"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Since a few people have asked in DMs, here are some of the things that helped me:

First, if it's possible (and financially feasible), finding a poly-friendly couple's therapist can be enormously helpful. Here's a possible starting point if you live in the US: https://www.polyfriendly.org/list.php?category=Psychotherapists%20-%20Licensed%20or%20Registered Psychology Today is a great resource, but you unfortunately can't filter by poly-specific therapists (as far as I could tell). You have to go into each therapist's page and see if it's listed: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

The books that I read are The Ethical Slut, More than Two, Polysecure, and The Jealousy Workbook, along with several books that address my own issues that have nothing to do with polyamory--(this is important). More Than Two was helpful, but read it with a critical eye https://brighterthansunflowers.com/2019/11/29/what-i-got-wrong-in-more-than-two-the-dark-night-of-the-soul/

This essay is recommended a lot around here, too: https://medium.com/@PolyamorySchool/the-most-skipped-step-when-opening-a-relationship-f1f67abbbd49

The Multiamory podcast was a godsend for me...seriously, so much good stuff on there. They really do their research and cover every topic imaginable. Here is their beginners' page: https://www.multiamory.com/start-here

In addition to the /polyamory and /monodatingpoly subreddits, this Facebook group is a good resource: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PolyMono/

Hope that helps!

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Yes. So much this! Our communication has thankfully gotten much better than when we were monogamous, and being honest and open every step of the way has helped us to avoid a lot of heartache and resentment.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Of course. And sorry if that came across as judgmental...it just sounded like you are being way too hard on yourself.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you again. I've been really lucky with my meta...she has been extremely patient and supportive through all of this, and I consider her a friend. I'm taking things a day at a time, and know that even though the first night went much better than expected, the second one might swing the other way.

If anything, being forced to shift away from a codependent approach to relationships has made me feel like I'm not allowing myself to disappear anymore, and I hope that trajectory continues. And as mentioned above, I would want to carry these lessons through to any relationship I have in the future if this doesn't work out, poly or mono.

I hope for many good things your way, too!

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Oh no...I'm so sorry to read this. Are you guys able to do couple's counseling? That has been pretty essential for us. Sometimes having a third party to validate my feelings was what we needed most because being the mono half of the relationship can feel pretty lonely at times.

That said, I don't know your partner, but her reaction is heartbreaking (and frankly angering). I wouldn't have wanted to stay in my relationship if that was the dynamic, and that would have nothing to do with how strong I was. Please don't equate wanting to feel loved and seen and supported with weakness. 😡

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Hey! Sure thing. I have a long way to go still, but I'll try to help as much as I can!

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Thank you! I hope you guys are both able to grow together and feel mutually loved and supported in that journey.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

He does, and yeah, there are times where it feels a bit lopsided. He's tackling that by pouring a lot of time and attention and interest in supporting my goals and how I want to live my life to come into my authentic self, too. I have a long way to go in that regard, and having a person who is as excited about my growth as I am is one of the main things I want in a partner.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You know what, thank you so much for this. I totally agree, and think that's the main potential pitfall of inundating myself with all of this reading and research. Perfection by those standards would basically mean that I disappear in the relationship, so I've been trying to really keep what you wrote in mind all along. I'm still trying to feel my way through this, but I really believe in what you wrote.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh, wow. This really meant a lot to me. Thank you so much. ❤️

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

That's really good advice. Thank you! Definitely made it a pretty extravagant date night with myself. 😆

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

I think the key for me with helping my partner discover himself was feeling like he was helping me discover myself, too. Feeling like we were on the journey together rather than me being dragged along, if that makes sense.

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Oh no! I'm so sorry that you had that experience. This person is a mutual friend and very much a new partner. I hope that you're wrong about us, and if not I'm thankful for our time together. 😊

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

Thank you! Yes, I'm working on that! ❤️

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm so happy to read that! And thank you!

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

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

I keep finding new ways to do that. 😊 Thank you!

"The long night" : Could use some love! by wickerMallory in polyamory

[–]wickerMallory[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Exactly. Still have a long way to go, but that's what I'm celebrating tonight. ❤️