Top 10 Ways Men Destroy Their Marriage
Neglected Wife Symptoms—Ways Husbands Destroy Their Marriages
It is important to remember that the main goal of marriage should be peace and happiness. So, while this list below may seen daunting, always remember that. If life is stressful, then work on changing your perception. You can see peace instead of stress. You are only one thought away from a peaceful life. If you feel unhappy, seek the things that will fulfill you in life. Just be happy. The simplest route to something is to just be. The only person you can change is yourself.
Also, while both the husband and wife should take responsibility for their part in a marriage, below are ten mistakes common to men. Read on to learn about the behaviors of men which can completely destroy a marriage.
1. Leaving Her Alone
One of the quickest ways to destroy your marriage is to leave your wife alone. This means things like spending long hours at work and following it up by a beer or several afterward with the guys. Then, when you get home, you don't engage her or your children. Instead, you lose yourself in baseball or computer poker. Also, on the weekends, you'll complain about the messy house, then leave to run errands, and then you don't come back for several hours.
One of the most most miserable experiences for a wife is that feeling of isolation when her husband emotionally leaves the relationship. Yes, she has friends and a job. Yes, she spends a lot of time running the kids around and partaking in activities outside of her husband. It's not the same. Her desire is to spend time with you, the man she loves. To be left alone by her husband causes deep heartache for women. For most women, their largest fears boil down to isolation and deprivation. When she feels abandoned by you, she attacks with hurtful and disrespectful behavior. Her ability to verbally hurt you is her strongest weapon, and she uses it out of fear in an effort to try to get your attention.
When a wife begins to nag because you never spend time at home, never hang out with her, and never engage with the kids, chances are she is feeling abandoned and isolated. When you stop spending time together, the emotional distance between you two grows quickly.
2. Not Getting Close Enough
Your wife feels energized when she feels close to you. Refusing to let her know you is destructive to her and your marriage. While you strive to keep your independence, she longs to connect with you. It is not fair to either of you if you are only affectionate and attentive on the days you want sex or something from her. Affection and closeness ought to be an end in themselves, not a means to a different end.
Talking is not the only way women feel close, although it is an important one. Simple ways to fulfill your wife in this area are to hug her often, hold her hand, and to spend some time alone with her. When her need for closeness is met, she will be more inclined to respect your need for independence. When your wife feels close to you, she will also be more willing to engage with you on a more intimate, sexual level.
The important thing to remember is to help her feel connected. Try talking to her about your day, your fears, hopes, and dreams. Hold her hand when you go out together. Kiss her unexpectedly in the kitchen while she makes dinner. Sit next to her. Ask her how she is doing, and for a few minutes, give her your undivided attention while she answers. A little bit will go a long way and mean everything to her and, in turn, your marriage.
2.5. Closing Yourself Off to Her
Women exist as an integrated circuit. The mind, body, and soul are closely linked — so, hurt feelings affect the entire system. A wife whose spirit is crushed may suffer from fatigue and confusion. Like a strand of Christmas lights — when one light goes out, they all go dark. Men compartmentalize. If one light goes out on his strand, all the other lights function properly, unaffected. Men are able to fully function when one area of their lives is not working properly.
Your wife does not understand the closed-off and mysterious way you operate. Things don't seem to bother you. You never want to talk to her. She knows you are stressed about work, yet you don't show it or express that further to her. She wonders how you can even function. Your wife is not trying to pry or sneak her way into no-man's land. She simply wants you to be open. She wants to truly see you. She feels loved when you share your fears, worries, and troubles. She wants to be that person for you and committed to being so when you got married. She won't try to fix you. She will listen.
Try talking to her about what is going on in your life. Women like to vent, without seeking a solution, and she wants to give you the freedom to share yourself verbally.
3. Always Trying to "Fix" Her
Even when she doesn't always say it, your wife sees you as her strength. As the bearer of her burdens. When she comes to you for help to lighten the load from the weight of her world, it is a compliment. She knows you can handle it.
Rather than trying to resolve and repair every issue, however, try to just listen to her. You might even ask if she needs a solution or just an ear. It will be a relief for both of you when you realize that sometimes you don't have to fix all the problems. Furthermore, when you listen, she will feel like you understand her (even if you don't, which is okay).
4. Never Saying "I'm Sorry."
All marriages have conflict. The refusal to apologize is a quick way to destroy yours. While conflict is not a pleasant thing, growth and closeness can increase as conflict is resolved. For your wife, an apology means she has moved forward through the conflict, and she is now seeking peace.
