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Ended an affair with much younger, single man and feeling completely depressed...


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Posted

I had never been to this forum before, but had to look for answers, so I came across this site.

 

For a bit of background, I am 33 years old and been married to my husband for 5 years. Been together a total of 14 years. My husband is great to me. We have personality differences, but that has always been the case. Other than that, I have no complaints about him or our relationship. He is completely loyal and will do anything to please me.

 

There was this coworker (25 years old) who caught my eye a year ago...when I first saw him. I was instantly attracted to him. Besides small talk, occasional flirtatious comments to each other, and group outings after work....nothing really materialized until this summer...after he left the company. He left the company and we kept in touch and started meeting up (in a group setting) for weekend events/parties. After a night of drinking, I would sleep over at his place and just cuddle and talk all night. I was very attracted to him and he was too. Last weekend, we saw each other again and realized it was getting beyond just flirting. We held hands and spent the whole day together as if we were a couple. Again, I slept over at his place and we cuddled...but this time it was getting much frisky.

 

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the fact that I'm married, he brought it up that it was wrong and we shouldn't be doing this anymore. I knew it was going to be brought up eventually, but I wanted it to continue longer. We decided to remain friends and we wouldn't do this anymore.

 

That was last weekend. Ever since, I've been feeling extremely depressed, grief, and just thinking about my marriage. I'm not sure if this is normal of me to feel this way, but I feel completely lost. I feel as if I just broke up with a boyfriend...even though...the guy was much younger and has nothing to offer me. I can't help feeling this way. I feel completely lost and need advice/answers to help me get through this. I don't think I'm in love with this man and am sad that we ended our affair or if I am just depressed about my own relationship. Everything happened so suddenly and was not prepared to handle the consequences of having this affair come to an end.

 

I am lost and need advice. Please help!

Posted

How would you feel if your husband was doing to you what you have been doing to him? Here you have a husband according to you who is great to you, completely loyal and will do anything to please you. So this is the way you pay your husband back by having a boyfriend on the side. What is wrong with this picture?

 

You seem to have no problem whatsoever humiliating and disrespecting your husband behind his back. What you need to do is to confess to your husband and allow him to decide if he wants to work on recovery with you or try to move on and find someone who will love him and respect a relationship with him. The bottom line is that you are fool. You have a husband who is loyal and treats you with love and respect and you in return treat him like dirt having a boyfriend on the side. The sad part is that you show no remorse to your husband and are depressed that you broke up with your boyfriend. What is wrong with this picture? You do not deserve your husband at all. Try a new concept in your marriage and be honest with your husband about what you are doing and have done. Your husband would not do this to you because you say he is loyal and respecst you too much. How sad you cannot say the same.

Posted
I had never been to this forum before, but had to look for answers, so I came across this site.

 

For a bit of background, I am 33 years old and been married to my husband for 5 years. Been together a total of 14 years. My husband is great to me. We have personality differences, but that has always been the case. Other than that, I have no complaints about him or our relationship. He is completely loyal and will do anything to please me.

 

There was this coworker (25 years old) who caught my eye a year ago...when I first saw him. I was instantly attracted to him. Besides small talk, occasional flirtatious comments to each other, and group outings after work....nothing really materialized until this summer...after he left the company. He left the company and we kept in touch and started meeting up (in a group setting) for weekend events/parties. After a night of drinking, I would sleep over at his place and just cuddle and talk all night. I was very attracted to him and he was too. Last weekend, we saw each other again and realized it was getting beyond just flirting. We held hands and spent the whole day together as if we were a couple. Again, I slept over at his place and we cuddled...but this time it was getting much frisky.

 

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the fact that I'm married, he brought it up that it was wrong and we shouldn't be doing this anymore. I knew it was going to be brought up eventually, but I wanted it to continue longer. We decided to remain friends and we wouldn't do this anymore.

