|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868 |
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> The "Need to Know" by Peggy Vaughan Why we need answers to our questions When learning of our partner's affair, most of us feel an intense "need to know" - asking questions to try to make some kind of sense out of what has happened. Here's an excerpt about this from my book, The Monogamy Myth <p>"When a person discovers their mate is having an affair, their world suddenly turns upside down. In order to recover any sense of balance, they need to get more information and understanding of the situation. Without answers to their questions, they convince themselves that the answers must all be bad; otherwise why wouldn't they be told what they want to know. They feel they're being treated like a child, and they resent it." <p><strong>"If the information didn't exist, it wouldn't be so frustrating and demeaning. But they know their partner has it, and simply refuses to give it to them. This makes a balance of power in the relationship impossible... It's doubtful if trust can ever be restored in a relationship where this persists."</strong><p>"I remember how tough it was on my husband when I continually asked more and more questions. Intellectually, I wanted to move on and get over it, but emotionally I needed the ongoing support and understanding he gave me. It was extremely important that he never said, "enough is enough, let's get on with our lives." Of course, nobody would choose to go through the thousands of hours of talking about this if there were some other way. In my own case, I think it was an essential part of overcoming my feelings and finding peace of mind." (end of excerpt from "The Monogamy Myth") <p>While I have consistently heard this same thing from thousands of people during the past 20 years, there's still a great reluctance on the part of those who have had affairs to answer questions and to continue talking about the whole situation. Unfortunately, there has also been a large segment of the therapeutic community that has reinforced the idea that too many questions and too much talking is not for the best. <p>I now have statistical data that demonstrates the connection between honest communication and both staying married and recovering. I have posted some results from my Research Questionnaire that may help people see the importance of respecting this "need to know." <p>While it's important to get answers to your questions IF you ask questions, this does NOT mean you "should" ask questions unless/until you really want to know. It's just that it's essential to get answers if you DO ask. <p>While for most people, "getting answers to your questions" is a key ingredient in rebuilding the trust and building a strong marriage, no one should be forced to hear things they don't want to hear. But if they DO want to hear details, they deserve to have their questions answered. It's the WILLINGNESS of the partner to answer questions that is so critical, not whether or not you ASK for the answers. <p>So each person needs to decide for themselves the timing of when/what/how much they want to know. (It's important to determine that you really want the truth, and are not just hoping for some kind of reassurance or disclaimers.) For most people, "not knowing" is worst of all - because their imagination fills in the blanks and the wondering never ceases. <hr></blockquote>
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,837
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,837 |
Hi Cadet,<p>Very good thread!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Words to ponder and learn from . Kinda validates our feelings right? Now we know we are not crazy for asking. <p>thanks, L.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106
Member
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106 |
Spacecase,<p>Have you read her book? I did and I also bought the tapes for my H to listen to. (He's not a fast reader). We found her book to help a great deal. I often go back to her website to refresh myself. I've been having a problem letting go of the OW, I keep emailing her but she deletes them without reading them. We were doing really well but I seem to be stumbling lately. I guess I just want to see if she is hurting as much as me. I think I need to read the book again.<p>sty
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868 |
STY; I have not read that book. For some reason, probably not justified, it seemed to me that her stuff was like "dear abby" or something like that; radio talk-show kind of stuff...<p>I'm going to look into it further.<p>You're emailing the OW? That's torture...why would you do that? Think about your intended actions and ask yourself; "will this be a positive, a step forward for my M?" before you do them...if it is, then OK. If it's not...it'll probably just be painful. Just my opinion, of course!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106
Member
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106 |
Spacecase,<p>Yes it is torture. But I can't seem to stop myself. It has probably been about a month now and the other day I emailed her again but when I came to work I unsent them before she could see. I couldn't figure it out but I think I want to hurt her with them. <p>My H doesn't know I've been sending them. I've kept it from him to test him. I figured if he contacts her she would tell him then he would tell me. He has not contacted her.<p>I know I shouldn't and that it doesn't help. I'm trying to work on it. I thought it was very good that I unsent them. <p> [img]images/icons/frown.gif" border="0[/img] sty
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868 |
There you go! Hurting her won't help you or your H...believe me; if you think you have problems, hers are twice as many and twice as big...she'll hurt herself more than you ever could. She won't need you help for that.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,781
Member
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,781 |
Stronger,<p>I think you need to come to terms with your e-mailing the OW. I think you're playing with fire!<p>It seems to me that there is something within you that needs healing that is causing you to do this.<p>You may guess what I'm about to say...You need to tell your H what you're doing and have him help you heal. Reason being... You're being secetive about the contact and dishonest. Not a good idea. By telling your H about the e-mails your behavior may stop once it has seen "the light of day".<p>Another reason is that you're keeping the OW in your life and your relationship as long as you keep contacting her. Let her go.. Put her in the past. Nothing good can come from keeping her in the present.<p>I had a couple of opportunities to "mess with" the OW in my life. I managed to barely have enough self control to not act on my impulses. Now that I'm down the road from these impulese; looking back It's a good thing I didn't act on them. I would have gotten myself into trouble based on what I have seen happen. And best of all my spirit isn't troubled by taking those actions. Good luck! CSue
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106
Member
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 106 |
CSue,<p>Thank you for your response. I know I have to let her go. I know I'm just giving her power over me and I want it back. I think it upsets me the she was able to turn my life upside down and go on with her life. I want her to know she didn't mean anything to him. Even though he sent her a no contact letter in which he explained why he did what he did and that he regrets it and so on. I just want to be assured his words hurt her. I know there is no way of me knowing for sure. Even if she emailed me back she would accuse me of making him say those things. <p>I will work on getting past this. <p>thank you, sty
|
|
|
0 members (),
506
guests, and
47
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums67
Topics133,627
Posts2,323,509
Members71,991
|
Most Online3,224 May 9th, 2025
|
|
|
|