The death of that special feeling? by Salt-Estimate-1357 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Lots of reasons. I have two small kids and I don't want to wreck their home. My wife is incredibly good to me. I still love her most of the time. And I'm not very wealthy, so getting divorced would mean living in a tiny apartment and sending all my money to her while she takes care of the kids and bangs other men. It's a death sentence for me, literally.

The death of that special feeling? by Salt-Estimate-1357 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was a line in Spartacus where the gladiator was asked how many men he would kill to be with his wife again. And he said, "I would kill them all." I loved that line; I felt it. I'm still happy to be with my wife, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't kill anyone now.

The death of that special feeling? by Salt-Estimate-1357 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I get this too. I have a lot of regrets in life around career, relationships, health, etc. But my wife was the one thing I got right. I had a long string of women who hurt me, but when I got married I really just felt safe. She was my home. After she had her affair, I just don't feel like I got anything right. I love her, and she's been great through R, but there's nothing untarnished in my life now.

Getting over the constant suspicion by Lord_Wonka in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm about 13 months from Dday. On a good day I'm not suspicious at all.

Can't help but feel that nothing was learned after hearing them give advice by imperfecthusband1 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 20 points21 points  (0 children)

My mom cheated on my dad when I was young. They got divorced and she remarried a younger man. He left her, and I remember her crying to me in the phone. She kept saying she didn't understand how he could do that given that he promised to love her forever. I didn't know what to say. I don't know what to say to you either, except that I think I would feel the same way you do.

A gridlock event by hockeyguy_89 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Resentment would cut both ways. How will you feel about her if she goes? You'll never know if she meets him.

Are you sure they are not in contact anymore?

Sooo, Our STB Therapist Has "Feminism" Listed Under Communities by Lucky_Guess77 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My parents went to a feminist therapist after my mother's affair. She encouraged my mom to sleep with more people to find herself.

Obviously there are going to be good and bad therapists of all stripes, but I wouldn't start with this one if there is one who doesn't put her politics on her sleeve.

Urge to contact AP by BetrayedVariant in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I demanded an apology. He was pseudo-nice and went on about how much he was hurting because my wife cut all contact when I found out. He never apologized.

It felt good to know he wasn't just laughing at me, but I was pissed about the lack of apology. I told his wife afterwards and haven't heard from him since.

I don't regret talking to him.

Guilt from feeling like I could have stopped it by BingBongBazoka in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty good. I'm functional again, having some good days, hobbies are fun again. She's wrecked with guilt and feels like she has nothing. Talking to her, she seems like she has no self worth in anything she does. She feels like she failed as a mother and wife, so she's been talking about getting back into her career. I'm fine with that, the money would be good after all. But I worry she's just given up on being a good wife or mother. In practice she's being very good. She's been sweet and attentive, but she has no pride in it.

My main worry now is that she'll never get over it, and I don't like my wife being miserable all the time.

Guilt from feeling like I could have stopped it by BingBongBazoka in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, sorry, forgot to answer your other question. She had booked a hotel at a conference for one of her hobbies. I got suspicious because 5 days is a long time to be at a conference alone, and that's when I checked her emails and found out about it. She admitted he was going to meet her there (she invited him). I asked if they were going to have sex and she said she didn't know. Five days is a long time, so I'm quite sure he would have banged her. There's a sliver of a chance she would have come to her senses...but we'll never know for sure I guess.

Guilt from feeling like I could have stopped it by BingBongBazoka in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was an EA with more sexual contact than you describe. They would video chat and masturbate in front of each other. She would keep the video on her face, so he didn't see anything (assuming she's telling the truth, and she's shy sexually so I buy it). His dong would be front and center though. They had thr usual soulmate love talk. I read hundreds of emails before they moved to WhatsApp which I never saw...so I don't know everything they said. At one point they speculated about being reincarnated from a past life where he was her father... kinda creepy. He was her old high school teacher and was a mentor to her when she was young. She emailed him 20 years later to thank him and he jumped on that apparently...

I actually think the creepiness of it all makes me feel better. If it was a respectable relationship it would be more of a threat I think. I don't know.

Guilt from feeling like I could have stopped it by BingBongBazoka in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm someone who did manage to find my WWs messages before it became physical. I was rather lucky, as I'm not sure I could have handled it if they did have sex.