 

That was last weekend. Ever since, I've been feeling extremely depressed, grief, and just thinking about my marriage. I'm not sure if this is normal of me to feel this way, but I feel completely lost. I feel as if I just broke up with a boyfriend...even though...the guy was much younger and has nothing to offer me. I can't help feeling this way. I feel completely lost and need advice/answers to help me get through this. I don't think I'm in love with this man and am sad that we ended our affair or if I am just depressed about my own relationship. Everything happened so suddenly and was not prepared to handle the consequences of having this affair come to an end.

 

I am lost and need advice. Please help!

 

Do you have kids?

If not get a divorce.

My hunch is that your husband is older than you. Am I right?

Posted

Advice....tell your husband.

  • Author
Posted

We do not have children and he is the same age as me. Like I said...I am not sure if I am depressed about the end of an affair or I'm depressed about what I've done. I'm just lost.

 

One thing I did leave out however, is that my husband did cheat on me with an ex girlfriend 3-4 months into our marriage. He ended up telling me about it, which was devastating. I never wanted to get back at him. I don't believe in revenge....I forgave him and we moved on for the next 5 years...and here we are now....

Posted
We do not have children and he is the same age as me. Like I said...I am not sure if I am depressed about the end of an affair or I'm depressed about what I've done. I'm just lost.

 

One thing I did leave out however, is that my husband did cheat on me with an ex girlfriend 3-4 months into our marriage. He ended up telling me about it, which was devastating. I never wanted to get back at him. I don't believe in revenge....I forgave him and we moved on for the next 5 years...and here we are now....

 

 

It should have stayed left out. It has no bearing on your choices.

  • Like 1
Posted

oh, well in that case I'd get marital counseling. Like you said that guy had nothing to offer you. I would get counseling and address the affair there. Good luck

Posted
It should have stayed left out. It has no bearing on your choices.

 

no, but it does give context to the fact that she may still be hurt from it and that there are problems in the marriage.

Posted
We do not have children and he is the same age as me. Like I said...I am not sure if I am depressed about the end of an affair or I'm depressed about what I've done. I'm just lost.

 

One thing I did leave out however, is that my husband did cheat on me with an ex girlfriend 3-4 months into our marriage. He ended up telling me about it, which was devastating. I never wanted to get back at him. I don't believe in revenge....I forgave him and we moved on for the next 5 years...and here we are now....

 

Then you owe your husband the truth so he can decide if he wants to give you that second chance and forgive you. if he finds out on his own one day, it'll be worse.

Posted

For a bit of background, I am 33 years old and been married to my husband for 5 years. Been together a total of 14 years. My husband is great to me. We have personality differences, but that has always been the case. Other than that, I have no complaints about him or our relationship. He is completely loyal and will do anything to please me.

 

well thats the way of things. good men always seem to nab women that don't appreciate them or what they have found.

 

 

There was this coworker (25 years old) who caught my eye a year ago...when I first saw him. I was instantly attracted to him. Besides small talk, occasional flirtatious comments to each other, and group outings after work....nothing really materialized until this summer...after he left the company. He left the company and we kept in touch and started meeting up (in a group setting) for weekend events/parties. After a night of drinking, I would sleep over at his place and just cuddle and talk all night. I was very attracted to him and he was too. Last weekend, we saw each other again and realized it was getting beyond just flirting. We held hands and spent the whole day together as if we were a couple. Again, I slept over at his place and we cuddled...but this time it was getting much frisky.

 

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the fact that I'm married, he brought it up that it was wrong and we shouldn't be doing this anymore.

 

bulls*** he wasn't feeling too uncomfortable about it to let it get to that point.

 

he is trying to play the "sensitive and caring" guy role. making you think he is just that much greater of a guy.

 

its the whole, "we shouldn't go any further" thing when he knows thats exactly where he wants it to lead.

 

 

That was last weekend. Ever since, I've been feeling extremely depressed, grief, and just thinking about my marriage. I'm not sure if this is normal of me to feel this way, but I feel completely lost. I feel as if I just broke up with a boyfriend...even though...the guy was much younger and has nothing to offer me.

