Infidelity Support Group
Any relationship in which one partner engages willfully in sexual relations with another outside of the partnership is considered to have experienced infidelity. This breach of trust is often traumatizing for the faithful partner as well as the relationship, and support is often needed to heal emotionally and to decide whether or not the relationship should continue after...
brokenhawk
First of all I need to tell you all a little about me. 46 years old male. I am a recovering alcoholic going on ten years, have had anxiety, panic, depression for years probably around 15. Still have all of it except the alcohol.
Here's my question: I have noticed about a month ago that the wife and I weren't talking as much as we used to and that things just seemed "different" between us. She is also depressed. Now keep in mind I'm paranoid here. Anyway a pretty important picture that I had taped to a mirror went missing and I just asked about it and she said she got cleaner on it and it ruined it so she threw it away, but she left the tape residue on the mirror that she was supposedly cleaning. When I asked her about why the tape was still there she got REAL defensive and saying stuff like "you're always accusing me of something, that picture's been down for 9 days....and so on". Now I don't have the best of memory so I don't know if that's true or not. So she keeps a pinterest account open to the public for everyone to see. So I went snooping...found a bunch of quotes about learning to let go of what you love, quotes about the pain she's in, and about 350 pictures of Jason Aldean, and things of that nature. She has NEVER given me a reason to EVER suspect her of cheating, as a matter of fact she works at a school as a janitor, and most of the time she's on camera except when she goes outside to clean the out buildings and she's always home and we always go places together. She leaves her cell phone in plain sight and it's accessible, same with her computer. Needless to say I couldn't figure out why the mirror wasn't cleaned and it's been snowballing from there. I feel so insecure, that I feel like I have to be with her wherever she goes now, even around the house. I know I'm a loon. So I asked her bluntly because we promised each other years ago that we would tell one another if we ever found anyone else, if she had done so, and if she would be happier she should go and be with whoever it might be.
She tells me that I'm the only one for her, always have been always will be. Now I believe her in that moment of time but once she's off to work my mind will get going about certain things and then I wind up questioning her about other things like songs she has on her MP3 player which includes songs like Chainsaw, Done by the country band "Band Perry", Take it out on me, which is done by Florida Georgia Line. I asked her if those were about me and again all defenses go up and she tells me no, that they're funny to her. These are songs about breaking up, or cheating, so I don't think they are funny at all. So once again I assume she's lying, when she might be telling the truth.
I have changed the way I used to treat her and it was like crap for a couple of years, but I'm treating her like a queen now, because she deserves it. We weren't making love to frequently, but now things have seemed to change for the better I hope! See I always doubt things and it sucks!! She's been laying on my chest as we sleep, she holds my hand in public, she kisses me more and texts loving things to me. I just can't stop thinking about losing her, or maybe I already have? I have a screwed up way of thinking things through and I know that she's depressed also. So I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION and see if I'm thinking wrong, which is what I suspect or should I be worried even after she still tells me she only wants to be with me and she could never be with anyone else. She's even brought up renewing our vows. I will say this the past couple of weeks we have been extremely romantic with one another, and I ask her if I'm smothering her and she tells me no, she loves being close to me. Should I be worried?? I'm just so torn and confused any insight would be DEEPLY appreciated!! Thank you!!
Here's my question: I have noticed about a month ago that the wife and I weren't talking as much as we used to and that things just seemed "different" between us. She is also depressed. Now keep in mind I'm paranoid here. Anyway a pretty important picture that I had taped to a mirror went missing and I just asked about it and she said she got cleaner on it and it ruined it so she threw it away, but she left the tape residue on the mirror that she was supposedly cleaning. When I asked her about why the tape was still there she got REAL defensive and saying stuff like "you're always accusing me of something, that picture's been down for 9 days....and so on". Now I don't have the best of memory so I don't know if that's true or not. So she keeps a pinterest account open to the public for everyone to see. So I went snooping...found a bunch of quotes about learning to let go of what you love, quotes about the pain she's in, and about 350 pictures of Jason Aldean, and things of that nature. She has NEVER given me a reason to EVER suspect her of cheating, as a matter of fact she works at a school as a janitor, and most of the time she's on camera except when she goes outside to clean the out buildings and she's always home and we always go places together. She leaves her cell phone in plain sight and it's accessible, same with her computer. Needless to say I couldn't figure out why the mirror wasn't cleaned and it's been snowballing from there. I feel so insecure, that I feel like I have to be with her wherever she goes now, even around the house. I know I'm a loon. So I asked her bluntly because we promised each other years ago that we would tell one another if we ever found anyone else, if she had done so, and if she would be happier she should go and be with whoever it might be.