Many husbands see apologizing as a sure sign of weakness. They think, "If I apologize, she won't respect me." On the contrary, if you humbly apologize and ask her forgiveness, your wife will be putty in your hands. Your small act of contrition soothes her spirit, and acts as a healing balm over her heart. Furthermore, it shows that you're open and willing to make things work, that you care enough to admit to your faults and move past and through them.
5. Taking Her Insecurities Too Lightly
Your wife knows she is highly committed to you. When she sees you looking at other women, in the mall, on TV, on the computer, and in other places, she fears that you may be unfaithful and at the very least, it may make her uncomfortable and question your attraction to them, especially if she is solely just looking at you. Regardless, she is insecure and needs your reassurance, not any belittling, joking, or teasing. These activities all devalues her feelings, which are real. When you stare at a cute young thing as she saunters by, it may be a reminder to your wife of her many imperfections. She feels insecure because she wants to know that you still love her and you looking at other women may not be so reassuring of that. It's okay for you to look at other women, in fact, it's perfectly natural. The danger is when you are blatant and aggressive, disregarding your wife's feelings and staring in spite of her discomfort.
Your wife is motivated by your love and loyalty. She has committed her life to you, and wants to feel secure in the fact that you are equally committed to her. A big symbol of your loyalty to your wife is a wedding ring. For a woman, this is a sign of your fidelity. A married man without a ring seems to be trying to hide something. This requires very little effort, if any, on your part to reassure your wife in this way, and yet it would mean the world to her. Her peace of mind ought to be worth the cost of an inexpensive, outward expression of your fidelity. You have nothing to hide. A ring is a simple, outward expression of your devotion to your wife and to your marriage. This small gesture can have deep impact.
When your wife feels insecure, she may ask if you still think she is pretty. She may ask if you love her. She may ask if you think someone else is more attractive. This is not a trap. She feels she is moving toward you, by asking a question and starting a conversation. Talking is how women feel close. She is seeking your assurance of love and loyalty. Rather than make light of the moment, look at her. No, really look at her. Tell her she is the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. Give her the assurance she seeks, and ease her troubled mind.
6. Ignoring the Importance of Simple Gestures
Your wife does not require fancy jewelry or expensive meals. Granted, those things are nice, and you like to treat your wife. However, it isn't always necessary.
She feels most loved by the small tokens of your love and appreciation. When you neglect the small things, it may feel to her like you are trying to buy her affection — or ease your own guilt — with the big things. Let your wife know that she is on your mind during the day. A single rose when you walk in the door speaks volumes to her language of love. Give her a call or send her a text during the day to let her know you are thinking of her. Offer to help with dinner, or wash the dishes. These are small gifts of your time that mean the world to your wife.
For your wife, the most important days of the year are her birthday and the day she married you. Celebrate these days by spending time with just her. It will mean more than any expensive gift ever could. The cost of the gift is secondary to the thought you put into it. She wants to feel special and important to you. The way to help her feel loved is to spend time with her alone. Even if you sit home and watch a movie, give her your undivided attention.
7. Taking All the Fun Out of Sex
When you confuse sex with intimacy, it's no fun. When you only focus on your own orgasm, it's no fun. When you only show interest in your wife when you want to get lucky, it's no fun. When you devalue the depth of your sexual relationship with crude jokes and pornography, it's no fun. When you expect her to get excited instantly, it's no fun. When you neglect your wife's sexual needs, it's no fun.
When you are married, sex is supposed to be fun.
An intimate sharing, designed to bring you closer, sex should cement the bond between you. For example, think of your wife as a crockpot. Meanwhile, in this comparison, you are a microwave. Put a meal in a microwave, and you are eating within three minutes. A crockpot meal takes a lot of forethought. You need the proper ingredients. You have to put everything together, turn it on, and wait. Six or eight hours later, you enjoy a delicious meal. Your wife needs the same thoughtful consideration. Start in the morning with a kiss. Tell her she's beautiful. Women never get tired of hearing that from the man they love. Help get the kids ready for school. After work, ask about her day.
Slow, slow, slow. If you want to bring the fun back into sex, think crockpot, not microwave. You can microwave in the shower (not literally, obviously).
8. Getting Lost in Bitterness and Anger
When you shut your wife out to brood in your despair, it fills her with fear. Women like to talk things out. Men like to shut things out. When you feel stressed about work, about money, about your relationship, you turn inward. This provokes your wife's fear of abandonment and rejection.
She thinks you don't love her when you refuse to speak. This fear, and her desire to resolve conflict, cause your wife to pursue you. She wants to talk it out, not to belittle or demean you, but to feel closer. She wants you to trust her, so she can trust you. She follows you around, asking if everything is alright. You run away from her and avoid wanting to discuss what is bothering you. She knows something is wrong, and she begins to assume that she is the problem.
