| May 9, 2002 Hi
everyone,
I was so happy to find this site. I literally feel like I might go
insane with my problem and I really needed an outlet for the frustration and
confusion. So.... here is My Story. I hope some of you can relate.
Some background, I am 44, and married 1 year now, to
my 4th wife. We were together 7 years before we married. I know
I am a rescuer, past relationships and current. My childhood
really wasn't particularly
bad, but I know something must have triggered my caretaking ways. My
wife was sexually abused by her father as a child and is still VERY
angry, although she has been in counseling twice in 10 years (a year each
time) and says she is fine with all of it now. We are both
professionals in our community, she is well liked and respected it seems.
But at home things are soooo different. We have struggled the entire 8
years, one way or another.
She is a master at avoiding anything she doesn't
want to do: talking, sex, going someplace I want to go, etc... She virtually
ignores me when I am upset and want to talk about something that's bothering
me. She will chat with me, but if or when it turns into a serious
discussion, she just throws her arms up and walks away. She
tells me all the time that I am selfish and mean and arrogant and a
jerk and frustrating and hard to live with. Can't help but wonder if that's
at least some kind of modified verbal abuse. She has literal
fits when I so much as even look at another woman in passing, I'm sometimes
told who I can and cannot associate with, and my plans are usually never as
important as hers. She loves to sleep on the weekends, sometimes on and off
all day, and consistently complains of aches and pains for as
long as I've known her. I tip toe around doing things around the house
because she gets angry if I'm too loud and wake her up. She takes
numerous medications (all prescribed by doctors) every day, for
everything from chronic back pain to allergies to
headaches.....etc.... She is only 35 and seems to have all kinds of energy
for outdoor things that she wants to do.
She has wanted to have a baby for several years now but so
far we have had no luck. Of course, she blames me solely for this too.
I have caught her in lies many times but she denies it every time (very well
in fact). I suspect she has cheated 3, maybe 4 times (she is very
pretty and outgoing), but have never found any solid proof.....
(probably just my imagination anyway). She is notorious for putting me
off, acting like she never even remembered previous discussions/decisions.
She is not very affectionate, except maybe in public, around friends or
co-workers. I can not remember the last time she surprised me with
anything, seemed concerned when I didn't feel well or initiated sex.
She is perfectly happy with sex maybe once a month, lasting 5 minutes. We
have had endless talks about this and she promises to try harder, but I
don't see much change.
About 3 weeks before we got married a friend posed a
question to me that about shook me to my knees. He asked me to explain
in one word, how I would feel if she suddenly called off the wedding.
Instantly, I blurted, "relieved"!! I couldn't believe that word flew
out of my mouth so quickly. For the next 3 weeks I was constantly
filled with anxiety, fear, doubt, and restlessness..... despite
constant praying. I tried discussing it with her, all she did
was get pissed, which was the usual, but still very hurtful. I went through
with the wedding obviously, (and it was actually very nice, she seemed very
happy all day). I couldn't even think about the guilt I would have if
I called it off and the pain I would cause her.
Now that I've gone on and on about her, please know that I
DO realize that I allow this to continue. It is my fault. I know I don't
have to be a victim, and I have read some good books (that I pretty
much have to hide from her. The repercussions just aren't worth it)
and have learned a lot. She tells me that all our problems are my fault
anyway.....she probably is right. But I honestly have never felt more
paralyzed in my entire life. In fact, 2 of my previous divorces were
instigated by me and those marriages, by comparison, weren't nearly as empty
feeling as this one. I finally found the strength back then but NOW I
fear that I am actually getting worse over the years, instead of better,
because I feel so powerless to help myself, but I so desperately want
to feel loved and wanted. I do love her, (but not in love with her)
she has some good points, but I think I know in my heart that this marriage
will never work (or will it???) I feel constantly confused and frustrated,
and the last 3 months or so I have been filled with a strong sense of
complete emptiness that I never had before. Oh, you
don't sound soooo confused...
Then it is immediately followed by a sense that I mustn't
quit after just one year, but stay true to my commitment. (The thought of
the fallout literally scares me to death). I started reading a book
recently, "Addiction to Love", and found out that these type of
"addictions" (if that's what I have) actually go through a progression.
Now you sound confused.
Apparently the next level on the list for me is
turning to some other addiction as a way to offset the pain of this
relationship. Well, I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, gamble or overeat.
I do, however, love to work out daily and usually only keep from it if I am
out of town or my wife needs me for something else after work. I admit that
when I first met her she seemed like a wounded bird. Her husband of 5 years
had recently left her because he caught her cheating. She seemed truly sorry
and was heart broken for a long time. She was underpaid at a job she hated,
and within 2 weeks of meeting she shared with me the heartache of childhood
sexual abuse at the hands of her father. I guess I really felt like
her knight in shining armor. And yes, my previous wives, AFTER I
looked back, had VERY sad stories from their pasts (or presents) too.
Everything I read and hear says this will end only when
I'm "sick and tired of being sick and tired". I know I "did it
again"!! I take full blame
responsibility for that. I know I need to work on myself, but my wife
says she is "perfectly happy" and the thought of another divorce is
killing me, although we have "worked on it" for 8 years, had
counseling, and endless talks. Sometimes I feel SO ready, but my
feet won't move. I have been in this relationship longer than
all 3 of my previous marriages put together and I think I'm
thinking that if I was ever going to have the strength to leave I
would have done it LONG before now. I keep thinking either I sense that
things really will get better in time.....or.......I am just slowly becoming
nothing but a shell of a person, like slowly dying and have no emotional or
physical energy left. Somehow, it just seems easier to keep my mouth shut
and appease her every whim. Sometimes I truly feel these are the cards
I've been dealt and I just need to tough it out and learn to adapt.
But.......I want to be happy so badly...I want to freely give and
receive love, no limitations, no hesitation, no more confusion. I
wonder constantly if I am getting closer to that breaking point or actually
further away. It's all beginning to feel truly hopeless.
I would NEVER wish this feeling on even my worst enemy and
hope that maybe some of you who read this (and might only be on marriage #1
or #2) will see how fast it can all snowball and then one day you wake up
and you're right back at it AGAIN. Get help, a lot of help, EARLY......before
you just don't have the energy anymore.
With sincerity and prayers for us all,
Bryan
Ouchhhh! Dear Readers, what do you
think? Any suggestions for Bryan? Doc |