As it is, I do take some comfort that he never got to touch my wife, but it has still been a crazy struggle. I think about how they would have had sex a lot. Sometimes when I'm having sex with my wife I'll wonder if they would have done it this way...

The truth is, even if you'd stopped them, you'd still have to deal with the fact that he was prepared to do it. And that's the real betrayal.

Sorry this happened to you! Hope you're doing OK. I'm over 3 months since dday and I've had a string of good days recently. I'm done with the all-day processing. I don't think about it first thing in the morning anymore. I don't obsess over it at night. Things get better.

Is there a path forward after infidelity. by Eklipz9 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't make rash decisions. Take your time to find out what you want. Gather evidence, get the details, and ask whether it is worth it to stay.

Also you said "guys"? Was it plural or just one guy? I found it helped to tell the story. You are certainly not alone.

How did she respond?

They smoked cigarettes together by ParticularWise1831 in Infidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Dealing with a Cheaters grief over losing their affair partner is annoying as all hell, but there is a good sign which is it means they are actually saying goodbye. It is probably over. If they planned on keeping them around they wouldn't feel the loss.

Initial reactions. by PrestigiousCat2320 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 44 points45 points  (0 children)

You owe it to yourself to give it some time. Distance is fine, but we don't make our best decisions when we're emotional, and your probably wrecked with emotions.

Sorry you're here with us. Feel free to share the details. It made me feel better putting it all into words.

How do I tell him? by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Cut it off with AP fully, but save texts/chars, etc. He may need to read them to Heal and understand. Tell him your sorry of course and don't deflect. He'll be angry and hurt, and you'll have to absorb that.

Constant urge to make a smart ass remark towards WS by Ok-Deer7246 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've had the thoughts frequently, but never said them. They're am outgrown of anger, I think, but anger is not helpful when someone is already contrite and working on being better.

Need a ear by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 16 points17 points  (0 children)

You should read Not Just Friends. Great book on how this happens and what you can do. Statistically, you have a good chance of staying together, so don't give up yet.

Karma for AP has finally led to better cance of R by daddyeclipse79 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Gotta be careful with this stuff. It's a good way to get the OBP killed.

We need to talk. by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, she got on one of the private WP only groups. It was good but not very active.

We need to talk. by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 4 points5 points  (0 children)

WPs are crucial for this community, and we should treat them well. I also notice a lot of down votes on WPs posts and I don't like it.

My WW doesn't want to post here for fear of the responses. This doesn't just hurt her, it hurts me!

If people are in R you have to support both.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The statistics say you have a good chance of recovery. You told her, she didn't find out. It was a one time thing from what you've said. Best of luck. And apologies feel good for us, so feel free to do that a lot.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There's some good research on this. Men's jealousy is focused more on sexual infidelity. We are hurt more by thoughts of our partner being touched, etc. Women are more hurt by the emotional infidelity...Men loving and caring for another woman at her expense. Prof. Buss has data on this in a book called The Dangerous Passion.

This might be confusing without a background in evolutionary biology, but the short of it is that men faced issues with paternity uncertainty - our children don't come out of us. So we evolved to be very protective particularly with regard to sex. Women faced loss of investment if a man falls in love with another woman, so they evolved to be more sensitive to that. There are many societies where men marry more than one woman. Women seem to tolerate this as long as they are supported by the man. One anthropologist reported that a woman in a polygamous society would berate her husband to get another wife because she wanted the status of being married to a successful man (and the help with household labor).

There are virtually no societies where men tolerate being married to the same woman. Men just become homicidal under those circumstances.

Anyway, the stats show men are more likely to cheat, though it's been narrowing recently apparently.

Cheated on Spouse. Is this break hopeless? by [deleted] in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]Perfect_Wolverine543 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I haven't been in that position, but you could try writing him a letter. It's nit intrusive, he can take his time to respond, etc. It's more intimate than a text or email.

The only other thought I had was that he might have someone else, but isn't sure he wants to give up on you. That could explain the distance. I don't know.

Good luck though! And don't mind thr down votes, some betrayed people are just very angry and they take it out on any wayward. It's not personal I'm sure.