You can stop this train wreck before it happens by opening up to your wife. She loves you. You can trust her. Share your real feelings with her, and she will open her heart to you.
9. Not Taking Responsibility
Whether it's an addiction, an affair or poor performance in your life, many times, husbands point to their wives as the reason for their weakness. "She makes me drink because of her nagging. I cheated because she wouldn't take care of me. I'm doing poorly because she never encourages me."
It's time to take full responsibility for your own behavior. You need to take ownership of your actions. You choose to drink. You choose to cheat. You choose to work or not work. You actively do all these things on your own. Rather than blaming someone or something else, stand up and take control. Make your life reflect the values you desire. Your life is completely under your control. Today, you can choose differently. You can create exactly the life you want. Furthermore, if your wife really is the root of all the problems in your life, then take control of that as well and man up and tell her the truth. She can't change if you aren't willing to express the problem.
10. Picking the Wrong Woman. Again.
A woman in distress, who just moves from crisis to crisis, will continue to be in distress after you marry her. A nitpicking woman who criticizes your every decision will continue to nitpick. A control freak always wants control, even after the wedding. The bottom line is: if she is the wrong woman before the marriage, she'll be the wrong woman when and after you get married.
If you want a nice wife, then date a nice woman and marry her. Treat her with love and respect and she will return the kindness. Trying to rescue a woman in distress will only lead you to feel used and unappreciated. A strong marriage begins with a good-willed woman and a good-willed man. It flourishes as you both grow in love and respect toward each other.
Choosing the wrong woman sets you up for failure every time. Although you might like the feeling of being a knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress, the reality of being married is much harder and much less idealistic. Marriage takes work, from both the husband and the wife. When both are committed to making the marriage a good experience, then it has a better chance of succeeding.
Work on Yourself
While this list may seem daunting, it is important to remember that the main goal of marriage should be peace and happiness. If life is stressful, work on changing your perception. You can see peace instead of stress. You are only one thought away from a peaceful life. If you feel unhappy, seek those thing that will fulfill you in life. Just be happy. The simplest route to something is to just be. The only person you can change is yourself.
Video: Love and Respect
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Questions & Answers
My partner and I are separated due to lack of affection and love. He ignores me and constantly leaves me home alone to go smoke Marijuana. When he's at home, if he's not critiquing everything I do, he's ignoring me cause he's on his phone. I don't know if I should try working on the marriage or just walk away?
You don't mention how long you've been married or if you have children. Do you want to be married to a man who ignores and critiques you?
Helpful 193My husband and I have been having a very difficult time, we have been married over 1 year with a 4 month old baby. I have been nothing but a devoted wife and carried out all my responsibilities as a wife and mother. Our conflict arises with his family, he never understood my feelings nor did he ever stand up for me. His very much for only his family and made it a point to tell me they will always be above me. What do I do now that he decided to divorce me based on my relationship with his family?
If he's already made up his mind, you have two choices. First, you can sit back and let him divorce you. And you can get on with your life.
Or, you could try to improve your relationship with his family.
What does your heart say?
Helpful 105Do you think it worth saving? I feel alone in my marriage like I'm the only one fighting for it. I have suffered emotional affairs, husband addiction to weed, pawning of my ring, lying about females calling and texting, telling me I'm insecure, minimum help with the kids. He cooks dinner, helps with laundry, but he is selfish. Putting only his needs first. Live a secret life when it comes to weed. Does not wear his ring since we got married. I can't take the disrespect anymore.
Only you can decide if your marriage is worth saving. It's important for you to feel valued in your life. I'd suggest looking into counseling to work on yourself as an individual for a while.
Helpful 86My wife and I are separated. We live 12 hours apart. I miss my marriage and want to save it. My wife says she misses and loves me. But has recently stopped all communication with me. How do I save my marriage? How do I show my wife we are meant to be? I want to be with her, under the same roof and work hard to repair our once amazing marriage!
It's difficult to live under the same roof when you are 12 hours away from each other. It's hard to have any kind of relationship with distance.
If she has stopped all communication, it is unlikely that she is willing to work on the relationship. There is a lot of detail missing from your question. If your marriage was amazing, what happened to cause the separation? What are the circumstances of your distance? You and she probably need to first agree that you want to save the marriage. If you are the only one, it likely won't work.
I'd suggest first reopening the lines of communication.
Helpful 75What if talking always turns into an argument in my marriage?
Then don't talk so much.
I don't mean to sound trite, but it's true. We talk too much, in general. When we speak too much, there are bound to be problems. Just be quiet.
