PDA

View Full Version : relationship problems... don't know what to do...



Lucidia
August 13th, 2001, 10:52 AM
okay, quick overview.

i'm very insecure, and i have pretty low self esteem. i've been cheated on before, and I also know how women think.

when i first met my husband, I had some bad reactions to his female friends. mostly because they never bothered to say hello to both him AND I.... and because some of them outright didn't care if I was upset with something they said or did. You know how it is.. the age old conflict between friends and lovers... whose side do you take... it's hard to explain it to either person...

Luckily for me, or so I thought, he was taking my side all the way. If they got mad because he wasn't hanging out with them anymore, and they blamed me, he simply told them off and that was that. One by one, he lost a bunch of his close female friends.

One night he, his best friend, another friend of ours and I all had a conversation saying that it's not good to be overlyfriendly to women other than your SO, since from experience, I know that in many cases, I have unintelligently expected a guy (friend or perhaps former love interest), to choose me over their SO, in regard to making time for me, and I have myself been guilty of trying to distract someone away from their SO, even when I myself really had no truly deep interest in them (not like i was madly in love with them and on the verge of suicide without being their g/f or something silly like that), just because I liked the idea that was important to them... and if possible, that I was prettier, or more appealing, or more interesting, than this other woman (the stereotypical constant female comparision problem... can't seem to walk by another woman without finding something to feel inferior/superior about in regards to them).

I mean.. what a power trip. Being put ahead of someone's SO. I think a lot more people do it than realize it. Kind of like... when i've heard people say "bue we've been friends for years.. aren't I important to you?". such a hard thing to try and explain to someone... i mean... friends can be forever.. but your wife/husband/lifemate/etc should also be your friend and if possible your closest confidant, since you may have, in the case of marriage, made a promise to LIFETIME commitment.

I'm not saying that having a healthy social life is bad. I'm just saying i hate when people try and get me, or anyone for that matter, to choose between their SO and their friendship.

So anyways... my hubby stopped talking to a bunch of people, some just because it bothered me that he had "fooled around" with them in the past.. some just because they didn't seem to have any respect for our relationship (they would come up, obviosly flirting, find out he got married, and run off. My husband says i should be greatful they left, and didn't continue flirting, I personally think, that whatever their intentions, they should have at least had the respect to introduce themselves to me, maybe making it less obvious they only wanted to get down his pants... before they made their hasty retreat, but i suppose it does damage one's pride to get rejected, even if the reason is something that should be as UN-insulting as "i'm married")

However, i didn't stop talking to guys/girls that i'd fooled around with, or that at some point were interested in me. mostly i was just talking to these people online, as where all of the people in question in regard to my hubby, where all in person, and often when i wasn't even with him. Some of them, however, were REALLY close friends of mine. So really don't even think about the fact that i'd fooled around with them once or twice, because we were friends... and not some kind of lust obsessed animals, and we were perfectly capable of never even letting a few past instances stand in the way of a strong and wonderful friendship. IN my opinion... friends of a very close nature can easily share an experience like that and not have it interfere with their friendship. However, I wasn't really giving my husband that opportunity. I didn't trust anything female anywhere near him. let alone someone who had possibly surpassed me in some minor detail (prettier, thinner, better lover, smarter, funnier, etc).

Me and husband have been having communication problems for a while now. I'm very insecure about that, because i'm afraid that if he is hanging out and communcating better with some other woman, especially someone who may be "better" than me in some department, that he'll eventually get fed up with our relationship, perhaps helped along by the "advice" of this "friend" and end up leaving me, or cheating on me, with this other woman.

I know that's kinda silly and unrealistic, but i'm just so depressed, that i can't help but feel bad.

So i apologized to him... and tried to fix things.. but apparently it's "too late" for him to fix some of the friendships he "lost" because of my insecurities. However, my friends are still my friends.. despite what has happened as of late.

I personally think that if these girls were REALLY his friends... they would have understood what was going on, and not completely stopped and vow to never again be his friend just becasue he stopped hanging out with them as much (also keep in mind, that until a month ago, neither one of us was employed, and both of us were living in NJ, and still are, with no long distance, and almost all of these girls live in NYC), or stopped talking to them. Maybe they shouldn't have blamed me 100%, when i wasn't directly against him speaking to ALL of them... he took a sort of safety precaution, worried that i'd freak out, like i had with the first friend-who-is-a-girl situation, and that conversation we had with our friends that night... and stopped talking to all of them.

Now he kinda resents me, cause i "made" him lose all these "close" friends of his.. and i still talk to people that are, in his opinion, more offensive and more suspicious than his female friends. now that i'm willing to openly let him be friends with anyone, offensive or not... now he's like.. saying it's too late... and he doesn't care who i'm friends with, but he's hurt that he lost all his friends and told them all off, but i didn't do the same for him....

i dunno what to do.. and how to fix it... *frowns*.. and although he seems perfectly complacent.. i'm miserable!

