Monday, April 16, 2012

How is it NOT about me?

I have this question running through my head and I'm going to try to articulate this but it may be tough. Everything I read during and after my husbands online affairs kept saying that this was the cheating spouses issue not mine. He was looking for something to avoid issues of his own and this was not caused by me nor could I have prevented it. I see an ad this week for a program that will affair proof your marriage. When I started looking into this I found that this is a pretty popular trend. I found 3 books, 2 programs and a DVD on affair proofing your marriage.  So this tells me It's not my fault nor did I do anything to cause him to stray BUT there are things that I can do to keep him from cheating so I must have not done those things which would put this on me right? See where I'm going? because now I'm dizzy.  I resent the idea that had I been doing something different or right he would have made better character choices.  How about this, You failed to check your backyard gate daily like you should and your dog was in the street for the 3rd time this week so I just chose to run over him.   It was the wrong thing to do but had you done something differently I wouldn't have been forced to make a bad decision.  Am I wrong or is this more of "it's someone else's fault"?   My husband went through a bout with depression, I panicked and working in robot mode I wore myself out doing everything in my power to keep things level, stress free at home, calm and whatever I could do to keep him from worry.   I shut out everyone and everything and focused on that.  I stayed mentally and physically exhausted,we didn't communicate and rarely touched but I was determined that he would not be stressed.  He felt shut out and I was bitter and he turned to other people.  Did I make a bad choice?  Yes, Did he make a bad choice, Yes.  Could he have chosen to respond differently, Yes.  Should I have just let him feel pain like an adult?  Yes. Can I read a book, make some changes and keep someone else from making bad choices? NO.   Don't put that off on me.  I know I could have done things differently but it doesn't justify his choice.   If you have some knowledge of the affair proof plan and could correct me on my view I would welcome the input.  The pain of being betrayed is hard enough, it cuts through your self esteem and makes you question things you never imagined.  I truly believe that he made a choice and if that's what he truly wanted to do he would have found an excuse even if I had made the perfect choices all along.

3 comments:

  1. Wow .... this was a great post! I loved it! As the wife of a recovering sex addict, trust me when I say that I understand the infidelity, drama and craziness of this ENTIRE thing!

    First, I want to say wow ... you are so very brave! For what you have been through and for sharing your story. It is wonderful to share and hopefully that will help others struggling too!!!

    Second, I hear ya on the "what you should do, what you shouldn't do" blah blah blah! It can all make your head spin! Of course you could have done things differently .... couldn't each of us every day of our lives? There is no acting perfect. And if your hubby has issues that he needs to deal with ... well then we both know that nothing could prevent it. Not even if you were "perfect".

    You can NEVER affair proof a marriage (anyone who says that doesn't live in the real world) but the couple together can take steps to build a greater connectedness. In my case ... the issues are mostly his ... but there are so many ways for the 2 of us to support each other, be & love ourselves and BOTH learn how to be in OUR marriage. It's been an insane ride!

    I am also sharing my journey of recovery with my hubby on my blog http://mishkawifeofsexaddict.blogspot.com/. It's been a long one but a journey that I am happy I am ... well NOW I am!!!! LOL

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  2. I struggled with this too. I was always having flashbacks to times and places thinking what if i did this or that or something else? I can see more clearly now that nothing i could have done would have derailed him from the path his mind and penis were taking him. He made his choices and i made mine. And reality i've come to see he has no control over me and i have no control over him.

    The utter pain of betrayal is so encompassing but some of these dumb books are just that...dumb! i just wrote a post on this too. so many of us struggle with guilt or the "what if" syndrome. From this time forward I refuse to accept any blame for his sex addiction. its not because we had a baby and i wasn't interested in sex, its not because i wasn't sweeter and kinder, it's not because I didn't have a kick-ass body! none of it.

    I'm sorry you're here. But i do love meeting new women who are going through the same thing. I love the support and understanding we can give each other...

    p.s. i think it would be rad it you added a little "followers" button on the side cause i'd love to follow you :)

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  3. thanks so much for the great feedback! I think the key in getting through this is knowing that you're not alone and not crazy. So many strong women have dealt with this, survived and come out ok. Enjoying both of your blogs.

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