Infidelity Healing: The Ruthless Question

I’ve seldom been called ruthless. I’ve been described as someone who sees the snake hiding in the grass, but seldom ruthless.

But, the one question I pose in my ebook, a question most dread asking BTW, is often viewed as ruthless… but necessary when one first confronts infidelity an extramarital affair.

I picked this up in some comments from my readers. Here are some more comments:

1. How has this E-course helped you change the way you feel, think and act as you face infidelity. Give examples, if you can.

your specific breakdown to identify different types of affairs, and the almost ruthless questions about is it worth saving etc are very liberating, especially when one is blindly hell bent on “Fixing” things and probably in a state of denial. The concept that maybe the relationship is not worth saving is scary , but a reality for some of us and you help us see that, Thank you.

This e-course has reassured me that the steps that I have already taken are valid. I have always remained informed, calm, non-aggressive, more of a mentoring stance and counselor than a wounded victim. He says that I am a “class act”, and that I am “amazing” (by NOT stalking her, by NOT destroying his stuff, etc.) His affair has opened up a whole new door to communication between us, and as a result, we are beginning to bridge new gaps, even as he is still pursuing the “other person”. He tells me pretty much everything, even asking me advice about “what is really going on from a woman’s standpoint”. I have a lot of faith that the affair will not work out, and I want to be a safe landing spot for him when it concludes. The good news is that she is not a very active respondent in this — it is a lot one-way. I believe that when the dust settles, I will be able to define the terms upon which a new relationship is formed between us – one term of which is fidelity. Communication is being built as we speak, and trust will have to follow as a natural course. Wish us lots of good luck in this!!!!

I’m kind of a “veteran”. I originally found your site back in the summer of 2004 when my wife first started her affair. I think that the best part of the e-course and the e-book was the section on “Charge Neutral” because it helped me to not shy away from the difficult task of talking about her affair. Her affair is #1 with maybe some #6. I wanted to save our marriage, but the divorce is under way. Like you said, “Wish them well!”

Healing from Infidelity and Affairs: The Journey

The healing journey for affair and infidelity recovery can be difficult and long. Successfully walking that journey can, however, provide tremendous satisfaction and discovery.

Here are real people in different stages of infidelity healing letting you know what they are doing to heal and recover:

>>>>Went for walks together Went out for social events together

>>>>face the facts talk about the feelings understand why it happened

>>>>I did NOT give an ultimatum about stopping seeing the OP or asking him to leave. We stopped shouting and talked like adults. We still do things together e.g. family stuff, household chores. He still sees the OP and I’ve a long way to go. His guilt prevents moving forward.

>>>>1. I just backed off. I listened about the other person and heard the areas where there was a void that was filled. 2. Since I didn’t do a lot of good things through this, I don’t sling mud over the transgression. This has helped a lot with opening the doors to meaningful conversation without arguments or sore feelings that would undue months of work. 3. I am in no hurry to fall back into old patterns. So when he is ready to come home, great. If not, then he can continue to stay in his apartment and we will just continue to date. Since he hasn’t expressedan interest in seeing his son too much, am not forcing them to be together. We’ll work on us first then our son.

Healing from Infidelity: Boundaries

In this case study we examine the issue how to deal with disrespect and criticism. She attempts to remedy a difficult situation by setting appropriate boundaries.

1. What in the way of disrespect, blame, criticism and/or abuse are you facing?

Initially, my husband blamed me for his affair saying I worked too many hours, abandoned him and the family, didn’t love him, didn’t make him the center of my universe like the OP, didn’t support him in his job, was too controlling, had too many rules, was manipulative. He also accused me of having an affair myself or said I would have an affair if I didn’t already. He searched and searched but found no evidence of such an affair, because there was none. Since our recent separation, he now uses the kids as a way to criticize me..saying I will turn the kids against him, that I talk too much about our marital problems, am to emotional and upset the kids, I am keeping the kids from seeing him because I won’t let him hang out at our house. He makes plans with the kids and does not inform me until right before they leave, showing up unexpectedly and surprising me. He takes the kids on trips and doesn’t inform of exactly where they are going and when they’ll be back. He comes in our house when I am not home or barges in unexpectedly on the premise of needing to get something. At my sons soccer games, he will stand right behind me the whole time even though I have indicated I don’t want to be seated near him at kids events. I can’t always move because our other son is with him and I don’t want to seem like I am ignoring our son.

2. What has worked best for you in stopping or tolerating less and less of these destructive behaviors?

What has worked best is shutting down all communication except to discuss the kids or money. I have requested that most communications be in the form of text or email. I have asked him to leave our home when I am home because he makes me uncomfortable being there. I sit away from him at the kids events. I make little to no eye contact. I am working on my own self esteem and self care so that as I go stronger, I am starting to recognize the disrespect when it is leveled at me,so that I can not buy into it and fight back verbally when it happens. The hardest part is recognizing how my husband’s disrespect of me is playing out with my sons disrespect of me. I am setting boundaries with them and demanding that they treat me with respect. It is much easier now that I am alone and don’t have my husband in the home to undermine the moral climate I am trying to maintain in the home. .I have set up expectations for my sons behavior and communications with me and established consequences for noncompliance. I am trying to be less of a doormat. As I start to create and fight for my own life, instead of living and doing for everybody else first, denying my own needs, I am gaining respect of my family. I need to respect myself before anyone else can respect me.