 

well gee, betray your husband for someone that has nothing to offer? I'd hate to see what you'd do when a guy comes along that can offer you something

 

 

I can't help feeling this way. I feel completely lost and need advice/answers to help me get through this. I don't think I'm in love with this man and am sad that we ended our affair or if I am just depressed about my own relationship. Everything happened so suddenly and was not prepared to handle the consequences of having this affair come to an end.

 

I am lost and need advice. Please help!

 

well I notice that you mention not one word about your husband not deserving what you did to him, whether he knows or not. Its all about "me me me" and how YOU feel.

 

So not sure what advice you are needing given your attitude.

 

So newsflash, this isn't going to be the last man you end up attracted to, and given your character, one that wanted it to last longer and go farther with this co-worker, then maybe you needn't be married and need to set your husband free from you.

Posted
We do not have children and he is the same age as me.

 

 

there you go then. Its real easy. Tell him what you did and let him decide what he wants to do. But when faced with something like this, people rarely know what is the best thing for them. Emotions take over.

 

or don't tell him and divorce him. because he deserves to be with someone that won't cheat on him and isn't going to act like a high school girl around a good looking younger guy every time one comes around that you are attracted to.

 

 

Like I said...I am not sure if I am depressed about the end of an affair or I'm depressed about what I've done. I'm just lost.

 

seeing as how you wanted to continue with your affair with the guy, you are pining for the co-worker. and also since you wanted it to go further, you aren't depressed about what you've done.

 

 

One thing I did leave out however, is that my husband did cheat on me with an ex girlfriend 3-4 months into our marriage. He ended up telling me about it, which was devastating. I never wanted to get back at him. I don't believe in revenge....I forgave him and we moved on for the next 5 years...and here we are now....

 

well geez, I change my mind. Tell him and stay together so you both can live in misery I suppose.

Posted
It should have stayed left out. It has no bearing on your choices.

 

What you mean is "it SHOULD HAVE no bearing on her choices".

 

However, people are people. This is of course a relevant psychological factor. It would be silly to assume a past affair would not build resentment and a sense of unfairness, which would make it easier (wrongly may be, but still psychologically easier) to have an affair.

Posted
We do not have children and he is the same age as me. Like I said...I am not sure if I am depressed about the end of an affair or I'm depressed about what I've done. I'm just lost.

 

One thing I did leave out however, is that my husband did cheat on me with an ex girlfriend 3-4 months into our marriage. He ended up telling me about it, which was devastating. I never wanted to get back at him. I don't believe in revenge....I forgave him and we moved on for the next 5 years...and here we are now....

 

Curiousjane, you won't get any sypmpathy here on the infidelity column. Prepare yourself for bashing, hurtful comments and the like. Many will say tell your husband. Which I do not agree with. Keep in mind here on the infidelity column there are mostly betrayed spouses... and IMHO, they want you to suffer even more than you already have. You know you did wrong and have to live with that knowledge. I have been on both sides of the street, my perspective is different.

 

Are you remorseful? Sorry for what you've potentially done to ruin your M? If so, suggest you go talk with a licensed therapist. I was advised by my therapist NOT to tell H, and work on making my M better. Telling of an A can totally kill any chance of making your M better. You hurt your H in an attempt to assauge your guilt... not always the best idea. Depends on your M to start with. However, you have to search your heart and be sincere. If you decide to tell your H, seriously get some help from the therapist. You will need it.

 

Yeah yeah, I'm sure all of the folks here will have nasty things to say to me too, but I don't care. I am entitled to my opinion.

Posted
Curiousjane, you won't get any sypmpathy here on the infidelity column. Prepare yourself for bashing, hurtful comments and the like. Many will say tell your husband. Which I do not agree with. Keep in mind here on the infidelity column there are mostly betrayed spouses... and IMHO, they want you to suffer even more than you already have. You know you did wrong and have to live with that knowledge. I have been on both sides of the street, my perspective is different.

 

Are you remorseful? Sorry for what you've potentially done to ruin your M? If so, suggest you go talk with a licensed therapist. I was advised by my therapist NOT to tell H, and work on making my M better. Telling of an A can totally kill any chance of making your M better. You hurt your H in an attempt to assauge your guilt... not always the best idea. Depends on your M to start with. However, you have to search your heart and be sincere. If you decide to tell your H, seriously get some help from the therapist. You will need it.

