Archives for November 2008

Resources for Surviving Infidelity & Addiction

I periodically check with my readers to find out what resources are being used to help survive infidelity.

I share some of the comments, with hope that others might try on those resources and perhaps find help.

I have a couple responses today.

The second response is a story – a story I hear frequently from those struggling with the #2 Affair, “I Can’t Say No.” Abuse, neglect and erratic behavior often characterizes this kind of affair. And, this kind of affair is often coupled with alcoholism or other addictions. I’ve included all of her story. I know some of you can relate.

Last week I had contact with a site that offers support for additions. You might want to learn more if you face an “I Can’t Say No” affair.

>>>>>I find especially helpful reading Dr Huizenga;s emails. I go to the library and read anything and everything I can. I bought the inner core strength cd. I listen to this all the time. I love her voice and I find it easier to trust her voice then Managing stress and anxiety cd. Her nurture is what I need right now. I seem to hover in that safe place she creates for me.

>>>>>This is the main resource I have for getting helpful information along with alanon. I have a story that is still making my head spin. I believe I am the “I want to get back at him/her affair.” He walked out on me and my 2 children about 5 months ago when I started pressuring him about getting help for his alcohol problem and gave him an ultimatum to get help or leave. I never thought he would leave his family. We have been married for 25 years and been together for 30. I thought we meant everything to him. He acted like we did. We were childhood sweet hearts and he acted like he lived for his family even with his alcohol problem he seemed to keep us first. My kids have been just as shocked as me; he came and cleaned out all his clothes while we weren’t there. He met another woman a month later and carried on with her for a couple of months as far as I know it’s over, maybe, maybe not. The kids say she drinks as much as he does. He has avoided talking to me telling me anything about his life but he sure try’s to keep an eye on our life. He is very aloof. He lost his job of 11 years about 6 weeks ago and now we have no insurance nor do I have any child support. I found out that he borrowed against half the 401K the first month he was gone and after he got fired he took out the rest and tried to keep it all from me and the kids. He said he was going to give me part of it but then I found out he got a DWI and I guess he figured he needed it all for himself so he kept lying to me and said he hadn’t received it, but I knew better all he does is lie. My step Dad managed to corner him and get him to the bank to take out the last few thousand for us, while I managed to get a hold of his brief case and take all the paper work out without him knowing and I found out more than I ever wanted to know. He had another child that is almost 5 years old and being sued for support by the mother. She is half his age and worked at his place of business but is no longer there now. He found out a year ago the child was his, and been living with this and hiding it from me. I know it was eating him alive. Now I have to ask myself how many more affairs were there. He was always home with us except for a few late nights at work and long trips to the store or gas station. I do believe there had to be more than one affair. He seemed so devoted to us that it left us all in shock like someone had died. Family and friends were shocked as well. This man seemed to be crazy about his family. He told me about this affair 3 weeks after he left and said it was 4 years ago, I couldn’t figure out why he would wait this long to tell me about it. He said he was ashamed, But he never came clean about the child. I knew there was more to it. He told me that I didn’t pay any attention to him and that he didn’t feel appreciated by me. He said he thought I will show her. He said I distanced from him first. I filed for divorce 2 days ago after being apart 5 months. He has left me no choice, he is getting in trouble financially and who knows what else he is doing. He is not concerned about the children or there well being, its like he has lost his mind. Getting any information out of him sense he left is like pulling teeth. When I found out he was seeing another woman from the kids he told me that was no big deal they were mainly friends. I’m not playing that game and he knows it so he told me he’s not seeing her anymore and started trying to get closer to me and the kids until I found out about the 401K and the child. Now none of us talk to him. My kids don’t want anything to do with him either. There was one time during this whole time he humbled himself to me after he lost his job and was broke and called crying to me telling me he lost everything that had ever meant any thing to him and didn’t mean to do it and ask if he cleaned himself up was there another chance for us and I told them just clean yourself up and then we will discuss that. But he only got worse after that, he got in the accident and got the DWI. He seems cold and acts as thou he has done nothing wrong even after he knows I know about the child now. No I’m sorry, no remorse of any kind shown. He is letting us have the home and all the contents. Sometimes I wonder if my kids and I are ever going to heal from this ordeal.

The Impact of Infidelity and Betrayal

How does infidelity impact a person?

Check these out from my readers.

The last one is telling.

>>>>>Infidelity has destroyed my trust in my spouse and also I don’t trust myself to make good decisions for fear of being hurt again. My self esteem is at an all time low.

>>>>>I am not happy anymore. I think I’m depressed. I don’t trust him anymore. I ma very emotionally sensitive these days.

>>>>>It feels like it will never be over. Not until HE acknowledges what he did and is able to accept my forgiveness and show that he has changed the way he lives his live. I honestly want to have cordial relationship with him, but because he cannot “own” what he has done he continues to act like a jerk toward me when there is no reason for it. I don’t trust myself to pick another partner. I don’t want to put anymore energy into developing a new relationship with another man. It is hard to keep my relationships with my in-laws, though we are very fond of each other and they have been very supportive of me.

>>>>>I spend alot of the time thinking about how she could do this to our family. Going over the last 9 months and all of the events and arguments seems to get me no peace. She has filed for a divorce and I still cannot believe that she would tear apart not only my world but also our two daughter’s world also. I am low, depressed and wondering/hoping that this will end. It is absolutely the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I live somewhere else and all I want to do is go home and make her happy but she doesn’t want me. It’s in God’s hands all I can do is worry about my kids. My wife of 13 years has left me for a fantasy!

>>>>>I realized that I deserve more than I have been getting. I have started to feel more confident in myself. I have opened myself to possible relationships with other men. I have started going out with my friends.

>>>>>I don’t take myself for granted. I basically took off and made myself a new life when he told me he wanted a divorce. I now know how much fun it is to start over and do exactly what I want and need to do. Incidentally, he followed me, we reconciled and things are better now than they were before.