Welcome to the
Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum

This is a community where people come in search of marriage related support, answers, or encouragement. Also, information about the Marriage Builders principles can be found in the books available for sale in the Marriage Builders® Bookstore.
If you would like to join our guidance forum, please read the Announcement Forum for instructions, rules, & guidelines.
The members of this community are peers and not professionals. Professional coaching is available by clicking on the link titled Coaching Center at the top of this page.
We trust that you will find the Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum to be a helpful resource for you. We look forward to your participation.
Once you have reviewed all the FAQ, tech support and announcement information, if you still have problems that are not addressed, please e-mail the administrators at mbrestored@gmail.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,868
S
Member
OP Offline
Member
S
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
O
Member
Offline
Member
O
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
S
Member
Offline
Member
S
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
S
Member
OP Offline
Member
S
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
S
Member
Offline
Member
S
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
S
Member
OP Offline
Member
S
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
C
Member
Offline
Member
C
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
S
Member
Offline
Member
S
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


Moderated by  Fordude 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Search
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 506 guests, and 47 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
dugdales76, kyliesmith, Quaff, cole ramsey, Airlines airport
71,990 Registered Users
Latest Posts
How Qatar Airways Nicosia Office in Cyprus Assist?
by dugdales76 - 06/05/25 05:07 AM
Frontier Boston Logan Terminal Your Ultimate Guide
by Airlines airport - 06/04/25 05:29 AM
BA name correction policy
by Rick Jones - 06/03/25 11:59 PM
Flights from Atlanta Georgia to Tampa Florida
by Sofiaromano - 06/03/25 12:42 AM
Following Ex-Wifes Nursing Schedule?
by risoy60576 - 05/24/25 09:12 AM
Advice pls
by Steven Round - 05/24/25 06:48 AM
I didn’t have a chance
by Open Leaf - 05/20/25 07:15 AM
Forum Statistics
Forums67
Topics133,627
Posts2,323,509
Members71,991
Most Online3,224
May 9th, 2025
Building Marriages That Last A Lifetime
Copyright © 2025, Marriage Builders, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site Navigation
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5