She tells me that I'm the only one for her, always have been always will be. Now I believe her in that moment of time but once she's off to work my mind will get going about certain things and then I wind up questioning her about other things like songs she has on her MP3 player which includes songs like Chainsaw, Done by the country band "Band Perry", Take it out on me, which is done by Florida Georgia Line. I asked her if those were about me and again all defenses go up and she tells me no, that they're funny to her. These are songs about breaking up, or cheating, so I don't think they are funny at all. So once again I assume she's lying, when she might be telling the truth.
I have changed the way I used to treat her and it was like crap for a couple of years, but I'm treating her like a queen now, because she deserves it. We weren't making love to frequently, but now things have seemed to change for the better I hope! See I always doubt things and it sucks!! She's been laying on my chest as we sleep, she holds my hand in public, she kisses me more and texts loving things to me. I just can't stop thinking about losing her, or maybe I already have? I have a screwed up way of thinking things through and I know that she's depressed also. So I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION and see if I'm thinking wrong, which is what I suspect or should I be worried even after she still tells me she only wants to be with me and she could never be with anyone else. She's even brought up renewing our vows. I will say this the past couple of weeks we have been extremely romantic with one another, and I ask her if I'm smothering her and she tells me no, she loves being close to me. Should I be worried?? I'm just so torn and confused any insight would be DEEPLY appreciated!! Thank you!!
If you ask your wife straight out she would probably lie if she IS having an affair. You would need proof to confront her with.
It could be that she's on the fence, she's had the thought but she's not carried through.
In my case, I discovered my H was having an A, but I kept quiet until I learned who the bitch was. But in the meantime, I went to him and told him I was unhappy and wanted to work on our marriage. He agreed.
He treated me well, we had amazing sex. HOWEVER his affair was going strong. It even escalated to his screwing her several times a
week. I don't know how the guy did it. So your W's behavior isn't necessarily a good indicator of what might really be going on.
I wish I had trusted my gut earlier. I was in denial. I know that now.
All the signs were there.
I remember the Florida politician who dared the press to follow him and see if he was having an A. Guess what? They did, and he was.
So if I were you, I would put a voice recorder and GPS in her car.
I would monitor her computer activity. I would check up on her.
Unless you are totally crazy (which I doubt) there is something going on. Happily married people don't just wake up and think their spouse is involved with someone else.
Trust but verify. You do this, and you will feel better if you find there is nothing there.
Good luck and let us know . . .
HOWEVER..........If you really want to know, you have to investigate without her knowledge. There are many ways to do this. Hiring a PI , Voice activated recorders, having her followed.
Her having no time or place to have an affair means NOTHING......People have them every day without being discovered. In fact....in my case.....she me the OM for ONE HOUR a week when I attended a meeting. We even commuted to work together.....yet.....she was having an affair for 6 months.
Rarely do people admit an affair without evidence.
I don't mean it's not important if she's cheating... I mean that we are all under the illusion that we are in control.
I say that because you mention that you are sober 9 years (YEAH YOU!) and I think that since you mention it, this plays into that.
I think maybe you are doing some mind thing to yourself. Could it be you are using this as a distraction to your sobriety issues? I say this because I've done it. Sometimes, it's easier to obsess over someone else's behavior than admitting that we have difficulty NOT wanting that drink...
I could be in left field. But is what I'm saying ringing true at all???
--I check her mileage. . .
--Maybe I'll put one of those cell phone spy things. . .
Even if she is not cheating, you have some serious trust issues that need to be addressed in marriage counseling. My gut feeling is she is being pretty transparent. You have to remember that you said she was depressed--this could be the reason for the various songs and quotes. And if you are accusing her of things and she's innocent--that's going to kill the love pretty quickly.
Get yourself to some marriage counseling, or if she won't go, go to a counselor yourself. Sounds like you may have some serious trust issues to work on.
Good luck.