Helpful 36
Comments
While I agree with most of this. And I totally commend you for writing this; I do. It needed to be said. It should be noted that men of the #9 issue will seek women of the #10 issue because they know those women are the only ones they can get away with abusing. The women who have issues already are easy targets for the drunks, liars, and cheaters. They have a finite source to point their shame finger at when they themselves behave badly. 'Look at her. I love her so much. She is doing this to me. She makes me this way'. I was one of those women. I had a fantastic job as a biochemist for the government. I had my own home. I was about to open my dream business. My husband found out I took one anti-depressant (Lexapro) for PTSD and every time he got drunk and violent he blamed me and my 'psychotic personality disorders' for him destroying my home, my face, and even his job. It's 11 years later and HE just started an anti-depressant. The abuse never stops. Words to the wise.
Good read
Well I'm a married guy and nothing will change my opinion! I'm who I'm and Im to old to change my life. Married 50 plus years and to put it honestly I regret ever getting married. Marriage was a waste of time and money and energy. We were like renters always passing in the hall way and never stopping. I was very happy on how my life went, I was never interested in intimacy nor sex. I never had a desire for any one male or female.
Very helpful thank you
An excellent article that deals clearly with the problem many women face, lack of respect and attention. In our modern world many men and women also have been spoilt and believe that they are entitled to happiness as some gift. Marriage/relationships need a lot of work. Nothing in life comes without cost and effort.
Lady your talking a load of shit! Women being like xmas lights, unable to function properly, lord where did you get this load o crap from??!!.
Grow up and open your eyes to real life before you go around giving people advice about stuff you obviously have no idea about.
Loads of hogwash!!!
Dont get married, its an out dated unnecessary model from the past century. Stay independant and enjoy your life!!!!!
And be a wise women, keep away from partner ship and marriage, saves you from a lot of pain and despair!!!! Just read the posts bellow and youl know Im right!
My huband does not respect me. I dont need love and too much intimacy scares me but I need him to accept the person I am and to respect me as I am. This he does not do and I hate it. We have been together for 25 years, Im a hard working Engineer in the field of geology, I make more than him. I never loved or love him but I respect him and take him as he is, he never did this to me. We have a son (16 years) whom I love to death and who is my sunshine. How can I tell him I need him to respect me as the person I am and that I dont need his love but his respect!
A very good article full of excellent advice. All married men need to read this.
Well, my life is falling apart the same thing as always i was a great woman to this man jose mendez. He was very handsome , now he is ugly and his attitude made him uglier in my eyes . He lied all trough our marriage and stiil is. A 47 year old man trying to impress i dont know who , because is not me, im sure of that. Anyway i will divorce he is not worth my time and im a beautiful woman. So i can go bymyself and my two grown children. I dont need this rat.
Hmm...
I am not married but I am already getting scared.
Why?
Of course, it seems women do need a lot of attention from their men.
A lot of attention!
Only God knows if I will be able to provide that for her!
My husband is abroad. From two weeks ago he is not calling me nor having video chat with me. We were having conflicts when he was here but those all mattera settled down. Now he is ignoring me I tried to ask him that why he is doing this but he did not answer. I m in great tension
i agree with the last, start with the RIGHT partner! marriage is completely hard and near impossible with the wrong partner, so give yourself a chance and pick the right person for the right reaasons
Thank you for your article. so much of it "hit home for me"
I divorced my husband for so many reasons and most of them you listed. I was married for 13.5 years. He had nothing at age 28 coming into our relationship, and I was educated with a decent salary. It wasn't until after our divorce that I truly saw him with open eyes. He was a minimalist. worked M-F 7-3, he refused extra shifts and OT. But I would sometimes work my 40 hours and then an additional 24 on the weekend. We had expensive tastes, and I thought work hard, play hard. He liked the money that I made and great cruises, timeshares, cars, homes, fancy parties. He lost his job on my 50th birthday, and let me continue to do it all for the 10 months. I begged him to find work, I was angry that I was doing it all, while he sat around drinking beer, smoking weed, playing on his computer and watching TV. We finally decided to move to a different state, for a fresh start. He did find a job that was commission only, and was fired after 8 months, because he did not bring in any money. I in the mean time was still doing it all. So now he is down 2 jobs in 1 1/2 years. I told him he had three months to find work, or he could move on, and he found a great job. We moved from an apartment to house, (we even bought this house at a clothing optional resort), The next thing you know (I was still working my butt off) and he was cheating on me. He justified it by saying "I was doing you a favor, with menopause and all" ???. then one day the police served me with a search warrant and arrested him for viewing, sharing and saving child pornography. You know he lost that new great job after 18 months (job #3 - 3 1/2 years). He is now in prison for 12 years (plea deal). and he is angry with me that I am not waiting for him. and he is threatening me with extortion if I don't leave him a bank account with 50K in it for when he gets out.
