Where to begin?!
In 2017 my husband and I started to become distant and arguing a lot after our 3rd child was born. We never really argued at all in our 11 years together. I suspected an affair and tried my best to fulfill the duties of a wife. I got the courage to ask him in December 2018 about this particular woman. He said no, even telling me he didn't know how much longer he could stand me being upset over it. If she was around though, he would ignore me if she was in viewing distance (examples: one time at our sons baseball game where mutual looks were shared by her as well, another time when we were talking and he stopped the conversation completely stared at her for several minutes until she drove off watching her vehicle the entire way, which he blamed a panic attack on this particular time). He got to the point where he would look for the vehicle similar to hers when we were even out of town on vacation!
Fast-forward to April 2019 the truth all came spilling out. My husband was hiding that he had been watching porn for the last 3 years, was sneaking extreme amounts of alcohol with the goal of getting plastered every night (he's always been able to function normally when drunk, so I never suspected he was drunk) and admitted to being obsessed with the woman I accused him of being with for the last 2 years. He admitted to pleasuring himself with the thought of her when she would get stuck in his head from me bringing her up or seeing her around town. He swears there was nothing ever though, no contact or anything. He swears he would never cheat on me ever, which i do believe. He has a tendency to stare at women, especially butts for really long periods of times making it uncomfortable and degrading. I know that my husband is under a lot of pressure with owning his own business and having 3 kids and all that comes it all.
We went to counseling and he was diagnosed with ADHD. He quit drinking and puts his best efforts forward every day to save our marriage. I'm so hurt and confused that some days I just want out. He recently told me that he is just attracted to all women. If they have a pretty face, or nice butt, or something along those lines he is simply attracted to them, but he always tries to reassure me with the fact that he loves me and no one else and that's all that should matter.
For me, that just isn't enough and I know I may be overreacting for now because I am so hurt after this long of untruths. We have 3 kids together. I really feel like he is my soulmate, but I cannot go out in public with him, knowing he will be distracted if there is even the slightest chance of an attractive woman around. He is willing to do anything to save us, but I find myself super hurt and untrusting now. I feel very drepressed knowing he may fall back into this pattern or that there is nothing we can do as far as him always desiring all these women around us.
I would really appreciate any advice at this point. I don't know how to get passed all of this in order to build our relationship and I know it's now starting to affect my kids.
Hurting.
Submitted by AdeleS6845 on
"For me, that just isn't enough and I know I may be overreacting for now because I am so hurt after this long of untruths."
I don't think you are overreacting at all. Your feelings are hurt because your husband's behavior is insensitive, disrespectful and uncalled for. I get it, "Men are visual creatures". To notice attractive women is one thing, but his stopping mid conversation to drool over another woman, and his admitting to masturbating while thinking of this other woman has hurt you deeply, rightfully so. Your husband admitting to doing this is totally ADHD related, in my opinion. TMI.
(My Fiancee has gone on and on about other women in the past, until I finally got through to him how much it hurt me and wounded my self esteem. I started walking away when things got uncomfortable, and it had a big impact.)
Have you considered counseling/therapy for yourself, just you alone? Also, has your husband seen a therapist on his own?
I feel for you. I'm sorry you are going through this, but am glad you reached out here for support!
Hugs.
All men face the same battles....
Submitted by c ur self on
Much of your husbands struggles (that you have listed) are things that every normal male must battle...I am in no way condoning his actions, nor am I making light of your hurt and disappointment...But, I do understand him...Your husband is just being his own worst enemy, by looking at porn....What he has told you (the sufferings of the male mind) isn't something most men have the courage to share...And frankly you aren't the one he needs to be sharing it with...(Male accountability partner) Human self control is a very fallible thing for men and women...If it was not, then 50% of all marriages wouldn't end in divorce or separation....
We live in a difficult society for men, (visually stimulated) when I am at the gym working out, and some college girl is right in front of me, w/ light colored skin tight spandex on, and every line of her vagina is printed, it's very difficult to just immediately look away, like I know I should....I can be angry about it, but, I can't change it...It's the way of the world, and they justify it....So nobody really cares who is suffering because it....