 

Yeah yeah, I'm sure all of the folks here will have nasty things to say to me too, but I don't care. I am entitled to my opinion.

 

Interesting that you bring up therapist. Here is research done to measure the attitudes of therapists:

 

http://tfj.sagepub.com/content/16/4/328.full.pdf+html

 

Table 1 shows that therapists do NOT favor disclosure in ALL situations. There are specific situations where a large fraction of therapist would NOT favor disclosure. For example:

 

Disagree Agree No Response

Past and terminated affair 57.3 42.6 0.9

Likely to result in divorce 46.1 51.2 2.7

 

Some here may argue that you should listen to THEM, instead of professional therapists. But I will ask you this: would you want to take OPINIONS of random people over the internet, over professional therapists?

 

This is a fun place to discuss infidelity issues and share. However, I would be very very concerned if this is your sole source of advice.

 

Turbo girl has a point, everyone has his own biases and agenda here (and i wont shy from admitting that myself. I am interested in the phenomenon, and relevant research).

 

Do more research and find the facts yourself.

Posted
It should have stayed left out. It has no bearing on your choices.
Maybe it does.

 

Maybe she bit more than she can chew, trying to stay with him. Maybe it laid dormant for so long and just waited for "right" moment to resurface.

 

I know I do have a "dark side" like that. Not impossible for others to have it as well.

Posted
I had never been to this forum before, but had to look for answers, so I came across this site.

 

For a bit of background, I am 33 years old and been married to my husband for 5 years. Been together a total of 14 years. My husband is great to me. We have personality differences, but that has always been the case. Other than that, I have no complaints about him or our relationship. He is completely loyal and will do anything to please me.

 

There was this coworker (25 years old) who caught my eye a year ago...when I first saw him. I was instantly attracted to him. Besides small talk, occasional flirtatious comments to each other, and group outings after work....nothing really materialized until this summer...after he left the company. He left the company and we kept in touch and started meeting up (in a group setting) for weekend events/parties. After a night of drinking, I would sleep over at his place and just cuddle and talk all night. I was very attracted to him and he was too. Last weekend, we saw each other again and realized it was getting beyond just flirting. We held hands and spent the whole day together as if we were a couple. Again, I slept over at his place and we cuddled...but this time it was getting much frisky.

 

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the fact that I'm married, he brought it up that it was wrong and we shouldn't be doing this anymore. I knew it was going to be brought up eventually, but I wanted it to continue longer. We decided to remain friends and we wouldn't do this anymore.

 

That was last weekend. Ever since, I've been feeling extremely depressed, grief, and just thinking about my marriage. I'm not sure if this is normal of me to feel this way, but I feel completely lost. I feel as if I just broke up with a boyfriend...even though...the guy was much younger and has nothing to offer me. I can't help feeling this way. I feel completely lost and need advice/answers to help me get through this. I don't think I'm in love with this man and am sad that we ended our affair or if I am just depressed about my own relationship. Everything happened so suddenly and was not prepared to handle the consequences of having this affair come to an end.

 

I am lost and need advice. Please help!

Why would you risk losing your marriage over this fling? So not worth it. Why would you want to hurt your husband in this way? How is it possible that you can stay over at another guy's place and your husband would not know or question where you are? Put your efforts and attention in your marriage, and not with some guy. Your husband doesn't deserve to be treated so badly. Nobody does.

Posted

Curiousjane...how much time did you and your husband spend in therapy when you discovered his affair?

 

How did you work through the issues that lead to it? Did you? Did you TRULY forgive him?

 

Because if he is such a wonderful guy meeting all your needs, why were you attracted to a co-worker and then gave yourself permission to spend so much time socializing with him at every opportunity?

 

Don't you see how you fueled the attraction from the get go?

 

Why? What is missing in you or your marriage that you would do that?

 

Are you still harboring resentment from your H's affair? Need an ego boost? Validation that you are still attractive? What is the issue?