The sex was nothing special, and I did try, he has no imagination, he cannot role play, he is lazy, I felt taken advantage of, I felt used. He is arrogant, narcissistic, and felt like he was above the law.
I put this on here, because it heals me to read and talk about it, but for your readers, please try hard, a man should give his wife 100% and the wife should give her husband 100%.
I started my life all over the day he went to prison.
My husband like spending his time outside like going to work very early and coming back late at night when he comes back he sleeps and Wake up the next day following the same pattern from Mondays-fridays even on weekends he must find places to go and still come back late. Am tried plz what can l do?
I am not going to say my husband was lazy, drank or used drugs, I am going to say he hated the social order we lived in and wanted to bring it to it's knees before trying to work within their boundries over Time Off work he had earned, over the choice of job and shift again as he had earned, and have the holidays off as he also had earned through UAW seniority. It was bad enough trying to get him to not use that seniority that in 1987 Because I did not keep a promise about being a willing sex partner and travel companion wherever, however, and when ever he wanted his vacation after getting hinm to back off a Trip To Rome to let a Younger Seniority couple go to get married.
It was when we came back He was planning to head out on a western road trip just as soon as he shoved everyone else out of his van and he was not going to listen to our suggestion for alternative times and placed in January and Force the change of plans to hundreds of lesser seniority because he did not want to wait six more months, and let Us try and come up with something for him In January. Well That was the start of a local Court Judge holding him to task over time off the next 13 years and At the end of those years when we had to have him Jailed and taken to work instead of take the millinial down weeks, We came back to a situation that because he had not had a day off in 18 years, and would not accept our decisions about it he started making everyones life as painful as possible because he just would not consider the alternantives that were offered by November 2001 His fathers best friend was the county coimmisiuoneer and his son wanted a job and shift my husband decided he wanted he had 214more years seniority thanj that group One was a City Councilman And two other of those young men had influencial fathers in the county and I was on My knees begging him to remove his bid and talk to his Ex Millitary friends about taking theirs down so the younger men could have that new department. I was promising the sex life I had witheld trying to get him to willingly cooperate, I told Him We could Take a vacation starting that week and I would not say a thing if he took the coming holidays, I said I just want to have our life in Peace instead of the constant war between me and him and the community, He destroyed tho0se younger men that next morning for laying there hands on him to force him to remove his bid, He left them as critical care partients in our front yard. He also kicked the front door and frame in on top of me and swore if I tried to get him hurt again I was going to die on the spot. Things ended for me trying to keep the peace in 2013 when he decided after 31 years I was going to be the wife he wanted and he Raped me over it as I begged to just try and be nice about that evening he did not have to kick everyone in the teeth over rights we could try and figure out solutions, HIs solution was we had nothing more to say about any thing in his life.
helpfull
Unfortunately all the points in your write up does not apply to my marriage, but yet it's a sort of unhappy relationship.
The reason to the best of my knowledge is because I have been too nice and too afraid of divorce. Now that I have reached a point where I don't care much about the outcome of my marriage I think I have gradually finding a balance.
I think most men are too protective of their marriage and ended up up losing it. When you are with the wrong woman or vice versa, it's important to let go immediately and find someone who is compact able with your personality.
I have more to say but will stop here
CJ
sorry that your marriage ended. If your wife does have contact, perhaps, say that although you know you are history, that you are truly sorry for your part in the break-up and that you wish her luck. You never know your luck, but either way, knowing what we do wrong in our relationships means that we have the tools to repair our relationships or have the knowledge to not repeat our mistakes in new relationships.
Good luck
Mayra,
sorry that is tough, perhaps it needs to be explained to your husband that sex is better for women when they feel that they have a deep and loving connection with their partner. Without that, sex simply becomes another chore, like putting the bins out, done simply because of responsibility. Who the hell likes chores, his behaviour is sucking all the meaning out of sex for you.
I wish my wife had showed me this and talked to me and explained how she felt, but she did not. I never stood a chance without her help. I loved her more than anything in the world and would have helped her through anything and stood by her till we were grey and old! I would have walked to the ends of the earth to save our marriage. Now all that has gone and the hurt is hard to bare. I will always love my wife even though I may never see her again. CJ.
