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: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
L
Junior Member
Junior Member
L Offline
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
we have been married for 10 years together for 12. He spent a lot of that time being unfaithful even had a girlfriend for a year. I left several times, and eventually had one affair of my own which ended everything. I kicked him out. He spent months begging, crying, doing all he could to get me back.
4 years later and we are here, he had another affair. Says it was nothing more than hand holding and talking, but he loved her...well thought maybe he did.
During this couple weeks, before I found out, he was saying he was confused unhappy. Didn't want to hurt me, didn't want to hurt anyone. Wasn't sure he wanted to leave, wasn't sure if he wanted to go. It was a hellish 2 weeks. I ate nothing, cried daily, begged for answers.
This last weekend I found out, he apologized and held me while I cried. Gave me many falsehoods before telling me truths. He says he called her and ended it. He had it so hidden, going so far as to calling her from pay phones and meeting in secret.
Now we are here in the house. I am crushed, feeling hurt and sad. Still not eating, going on three weeks. He is cold, depressed, hesitant about affections or even normal conversation. When I asked him to prove his whereabouts he got upset. Won't do it. Wants me to drop the whole thing and stop talking about it.
When I cry he is there holding me, but the rest of the time we only exist in the same room and nothing more.
He was showing me love and affections just before this affair. But now is unwilling to do so much. I am at a loss, do I wait for him to get over this person and then he will go back to wanting me again, or should I just walk away?

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
J
Member
Member
J Offline
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
Do you have any children?

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
J
Member
Member
J Offline
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
The first thing I want to encourage you to do is visit your family doctor and ask for anti-depressants for your situation. Tell the doctor what is going on.
Dr. Harley encourages anyone facing these situations to speak with their doctor and request anti-depressants.

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
L
Junior Member
Junior Member
L Offline
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
We have two children. And my medical is stupid...basically I pay for insurance but have to pay out of pocket a few thousand before I actually get anything covered by medical. We cannot afford it.

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,197
U
Member
Member
U Offline
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,197
His repeat affairs are abusive, you should plan to go into Plan B (dark separation) immediately.

You can give him a list of requirements to follow in order for you to stay in the marriage, but since he seems uninterested to even follow basic ones (like telling you his whereabouts), I doubt he will agree to all the EP's required to create a safe marriage for you. Unless he is willing to create a safe marriage, one of extraordinary care, you need to separate.

Serial cheaters are very difficult to recover with, even if they are completely willing to change their ways, which he is not.

If you stay in this abusive situation, it will wear on your health until you end up in the funny farm, and you have children to think about.

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,433
M
Member
Member
M Offline
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,433
Originally Posted by Littlebitofme
we have been married for 10 years together for 12. He spent a lot of that time being unfaithful even had a girlfriend for a year. I left several times, and eventually had one affair of my own which ended everything. I kicked him out. He spent months begging, crying, doing all he could to get me back.
I don't understand what you mean by your affair ending everything.

None of these affairs, neither his nor yours, have been recovered from properly. That is why you find yourself so deep in the hole now. Your marriage is full of characteristics that make affairs happen. You need to educate yourself on the true nature of affairs, how to recover from them, and how to reconstitute your marriage in such a way that future affairs become impossible. You should read "Surviving an Affair".


me-65
wife-61
married for 40 years
DS - 38, autistic, lives at home
DD - 37, married and on her own
DS - 32, still living with us
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,391
L
Member
Member
L Offline
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,391
You should be medically checked out for a Full STD tests for any/all varieties of sexually transmitted diseases.

LTL

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 20,481
Likes: 6
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 20,481
Likes: 6
Who is the OW? Is she married?

Who have you exposed this to?


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
L
Junior Member
Junior Member
L Offline
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
When i had an affair I was done with H. Was going to move on. It took months for me to even want to speak to him because at that point I was completely and totally done. He has been completely faithful since then. He was loving, and caring, and everything he was never durring when he was cheating. It was only when he met this OW and started seeing her that his attitude toward me changed. It was only a few weeks ago also.
I dont know anything about the OW as he wont tell me much. He doesnt want me freaking out on her...which I would because what kind of woman is going to go for a married man?
Admittedly we have been having issues. I myself have been negative and just gave up on myself, didnt care much. So there are underlying problems.
I am in a situation where I am completely dependant on him. I cant work much due to debilitating migraines.
Right now all I am doing is trying to get through the days weighing all my options and plans.
He got an STD a few years back, I have none.

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
J
Member
Member
J Offline
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,239
You have migraines?
have you visited a doctor for these?
You need to see a doctor for anti-depressants. There may be clinics available for free or sliding fee scales in your area.

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 20,481
Likes: 6
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 20,481
Likes: 6
You need to find out who the OW is and expose his affair.


FWW/BW (me)
WH
2nd M for both
Blended Family with 7 kids between us
Too much hurt and pain on both sides that my brain hurts just thinking about it all.



Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
H
Member
Member
H Offline
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
migraines will be worse under stress (bad marriage). Xou should get specific treatment and/or help from a pain specialist.


MD
happily married to and in love with DH
3 children out of the house, 2 more to go
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 155
A
Member
Member
A Offline
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 155
Originally Posted by Littlebitofme
We have two children. And my medical is stupid...basically I pay for insurance but have to pay out of pocket a few thousand before I actually get anything covered by medical. We cannot afford it.

I understand, my medical is the same ever since Obamacare. But I know some antidepressants are very inexpensive, like just a $5 or $10 a month. So yes, you will probably have to pay for the doctor visit, but how much is your sanity worth? If your husband can afford to entertain an OW, surely your well being in the face of his repeat infidelity is worth 1 - 2 hundred dollars.

I believe it's nearly impossible to make rational decisions and to be strong when you are depressed and crying and going through something horrible like this. An anti-depressant could give you clarity that you otherwise may not be able to get, to see the situation for what it really is and have the strength to be your own best advocate.

What if the car broke down or one of you broke a leg, or some other such emergency? Wouldn't you be able to find the one time payment somehow? This is an emergency of your husband's making and you should not suffer additionally due to the cost of a Dr. visit. Also, there may be county health clinics where you can go that are less expensive.

Good luck to you. I really feel for you.



Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Search
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 185 guests, and 94 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Countfunkula, mollye14, Pansu, sakyt, George Mixflicke
72,372 Registered Users
Latest Posts
Separation
by elambush - 09/04/26 11:24 PM
beverage sizes in large office
by elambush - 09/04/26 11:22 PM
Forum Statistics
Forums67
Topics133,659
Posts2,323,615
Members72,372
Most Online9,682
May 13th, 2026
deneme bonusu
Building Marriages That Last A Lifetime
Copyright © 2025, Marriage Builders, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site Navigation
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0