  • Author
Posted
Curiousjane, you won't get any sypmpathy here on the infidelity column. Prepare yourself for bashing, hurtful comments and the like. Many will say tell your husband. Which I do not agree with. Keep in mind here on the infidelity column there are mostly betrayed spouses... and IMHO, they want you to suffer even more than you already have. You know you did wrong and have to live with that knowledge. I have been on both sides of the street, my perspective is different.

 

Are you remorseful? Sorry for what you've potentially done to ruin your M? If so, suggest you go talk with a licensed therapist. I was advised by my therapist NOT to tell H, and work on making my M better. Telling of an A can totally kill any chance of making your M better. You hurt your H in an attempt to assauge your guilt... not always the best idea. Depends on your M to start with. However, you have to search your heart and be sincere. If you decide to tell your H, seriously get some help from the therapist. You will need it.

 

Yeah yeah, I'm sure all of the folks here will have nasty things to say to me too, but I don't care. I am entitled to my opinion.

 

 

Finally...Thanks TurboGirl! I was prepared for the bashing, but not to this degree. Yes, I feel guilt of course, but at the same time, I feel completely lost. Thanks for being reasonable and not making judgement and giving me real advise. I think a little bit of counseling may help what I'm going through. I don't want to tell my H because I don't think it will make anything better. After he told me about his one time affair with his ex, he asked me if it would have been better if he didn't tell me because I was in so much pain...and I told him yes. Sometimes things are better left unsaid...as long as you know you are remorseful and have learned something from it.

 

Thanks again for shedding some light into my drama.

Posted

Curiousjane

in my experience, the feeling of loss is twofold... you "lost" your BF, and you also "lost" part of yourself by having an A, and not being true to your M. So it is 2 things that you are mourning. It's not like you ran out immediately and had a revenge A on your hubby.

 

Sounds like you were a little bored in your M (like me) and you need to refocus your attention on what is truly important in your life. Your H, your M, the promises you made. A's (again, IMHO) are often an escape for us, we want to escape some part of our daily life that is difficult to deal with or boring. Really think about what your motivation was for the A. Soul search and go talk with a professional. It helped me so much.

 

Hope you feel better. :bunny: :bunny: :bunny:

Posted (edited)

I get so tired of people saying "Telling will assuage only your guilt" or "You will only hurt your Husband or wife more if you tell what you did"

 

Well look at it like this....Telling will relieve you of the burden of being disrespectful and dishonest to your spouse. Keeping in such a secret will not only hurt you physically and mentally, but it will also further damage your marriage should the truth finally come out.

You will be no more than a liar and a cheater to your betrayed spouse. Most betrayed spouses can deal with the affair on some level..but it's the lying and deception that will permanently cripple your marriage.

 

I find it intriguing that a wayward spouse would want their companion to be honest with them, but will not be honest in reciprocation.

 

You are making a big big mistake in hiding this. Your marriage from here on out will be based on deception and lies.

 

Individual counselors are not well versed in handling infidelity. They are mostly focusing on the individual.

If a counselor tells you the best way to save something is by lying and omission of the truth, then they have no clue how to save a relationship.

 

I won't tell you what to do, but I will base my post on many whom I have helped.

I told them to tell the truth.

In some cases..it was a deal-breaker and in most cases the relationships were saved.

If you have the truth on the table then you can deal with whatever comes.

If you have just the lie on the table..then you are basing your recovery on a lie and your spouse is believing they are in a good,trustworthy relationship and unaware that they are being lied to and manipulated.

 

You have no right to make a decision for your spouse like this. You are controlling the situation by not letting him know the facts about what kind of relationship he is truly in.

Should he find out on his own ..which is in most cases highly probable...what then?

Will you say I didn't want to hurt you?

 

You already did the moment you crossed the line with the coworker.

Will you say I was trying to protect you?

How so? You are really only protecting yourself. He doesn't get to see what you really have done to him.

 

If you can live with yourself carrying around such a tragic occurrence as if it didn't happen and continue to deceive such a "good man", what does that really say about you?

What does that really say about your marriage?

You are depressed because you are mourning the end of a relationship you should not have had.