After crying a few times when read this I sat down with my sweet husband who I love dearly and read everything to him. I long for that loving connection we had a year ago. I have turned into that nagging nit picking wife trying to get attention. I've even managed to become physically ill. I used to be independent, strong willed, hard working and happy now I'm alone sad and in constant physical pain. I miss my husband. His distance from me is literally killing me. I understand the stress work and money but it's all he talks about, your analogy on the crock pot and microwave is spot on. I just want to thank you so much for taking the time to write it. I'm hoping that when I read it to him and him finally realizing I'm hurting so bad because I miss him he'll make an effort. Our talk after I read it, it led to him saying that he didnt realize how much I was going through and struggling with feeling alone. I know he loves me he's just a tough cookie but our marriage means the world to me. It's worth it to try to help him understand my silent struggles.
Why is that every time my husband and I have sex after he just turns around and ingores me he had said communication is not important well for me it is I just want him to understand that sometimes I just want to feel love I want him to show me that he really cares not only when we have sex for me that's no fun I feel like I'm being used
Peace and happiness are the main goals of marriage ? How long have you been married? Kids? Not sure why two people would get married if this was the goal. I wanted a life partner to raise kids with, its hard, it’s work. It’s stressful, not peaceful. It’s ususall not happiness, it’s meaningful and rewarding. If you want peace and happiness people please look away from marriage, if you want meaning, commitment and all out war with yourself and your partner, welcome, and please check your ungrounded assumptions at the door, this is going to get tough and messy and might make you a better person if you can get over yourself.
I have seen that my husband been ignoring me for the past few months and sometimes i get hurt coz i know the feeling and the luv which we always hve before seems to change.whenever i ask him to accompany me somewhere or even go for a walk like we use to do before,he seems to say something else.i feel like leaving him but i always think of my kids.he would rather say no to whatever i say but when someone else came and ask him to go wit them,he would surely get dress and leave.i have been thinking about it alot.sometimes i wonder maybe its JST be cause I'm useless to him coz I'm unemployed and he always look down on me.i kept this pain to myself and i couldn't share it to anyone.if we got into a fight,he always blame me for everything and so we slept separately always thin king if he could come up and say sorry but no.what can i do?should i leave him?am i the one to be blamed??
I just had a birthday this week and like all other holidays my husband was gone. Hell hes gone all the time until time for bed to play poker, hang with friends , or whatever he wants. I am so tired of being lonely! To him none of his is a big deal to me it’s like I am in a competition I am so tired of the pain.
Help me please. I'm into busness with my husband we don't discuss he takes decisions on his own.he reject every thing from my side
What can I do ..i what to know to
I need help with my husband not being mean to me to every time to ..
Joe Wilson try to hurt my feeling every every time I don't like to go in my pass and my bab light to ..he try to make me sad to
I have been with my husband since I was a teenager. I spent my younger years clinging to him, i adored him, but only to be neglected and relentlessly put down. I never recieved compliments and my milestones were always celebrated alone. My tough days at work or stress with life and bills were not to be discussed with him as he would get angry. I worked my butt off to have what we had sometimes with no help.
Now 20 years later he has gotten better, but my feelings toward him are bitter and my feelings have changed. We sit quietly together. I dont discuss my days, but I don't want to hear about his either, if there is opportunity to go out , im not devastated at him not wanting to be with me, we have different ideas on fun. I dont blame him for everything. But we seem to be coming to an end. Its very sad. Its almost like its too late to fix and I've stopped caring just when he finally started. Don't take your partner for granted is the life lesson.
It always seems that biggest problem is the husband working too much. What's your advice if the husband NEEDS to work hard to put food on the table?
I'm always willing to learn but it seems like the man working hard is rarely appreciated. I'm sure he'd like to spend more time at home with his wife and kids but sometimes it's not possible.
I wonder why my husband ain't spontaneous he isn't romantic he complaint when I touch him he said he isn't use to it we don't tongue kiss we don't cuddle he just has alot of complaints and it has push me away
Hi! What if my husband has all of these. We' ve been together for 10 years and have 3 kids. I've seen signs of this behavior during our marriage but didn't make a big deal. Now that his mom is here and lives with us, my husband is showing his true colors. He's a workaholic, never spends time with me or the kids, has never put me first, never stood up for me. He badmouths me to his mom, relatives and friends. I think this is worse than cheating.He and his mom sit in the living room and talk about me while I'm in my bedroom and I can hear them. I'm staying for my kids, but I feel so lonely, sad and depressed. What should I do? Divorce is not what I had in mind when I decided to have kids. They are my everything but again I can't continue like this.
Thanks!!
In my case, yes we went to couples therapy and it helped me crystalise that tolerating the bad behaviour would not resolve the issues. So, when my ex walked out in pursuit of the other woman, I was quite relieved. Instead of chasing after him or begging or bending over backwards to please him; as he would have expected. I saw it as the opportunity to start divorce proceedings, didn't bother to issue any ultimatums. Just thought it might be a starting point for Audrey, so she could assert some boundaries in the relationship. You are right of course, it is no good issuing ultimatums unless you are prepared to act upon them. In this case, issuing an ultimatum with a divorce petition in hand is likely to result in a clear-cut answer; if it results in a breakup, then at the very least Audrey is not wasting her life with this guy and is then free to be alone or find someone more worthy of her.
