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
#462417 06/06/02 12:08 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 25
H
Member
Member
H Offline
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 25
Here is my story, I will be as short as possible. Been married for 20 years. 2 1/2 yrs. ago, my wife was not meeting needs, I moved out and had an affair for 4 months. I realized how wrong it was and came back, willing to give it ALL to my W. She had fought hard for me to come back, read lots of books, prayed, etc. Since that time I thought we were doing pretty well but felt after a couple of months W was having hard time forgiving/forgeting. I was patient for the most part and gave her time. 6 mo. ago I became suspicious of W having an EA with co-worker. I confronted her and she said that they were only "close" friends. I confirmed EA/PA 2 mo. ago after catching them together. She admited EA/PA. I desperately fought as hard for her as she had fought for me. We both agreed to work on M. Since that time, I have read alot and read this site. Know about concepts of Plan A but am a very needy insecure person anyway. Wife told me that she felf that she was never "perfect" enough for me and feels "pressure" from me to be what I want. I am needy and admit to trying to make her/need her to be what I want. Another way of me looking at it thought was I was/am just trying to convey to her what emotional needs I need her to fill. Now, since was are in "recovery" she is upbeat most of the time but I see through alot of it. She hates to talk to much about A and just acts like it did not happen. She is not very remorseful. She says she wants to be with me but then in another breath makes statements like "what you did changed me, I used to put you and (child) first and now I am going to make myself happy, I don't know if you are perfect enough for me now, I am hardended by what you did 2 years ago, etc., etc."
Here is my problem. While I am trying to give her space, etc. I have needs that despite my best attempts to Plan A surface every few days. I get down, deppressed, needy, want to talk about how to restore marriage, etc. She is seeing her own counselor and so am I but she says she is not ready to see a counselor together. She is also still working with OM but swears she is avoiding him and won't quite or write NC letter. I tend to believe her on this one. How can she act as if nothing ever happened, happy and upbeat, but not look me in the eye when I need it and say everything is going to be okay, I love you and we will work it out. While she seems happy, she tells me that sometimes she feels "closed in" but can't tell me what that means or what makes her feel that way. At her request, no one knows about her except both our conselors, our pastor (which she avoids talking to despite his attempts) her best friend, who has no all along. I have no one to talk to, no one is in her life telling her how wrong she was and to work it out at all costs. How do I deal with her needing me to act as if nothing happened, get on with life, etc. when I know that she won't let me get to close to her?
I need advice.

#462418 06/05/02 07:22 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,284
J
Member
Member
J Offline
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,284
My bet is that she is still in the affair, at least the EA part of it. What you need to realize is that she has NOT committed to recovery of the marriage. She is simply marking time waiting for something to change.<p>I would recommend that you continue your Plan A, but when it comes to the point where you cannot avoid LB's, then plan B may be were you need to be heading. <p>This is a difficult situation and her lack of effort is very trying. By the way, Harley points out that often a WS will not apologize for what they have done. She hasn't figured out that she is hurting herself as well as you in this process.<p>Hang in there and see how this develops.<p>God Bless,<p>JL

#462419 06/15/02 09:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 164
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 164
I am positive that the affair is still going on.
I recognize my own behavior in hers. The upbeat moods are a dead giveaway.


Moderated by  Fordude 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Search
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 542 guests, and 71 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Zion9038xe, renki, Gocroswell, Allen Inverson, Logan bauer
72,026 Registered Users
Latest Posts
Annulment reconsideration help
by abrrba - 07/21/25 03:05 PM
Help: I Don't Like Being Around My Wife
by abrrba - 07/21/25 03:01 PM
How important is it to get the whole story?
by leemc - 07/18/25 10:58 AM
Following Ex-Wifes Nursing Schedule?
by Roger Beach - 07/16/25 04:21 AM
My wife wants a separation
by Roger Beach - 07/16/25 04:20 AM
Spying husband arrested
by coooper - 06/24/25 09:19 AM
Forum Statistics
Forums67
Topics133,624
Posts2,323,522
Members72,027
Most Online6,102
Jul 3rd, 2025
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