It happens with any emotional break-up.

What you should do is concentrate on finding out why you thought it was ok to cross such a boundary.

Why was it ok for you to betray your good husband this way.

This is not me being judgmental..but these are the truths you need to examine.

What will you gain by hiding this?

Being a dishonest and disloyal wife?

I would say woman-up and own what you did. If you were courageous enough to almost destroy your marriage..then you should be just as courageous to repair it.

It's broken now and you are only trying to hide the brokenness.

You are broken as well and so will your husband be when this comes to light.

It may not come to light now..but what happens if it does..months or even years from now?

 

You will be back to square one and your husband will see all the time before the truth comes out as a lie..a false marriage to a woman who not only betrayed him, but was also deceptive up until she got caught.

 

It's your choice how you decide to have your marriage. I guarantee you..the choice you are making now..is not a good one.

Give your husband the wife he deserves..if he is good..then you should be too.

Edited by SoulStorm
Posted

@Soulstorm,

are you a professional therapist? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

Just like everyone else on this forum, you are entitled to your opinion.

Posted
@Soulstorm,

are you a professional therapist? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

Just like everyone else on this forum, you are entitled to your opinion.

 

TurboGirl

Yes I am:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::)

  • Author
Posted
Curiousjane...how much time did you and your husband spend in therapy when you discovered his affair?

 

How did you work through the issues that lead to it? Did you? Did you TRULY forgive him?

 

Because if he is such a wonderful guy meeting all your needs, why were you attracted to a co-worker and then gave yourself permission to spend so much time socializing with him at every opportunity?

 

Don't you see how you fueled the attraction from the get go?

 

Why? What is missing in you or your marriage that you would do that?

 

Are you still harboring resentment from your H's affair? Need an ego boost? Validation that you are still attractive? What is the issue?

 

 

Spark1111 -- Good questions. First, I truly believe I have forgiven him. It took a while, but I have forgave him...especially when I forgot to even mention it in my original post. It was very hard to find out...especially so recent into our marriage. But he has shown remorse and to the best of my knowledge, he has been completely loyal and faithful to me. To answer your question...no...we didn't go to therapy. We just let time heal our wounds and it seemed to have worked (I think). I don't harbor resentment. As I've always told him...I forgive him, but I'll never forget what he did to me.

 

I think a big part of the reason I was attracted to someone else....was because I liked the attention. I liked knowing that someone else was attracted to me. I also like being infatuated and feeling alive again. No fault of my H....but he's been very busy as well. But...I know I could make more time to spend with him...especially when he spends every minute he has with me.

 

I don't claim to be perfect...hence, that's why I'm seeking advice here. Thanks for your post!

  • Author
Posted
Why would you risk losing your marriage over this fling? So not worth it. Why would you want to hurt your husband in this way? How is it possible that you can stay over at another guy's place and your husband would not know or question where you are? Put your efforts and attention in your marriage, and not with some guy. Your husband doesn't deserve to be treated so badly. Nobody does.

 

KathyM -- you're right. good point. He never really questioned when I wasn't home because he trusts me...and expected that I was staying over a friends house from a night of drinking. You're right...I need to spend more time with him. This was what we actually discussed last weekend and I've agreed to stop going out for happy hour and spend my Fridays with him like I used to before this summer.

  • Author
Posted
Curiousjane

in my experience, the feeling of loss is twofold... you "lost" your BF, and you also "lost" part of yourself by having an A, and not being true to your M. So it is 2 things that you are mourning. It's not like you ran out immediately and had a revenge A on your hubby.

 

Sounds like you were a little bored in your M (like me) and you need to refocus your attention on what is truly important in your life. Your H, your M, the promises you made. A's (again, IMHO) are often an escape for us, we want to escape some part of our daily life that is difficult to deal with or boring. Really think about what your motivation was for the A. Soul search and go talk with a professional. It helped me so much.

 

Hope you feel better. :bunny: :bunny: :bunny:

 

 

Yes! All very good points! I feel like I'm talking to a therapist already! Really appreciate all you've said :)

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