Regards from the UK
Dear Audrey,
Your husband will sadly, continue to indulge in this behaviour, because in not tackling it head on you are enabling him to have his cake and eat it. Would advise that you go to couples therapy and tackle it. Tell him how it makes you feel and if you want an open relationship too, ask for one. See how he responds. If not you need to give him an ultimatum. If his behaviour is making you unhappy, state that and state that if he respected, valued you and loved you he would not want you to be unhappy. See how he responds to that.
You need to tell him that his behaviour is not good enough and that if it continues you will either leave or take the view that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander too.
If he does continue then either move out or the next time find yourself a lover and move him in next time he disappears.
Good luck.
hi my husband runs away all the time then he come home after 3days and i realy dnt no what to do pls help me
Great article since you are a writer. If you are going to give advice, I would also like to encourage you to be a certified counselor or psychologist to give credit to your article. Now, what would be great would be an article of how a woman destroys her relationship with her husband, etc... And how narcissistic women or men create reasons to justify their dilemmas. When exactly will that style article be available?
I grew up with an abusive alcoholic father and now I am dealing with a husband who drinks too much. I left him for 6 months because he wouldn’t admit he had a problem and wouldn’t go for help despite us going to a marriage Councelor. Finally after he blacked out and woke up in a pool of blood with broken nose, knee, and a front tooth missing, he acknowledged he had a drinking problem and went to AA but left after a few short weeks. That was last April and since then he has been wonderful until 3 days ago when he was very drunk and admitted he “had a little bit to drink”when I asked him if he had been drinking. He spends an nordinate amount of time in his man cave and in the past hid liter bottles of scotch. I feel he does not respect my feelings over his love of drinking and I no longer know what to do. I don’t want to leave him again but I feel I can’t trust him and am bothered not only by his drinking but the fact that he knows how much I suffered from alcoholic behavior growing up and he is unwilling to give it up despite his admitted issue. Up until this last snafu the day after VDay, I had been experiencing euphoria in our marriage since he had his “accident” the best time in our entire marriage of almost 29 years! Now, I once again I am beside myself with fear not knowing what to do this time around. Help!
Deborah, when I saw that you had the Love & Respect video attached, I was excited. But after reading some of your responses and your advise to some of these people's issues, I am highly disappointed. To suggest that @Dee37 and Unknown to decide if "you are ready to walk away"? REALLY? You obviously need to re-watch the L&R series (if you have) and refresh your understanding that any marriage (no matter how unsatisfying) can be turned around. It is hard but it is also UNCONDITIONAL. I have been married for 30+ years and have gone through most issues that a marriage can. If a husband or wife will do marriage as it is suppose to be done, it can be turned around. But when you say, it is ok to walk away because someone doesn't feel like their needs are being met, you are destroy the foundation of any marriage, which is commitment.
WATCH the Love & Respect series instead of just using a funny clip to get attention!!! I would be interested in what type of article you would write in order to teach wives about "The top 10 things they do to destroy their marriage"? There are the things that they do that contribute to the destruction of the marriage as well...
But if both are good willed individuals and most are, it is simply the fact that they are not meeting the other person's needs. How do you change that? You DONT do it by walking away or think that you can be negative in order to get a positive response. You change your spouse by committing to meet their need to feel Loved or Respected UNCONDITIONALLY. When you do that to a good willed person, over a period of time, things change. In yourself as well as in them.
Divorce is never a road to healing and every person that I have counseled with who has gone through it continues to carry the scars from it for years; let alone what happens to the kids!
To all your readers, I suggest that they watch Emmerson & Sarah Eggrichs' LOVE & RESPECT video series. That should be step 1.
@unknown, I know exactly how you feel. Men don’t realize we women go through a lot of changes through the years. Our bodies change,we get older, kids take up our me time and our “I want to get cute”time. We need that validation from our SO. What I tell myself sometimes is not always nice and I need to hear that I am beautiful or that my husband is thinking about me. They just don’t get it. Thinking it and not saying it can be the difference between divorce court and happily ever after.
If I had to do it again, I'd stay single. Empty space cannot hurt you but people can. Men have this facet to their personality of shutting themselves off but oh, they're so sweet in the beginning but end in a fizzle. I play second fiddle to computer games and cymbalta. Well, it's his loss and someone else's gain.