Xois
August 13th, 2001, 11:47 AM
wow that was complicated

If i were you, I would get some professional help...relationship councling can be very helpful

It is my opinion that your mate must come first. if his / your friends dont understand, who cares! Who is more important here! For me, it comes down to transparency...I don't go haning out with single guys (even people I have know for 10 years) unless he knows every detail...and has met them at least once

He does the same for me...its not "checking in", but rather allaying fears and insecurities.

Have you toldyour husband that you feel very insecure--perhaps some extra reassurance from him would help..

Women who endlessly flirt (me) with married men are a bit on the tacky side (oh I have had my moments)...even though I don't consider it flirting becuase I have no INTENTION of anything further happening, my SO used to get really upset and say I was "flirting with this friends"-- So, I have had to tone it down just a bit...and he is greatful and I am happy too becuase I love him...

And your husband is sorely lacking if he doesn't take the time to introduce you to these ladies! They shouldn't be introducing themselves, he should be stepping forward to do it.

Its different for me becuase I don't really need friends...i go through friends like water...really, I get so bored so easily...
When I am not with my SO, I am thinking about being with him...so its not a real issue anymore for us. And he feels the same way!

In any case, you two need to have a heart to heart...you need to explain to him that he should be introducing you to his friends, that you feel very insecure that he will find someone better / prettier / thiner (whatever) and that is why it hurts your feelings...

My SO and I have a hell of time communicating sometimes...but we are trying really hard...if you want to have a good relationship, you have to KEEP TRYING...every second! it never gets easier...but after each fight (if you know how to fight, something i am just learning how to do) you feel more intimate and loving afterwards (even though he called me fat last time we fought *grrr*) and I really hate when he calls me names like that

But then again, this is why I am in therapy...

Good luck
Xois

Red Stag
August 13th, 2001, 12:21 PM
The one thing I can say is that don't be forced into losing your friends for him . Be open be honest try to get him to talk to your friends if they are people that come around but don't isolate your self from them becuse your so feels he gave up his for you in the end it was his choice not yours .

when sahm I got married We both lost touch with all are friends .All we had eyes for was each other and are daughter so now 9 years later we feel that it's time to find more friends and it's so hard ( at least for me ) becuse we have been everything to each other for so long . we will get through this becuse we are best friends and are very open with each other but it is still a test . If we would have never lost track of our friends we would not have this problem now .


i'm very insecure, and i have pretty low self esteem

ok I klnow how you feel but this is not your os 's problem it is yours and if you can't fix that then your in for a tuff ride trust me I know . My wife has done everything she can to help me get over that same problem but what ever she does it just makes me cling to her more. I am trying to fix it now and it's very hard work so good luck

go with the goddess. and our love

Kaylara
August 13th, 2001, 12:58 PM
Well, unfortunately it's hard for me to look at this subjectively because I am involved in the situation. Personally, I think that one should not give up their friends because their SO has a problem with that person. I think that all parties involved should work towards understanding what the problem is. In my personal experience, friends can last quite a bit longer than SO's can. If I had to choose between my close friends and Traz, (besides having a nervous breakdown) I would probably choose not to choose. I simply don't think that it's right to force your SO to give up someone who has probably known them a lot longer than you have. It's not my place to choose his friends, old or new. I have only had one problem with one of Traz's ex-girlfriends, and that was because she was acting like she owned him. Now, jealously doesn't have a part in relationships IMHO, but I was extremely pissed when this happened. I have since calmed down, after speaking to several people who know this girl, and understanding her reasoning. I don't dislike her and can stand to be around her now. Because when it comes down to it, I have a responsibilty to get along with his friends, and if he likes them, they can't be THAT bad.

As for the situation you are in sweetie, I will always be here for you, whether you want me to be or not. I will not lie to keep from hurting your feelings, and will always tell you things as I see them. I know that you have told me primarily the bad things that are going on, and that has me a little jaded. But I respect that you are willing to stick this out. I just don't want to see you get hurt, and that is primarily the reason that all of us down here are so worried. You are our friend, and we love you very much, and we hate to see you in pain. If you don't know already that we would do anything for you, then you haven't been paying much attention. This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that we've messed around in the past, it has to do with being friends. And true friends don't just drop you because of their SO's or problems that happen in life. Trust me, I've had friends do that, and it HURTS. You feel betrayed like no other person can make you feel because you thought that friendship meant something to the other person involved. You feel used, hurt, horrible, and intensely sad because you let this person get very very close to you, and they just turned their back on you for some stupid reason.

There was a point in my life where I lost every single friend I had. The only person I had was my SO, who turned out to be not so Significant. It hurt that everyone was mad at me because I broke up with a guy. And it showed me how easily people can turn on you, and made me very wary to get close to anyone. I've gotten over it, Sharon talks to me again, and I feel better. I freely give my heart, and while it gets me into situations where I will be hurt, I think that it's better to care than to hide away for fear of being hurt.

