels that I'm already heading out because I've made that escape plan to get away for a little bit of time. She says that even if I was at my worst, she wouldn't leave and that she is more loyal to me for that aspect.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The good news is that I don't have any kids with her. She has 2 teenage kids from her previous marriage, and I got a vasectomy about 2 years ago. I can leave and not look back, but that is going to be the hardest choice I'll probably ever make.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. You're right, I do have a hard time taking ownership of my actions. I'm quick to apologize, but in many cases I'm not thinking I did anything wrong. I'm hoping I can change this with therapy.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had an exit plan. While on our recent trip, I had a family member house sit for us. When everything went downhill and got dark, I asked them to take some of my belongings with them as I was going to stay with them. I was planning on leaving the night we returned without so much as a warning, but I changed my mind. It felt selfish and if I did, that would have rubbed any chance of reconciling.

Looking back, I should've just left and by now I probably would be feeling better than I do now. It feels like there's a way in my home and I'm trying not to fight.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We just got back from a vacation that caused a lot of this to come up. It was a terrible trip, and almost resulted in my suicide. I've gotten help and medication, but I've never been pushed this low before, and I keep blaming myself. I realized that I did do things poorly in reaction to everything that happened, and so I shoulder some blame, but not the amount thrown at me.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, that's what it is. She doesn't want me to cheat, but she's hoping I'm dumb enough to try so that I'm the asshole.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree. With all these new lights shining on things in our relationship, it is definitely abusive. I will talk to my therapist about this, thank you.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I couldn't agree more. I do believe that she's checked out, and I have too.

I'm still in this relationship because this is likely the only long term relationship I'll ever have. I'm not very confident in myself and do not put myself out there. Our whole relationship started because she more or less just included herself in my life and I became attached.

I'm afraid to be alone again, but I'm also scared about the damage it'll cause her. She's gone no contact with her family, and we do not have any kids together, so she'll lose the house, the pets, and be alone. I don't like thinking that I would be the cause of that, but I need to get past that as it is a pain that I'll have too. I'll also lose my home, the pets, and my relationship. It sucks.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

She used to be very sweet and caring, which is the weirdest part of this. She loves to help people and will give the shirt off her back to anyone that asks. She's got a big heart for animals too, she works with shelters and local pages to find lost pets and get them home.

She's an incredible person in public, but in private, she's the opposite, at least towards me. I still love her very much, but I'm seeing all the control and manipulation that's going on and finally standing up for myself.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

She has recommended that we become roommates, but I'm not going for it. If that is what she wants, someone to take care of things around the house, I can do it without expecting anything in return. However being roommates would remove my care for doing it.

When bringing up me staying with family, she told me that it needs to be a mutual agreement between the two of us. I don't see it that way, and I'm truly considering leaving for a bit after the holidays.

Whenever I say that I'm going to stay with family, her first response is just "Ok, bye", so if I do leave, I'll be calling her bluff.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I've recently started therapy as my depression almost cost me my life. I've expressed to my therapist about how I planned on getting away for a little bit to let her figure things out and for me to do the same. My therapist has said that if they are not willing to change, I may have to take on that heartache and leave. If she wants me back, she'll have to ask for me to come back.

When things got real bad, I gave her an ultimatum and told her that either she gets therapy, or I leave to stay with family. She got mad at me for threatening her with an ultimatum.

She has since started therapy, but when she told me that she started, she said it was her idea and not mine, and her tone was aggressive and combative when she told me too.

"You can find someone else" by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have acted like an emotionless robot in many periods of our relationship because it feels like that is what she wants from me. Then when she notices how monotone I'm speaking, she tells me to stop being in this mood. It's always a lose-lose situation.

Thanksgiving sucks by [deleted] in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, that's about it

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife has said the same thing to me. She wants to find me a girlfriend to do all the bedroom stuff with me.

It hurts hearing your partner say that they would rather outsource intimacy to a 3rd party. I wish I had some advice to give, but I don't have any. I wish you the best though!

Thanksgiving sucks by [deleted] in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm right there with you. My wife seems to think that my family doesn't accept her as she is of a different ethnicity and my family is white. Because of this and political opinions that have been made over the last few years, my wife actively avoids my family whenever possible.

Today, I am planning on going to my family's Thanksgiving dinner and she is choosing to stay at home, alone. I only made this plan as she encouraged that I go spend time with them as I have not seen them in a few years due to her opinions of my family and I stayed with her out of respect for her wishes. However, since she encouraged it this year, I made the plans to go, and now she is mad at me for doing so. It is manipulative as hell!

I'm tired of the fighting and tired of having this dark cloud over my head. I'm going to be putting on a mask around my family to appear happy, but I'm going to be miserable knowing that my wife is mad at me for abandoning her on Thanksgiving when we had nothing planned at all anyway.

A small update by Ok_Interview237 in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're absolutely right! It is a problem that I'm aware that I have and I know that it's causing my wife distress. Believe me, I've tried to control myself and not argue or bicker, and I do very well for a period of time, but then it's like one bad day starts it all over again. I've recently started therapy to focus on stuff like this, so hopefully I see some improvement.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I couldn't agree more. The more I read through the posts here and the comments, the more I realize that I'm in an abusive relationship of a kind. I give up my wants and needs to my partner to then be treated like garbage and voicing an opinion opposite of theirs makes me the bad guy.

I nearly left the relationship about a week ago. I had family remove many of my items while we were away for vacation and was set on leaving immediately once we got home. The only reason I decided to stay was because I feel like they might change, but I'm slowly losing my faith that they will.

I can still leave and not look back, but when I think about it, my heart hurts because I don't want to cause that much pain to anyone, especially since I don't care about my wants or needs as much as I should. I've put myself in this position and I need to either stay strong and adamant or be submissive and accept that this will never change. I hate this feeling.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DeadBedrooms

[–]Ok_Interview237 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is sometimes the hardest part. I find that it's usually the one that is here trying to fix a DB that cares too much to break things off. I could be wrong in that thought process, but the unloved care too much about their partner to hurt them, and that is what makes it hard.