All I can do is pray about it, ask God for the power to look away, and ask for forgiveness if I stared, or thought a wrong thought.....But I will always be a man who is visually stimulated, that will never change....
I personally think your husband needs a good Christian Counselor...Someone he can confide in, who can help him....He can't help you, until he can help himself.....
I will pray for your family......
c
I understand what C is saying
Submitted by AdeleS6845 on
I understand what C is saying.
I'd like to add something if I may.
It's not courageous for a husband to overshare with his fantasies about the town hottie when he does his thing. That's information a person-- Male or Female should keep to themselves.
I know TMI is an ADHD thing.
Doesn't change the fact that it's still hurtful.
I agree w/ you adele......
Submitted by c ur self on
Attitude is everything......Also, just to be clear, his hurtful, degrading and disrespectful actions toward his wife.. Shows a much deeper problem than just being a man.....
Putting aside his behaviour
Submitted by Sollertiae on
Putting aside his behaviour in public for the moment, if you feel hurt and betrayed then no matter what he thinks he did/didn't do around cheating then it doesn't matter. Because for you it is real, has breached some particular code of relationship you thought you had with him. You don't have to have sex with someone else to cheat or to betray your partner and hurt them grievously, and if those boundaries were not understood initially, then any hope of going forward in the future relies on them being respected and understood. While I am okay with my partner talking about previous relationships or people he finds attractive (just means he has to deal with me doing it back), that is not everyone it is definitely not okay to do so to someone who is not okay with it. I am glad that he has put effort into saving the marriage, into stopping his drinking, treating his ADHD and making reparations and he should keep doing all of that. But basically he is going to have to keep reassuring you, acting in a way you trust and being the best he can until you are able to start recovering and moving forward together and repairing what went wrong before all of this (and something did, probably not only the ADHD). And that will take as long as it takes, do not feel bad about it. One person I find who talks about the process of recovery (and break up) intelligently when it comes to couples is Esther Perel. Maybe you might find her book on the topic insightful, or at least help you realise you aren't overreacting, but are in fact in the process of something that takes time: https://www.estherperel.com/store/the-state-of-affairs.
In terms of him in public - I am sorry, I don't particularly care what is going on around impulse control, or being male in a 'visually dominant world.' It is creepy and skeezy and toxic. I can appreciate beautiful people and somehow not manage to creepily drool and be degrading to those I am with. Basic human manners.
Oh, hon.
Submitted by Brindle on
My heart aches and aches when I read your words. OF COURSE you’re at the point you are. I don’t care how visual men are; he’s crossed a major line. Maybe he didn’t physically sleep with her, but he had an affair in his head. He didn’t just find her attractive. He let his mind go there. It’s still a betrayal. It isn’t just “I noticed she’s attractive.” It was far more than that.
And I don’t blame you for not wanting to go with him in public. I would feel humiliated, degraded, and betrayed. You are right to be angry and hurt.
I hope you find a way to stand up for yourself and bring his attention to the damage he’s doing. I don’t know your personality or his, but do you think it would be effective to walk in front of him so that you break his gaze and just stare him down angrily? If that doesn’t work, you could begin adding, “I will not stay here while you ogle another woman while me and your kids stand here. Find your own way home.” And then leave?
This is a deeply personal thing. It’s not ok for him to expect you to just deal with it or tolerate the pain. And it is ok for you to drive the point home that this is too much for you. If he wants to be able to keep you, then he will have to work on this.
You don’t need to just “get past this.” You don’t need to trust him. He’s broken something precious between you. You can work on getting past it once he’s proven that you are important enough to him that he’s willing to literally do anything to keep you, including keeping his eyes to himself.
Big hugs. You’re not crazy or too sensitive. You’re right.
My heart hurts for you ❤
Submitted by daizzebelle on
Of course you are in pain. He betrayed you. There is a lot of good information about betrayal trauma recovery on the internet. One resource I know of is a website called Bloom -- it is for women whose husbands have betrayed them. Feel free to pm me if you like. I'm so sorry you are going through this. Hugs ❤