Ok... I've strayed way OT, but you get the gist of what I am saying. Until you tell me that you hate me, wish I were dead, and never want to talk to me again, (and can convince me that you are telling the truth when you say it) I will be your friend, will try to help you, will defend you, and will hurt anyone that hurts you.

Kaylara

Lucidia
August 13th, 2001, 01:32 PM
well this is my problem

i don't want to loose my friends.

but i can't choose my friends over my husband. i can't choose at all. it's not fair. if i leave my husband, my friends may support me, but they are NEVER going to replace a romantic partner. it's just not that same. they aren't better or worse than one another, they are simply different.

we all have emotional needs, and some of those needs cannot be fulfilled by a "friend" that way that a "partner" can. and there are situations are that are reversed, since there are certainly things that only a friend can really be there for, especially in situations where the "partner" has hurt or upset you, certainly your friends are there to let you cry on their shoulder, and give you, hopefully, unbiased and truthful advice about things.

I dont' want to lose my friends, i'm just afraid of being resented on either side.

i feel so lost, and I'm terribly depressed. I feel like i'm not really getting through to anyone on any side of this stupid conflict.

Kaylara
August 13th, 2001, 01:45 PM
I'll be here no matter what. I know that you are going through a rough time, and to me, you don't have to decide between us. I am not going to get on your case about it, I'm just worried. You won't loose me as a friend no matter what.

Kaylara

Illuminatus
August 13th, 2001, 01:46 PM
Well, it appears the hat is on the other foot. Or the other bag has dropped. The cat is out of the shoe? Help me somebody, I'm mixing my metaphors!!!!

Jealousy is a reality. It is the primary consequence of promiscuity and 'open' relationships. A lot of people are fine with paying such a price. Not me though.

Seems like he was fine in losing all his friends for you. And you haven't sacraficed any to date. So what's the problem? Just acknowledging that you are selfish? It is a shameful act, but like the Marquise in Dangerous Liasons said, "Shame is a temporary pain, you only feel it once." Start small. Go listen to a bunch of MP3's, and then go find a rooftop, and shout out to the world "I LIKE FREE MUSIC!!!!!!!!" ... then, it's only a logical progression before you are admitting "I'M SELFISH!!!!" to the world. It is a truly liberating experience.

Mariposa De La Luna
August 13th, 2001, 02:28 PM
I don't think its the "I'm selfish" thing.

We all need people, not just an SO, one person cannot fit all the roles in a person's life, but your SO should be the one you share most of the big and little things with. If you coerced him into dropping his friends or he really didn't have any close ones to begin with, that is in the past. Its never too late to fix a problem if you're willing.

SpikesPet5150
August 13th, 2001, 03:13 PM
This is an incredibly hard subject for alot of people to comment on.. everyone is different. People like me at really attached to their friends. There are 5 people in this world (friends) that I would do anything to please. They're my best friends, my reason for being alive. And then there's my fiance. I don't include him in my "best friend" list because he is so much more than that. He understands that I cannot give up these 5 people.. it's not that I choose not to..it's that I CAN'T. One of them is my bestest friend, she's everything to me.. she's my soul-mate. One of them is more of a brother than a friend. It's like asking someone to give up their family.. no way, can't do it. The others are people who have defined who I am.. helped me along my path of life. The thought of being without them is too scary to even imagine. BUT.. even though I could easily give up my other friends for Sean, he would never ask me to do that, as I would never ask that of him. The one thing you need in your relationship is trust. You need to start trusting your husband, or the whole relationship is going to go down the toilet. It has very little to do with "reassurance" from your husband.. bottom line is, you don't trust him. Because of YOUR past relationships, you don't trust him. It's probably incredibly confusing for him, if he's never done anything wrong to you. I agree with Xois.. you should get counselling.. learn how to deal with your past, so you can let it go and begin to work on your future. Learn how to communicate your fears with your husband. I wish you the best of luck, hon.. keep us posted, ok?
~Bree

Lucidia
August 13th, 2001, 05:06 PM
okay i'm sure counselling is well and good...

but i KNOW already what i did is wrong

point is, i'm trying to change, but he refuses to do anything cause he thinks it's "too late" so no matter how much i trust him and tell him to go out and hang out with as many girls as he wants, now it's too late cause he claims he cannot repair the friendships he had with them.

i just don't know how to deal with this situation anymore. i totally dumped my pride and apologized profusely, even though i NEVER ONCE told him to totally ignore/tell off/get rid of all his female friends, he did most of that on his own thinking i'd keep freaking out. ugh.

thanks for all your advice though...

ladyrowan
August 13th, 2001, 05:27 PM
Originally posted by Lucidia
okay i'm sure counselling is well and good...

but i KNOW already what i did is wrong



The counselling wouldn't be to tell you if you did wrong.
It would help you to really understand why you feel and act the way you do, and to help you not to repeat the same patterns for the rest of your life.

I've been through it too, and would like to say to you that if you do decide to go for counselling, don't give up when it gets tough. Thats when you start getting to the bottom of things and get the help and understanding you need. Stick with it, and you'll get there.

Good luck

BB