We've been married for 30+ yrs. Husband was diagnosed when he was 50, but we struggled long before that. He takes meds, goes to therapy and says he spends "so much time" working on his ADHD. We've gone to couples therapy and taken Melissa's class twice. I've gone to therapy multiple times as well. Despite all this, to me it feels like his ADHD is untreated. I've tried to help him with docs and treatment but he needs to help himself. He suffers from severe RSD, which I think is the root of so much of what we struggle with. He takes guanficine, but it doesn't seem to help. The ever so smallest thing sets him off into an irritability spiral and he's snarky and mean. I manage all things that require any attention to detail, I coordinate 99% of the details of our lives....... it seems like he only hears 25% of what we talk about. I never know if he's paid attention to stuff so I can't count on him for many things. When I ask a question about something we've talked about multiple times and he doesn't remember talking about it he gets all irritable and lashes out at me. Sometimes he says he's sorry for lashing out, but there's usually an excuse ..... "oh I didn't sleep, my phone isn't working". I'm exhausted, angry, sad, lonely and frustrated. I've told him multiple times that I'm at the end of my rope and something has to change. He makes some changes for a week or so then we're back to the same place....... over and over and over. I'm not the happy, fun creative person I used to be. So often he sucks all the joy from me. After his little meltdowns he can snap out of it and make jokes, but I'm spent and can't "snap out of it". So I stay angry, frustrated and cold towards him because I'm just so tired of being treated like that. We retired a few years ago and I thought things might improve since we would both be less stressed, but that hasn't been the case. He gets so hyper focused on various things that he's oblivious to everything else. When I mention the hyper focus he says "oh I guess I just can't do x - I'll just quit doing that".
For a long time I kept thinking he could find something..... therapy, new med, new tool........that would help us, but I now realize that's not going to happen and at almost 70 he's not going to change. I'm struggling with making the break, financially it will be hard. I often think "who will take care of me when I'm 80" or "I don't want to be alone" ...... but then I realize how alone I feel now and wonder if I'd be better off calling it quits????? I read all the stories here and I'm not optimistic that we can make it work
Is it time to go?
Submitted by Tired girl on 03/27/2024.
I feel you
Submitted by nonadhdwife889 on
I'm new to this forum and don't have advice per se. I just want to say as a non adhd spouse I recognise what you are saying and feel for you. I am at a different stage of life (young children) but the issues are the same and I empathize with what you say. The burnout and exhaustion is real and, for me at least, is debilitating. You've got practical issues to consider in a separation (as do I) which makes things harder and I hope you come to a decision or a way of living that works best for you.
I felt alone too
Submitted by 1Melody1 on
Only you can decide, but I totally get where you are. You can only try so hard to encourage change in the relationship on your end and the rest is up to him. If he isn't going to do it, you're faced with really difficult choices. I don't know if it helps, but I was lonelier in my marriage than I am now. I left 3 years ago, haven't dated, and feel completely content with that. I can enjoy my friends, coworkers and daughter SO much more now that I'm free of the stress and it's filling my cup. And if I wanted a companion, I could start looking anytime. As hard as it was to disentangle from him, I don't regret it at all. However, I left in my mid-40s and I get that it's much different to leave if your earning years are behind or almost behind you. Financially, I feel like I have to work impossibly hard to prepare for retirement as a single, but I do still have a decade or more to do that. I think if you feel solid enough in your finances, in the long run leaving could be so good for your mental health.
Thanks for the insight
Submitted by Tired girl on
Thanks for the insight! I think I've finally come to the conclusion that things might improve periodically, but there's no sustainability and that's not going to change. One of the hardest things for me is the "roller coaster". We'll have a hard conversation about stuff and for a while he'll be more aware of his behavior and things will be better, but then poof it's back to the same old situation. I've told him I'm not doing this anymore, but I'm inching closer to just being done.
Hi Tired girl, I have been
Submitted by WhiteHorses on
Hi Tired girl, I have been married over 30 years and face virtually the same situation as you. I could have written much of your post. I'm afraid I don't have any answers other than building your own life as much as you can, but then I'm sure you already know that. I would struggle financially if I left and as I'm retired (we both are) and my health isn't great anymore, at the minute this isn't an option, (but feels like it is increasingly becoming one). I do love him and he is a kind and thoughtful man at heart but that side of him seems to be swamped by his ADHD more and more. The roller coaster ride has become far tougher than it used to be and I'm struggling to stay on it. I just wanted to let you know you're not alone although I know for much of the time those of us in this situation we feel like we are.
Thanks for your support. My
Submitted by Tired girl on
Thanks for your support. My husband is also a good person and loves me, but like your situation, he often has a hard time showing it and the ADHD symptoms overpower his intentions. The roller coaster situation is very hard and even when he makes some progress I have a hard time believing it will stick because so often it doesn't. We're both retired as well and I also have some health issues. Lately a day rarely goes by without me thinking about how to call it quits. I hope you're able to find a path to feeling happier.