I also know the struggle of making time for each other as we have a 5 year old son and a 5 month old baby, so it is difficult even to get time to talk at night after putting the kids to bed, as the baby is constantly waking.
He doesn't show any affection unless it is about sex. It's true that he switches on and off easily compared to me.
He gets stressed easily about things and recently changed his job, so that is added stress. I am taking care of the kids full time and up with the baby mst of the night. He never seems to realize its a 24/7 job for me and I equally need to time to rest just as he does.
I moved from overseas as I am not from the US, so I don't have close friends etc. here I can really vent to.
He seems to think me going back home to visit every few months would make things better for us as he knows I miss family etc. and says we nit pick at each other and get under each others feet. He said that I dont get out or have any interests/friends that I spend time with outside the home, but it is a struggle to find time with 2 kids, one being 5 months old. I rarely have time to myself to just read a book.
I know he feels like he needs more time to do his own thing and pursue his own interests, however the kids take up our time, not my lack of interests or a social life!
My husband doesnt really show any appreciation for things i do. He seems to blame me for petty things. Just the other day he had to stop by our sons school late in the morning before work. He asked me to wake him at 11am. So my alarm went off and I woke him, he went back to sleep for 15 more mins and told me to wake him 15 mins later, so I did. Said to them wake him in 7 mins so I did, then told me to wake him in 5 mins as there was still time for him to rest a little longer. Anyway I fell asleep by then with the baby as I was exausted from being up all night nursing and soothing the baby... so he woke up late and got mad at me for not waking him on time. He called me a lazy bitch and stormed out. This really upset me as it is not only disrespectful, but I do everything around the house as well as taking care of the kids full time. He came home later after work pretending like nothing had happened and avoiding interacting with me. Im always cleaning up after him, throwing his trash away, cleaning his messes up in the bathroom etc. And I have told him to try being more responsible for his messes around the house but it always falls on deaf ears! So it doesnt help that I feel like his mother and not his wife. We live like room mates. Theres no intimacy or passion anymore. I am finding it hard to feel anything for him apart for him being the father of my children. We do not do anything together apart from occasionally discuss finances at night for 30 mins before bed.
He seems to think me visiting friends and family overseas will make our relationship better, as he thinks that time apart will help and give him space he needs. I agree to a degree but I dont think it will fix our relationship as we do not do anything together anyway, so its not going to make us closer by me taking off with the kids every few months.
We haven't been on a date in 5 years!
He shows no interest in me as an individual person. Just as the mother of his kids and it makes me feel unattractive (which I am absolutely not) to say the least. I know he feels that I should do more outside the home and find new friends etc. but i rarely have time to just go to the gym once a week! I cant take the kids everywhere with me. And if I do then its not 'me time'. Yet he goes out for hours at a time to hang out with his buddy at night while im watching the kids etc. So hes out of the house a lot, and Im stuck inside. He forgets that he would have less time to run around as he pleases if I was out doing my own thing as much. And I know that would bother him too!
My husband will not talk to me we argue everyday. He works so much I don’t see him often but a few hours and in that time he don’t want to spend it with me much. I send him sweet messages while he’s at work I tell him I love him and most of the time it just gets read. Yes I understand he’s at work and all but if he has the time to read it then he hand time to at least say three words to me. He doesn’t compliment me anymore he doesn’t look at me like he used to and I am so depressed and I cry everyday over it. I have so much on my mind and I feel I cannot vent to him every time I do we argue we fight. I don’t know what else to do anymore. Does he even love me?
1, 2, 4-9 all issues in my marriage. #3 isn't an issue because he doesn't try to fix anything, his response to almost anything i say is "ok".
He ignores me emotionally and sexually and only pays a little attention when he wants sex. It seems everyone and everything is more important than i am to him..he doesn't even spend quality time with his children. And he has major communication issues so that just makes everything worse.
Many days i just feel depressed and fight to hold back tears. He does not take responsibility and he doesn't apologise when he is wrong. In fact, everyhing is usually my fault...he speaks to me arrogantly and just ignores me. He won't even make time for counselling, his way of dealing with problems is to ignore them...
I feel more like a roommate who he has sex with once a month than a wofe and partner.
I'm just tired.
I get on my wife about these same things. I have Health ignored for the past 4 years and I've tried to talk to her about it I've tried to talk about her being ways and nothing comes out of it. My wife is a my way or the highway kind of woman so I had to break everything down and just stop and once she realized the Blessings that she has she's finally starting to come around and understand I mean why would you start an argument with your husband when he just tells you to leave a few lights off and you'd rather tell him I'll just pay the difference when we're trying to save money. There's a fine line with all this stuff and if you had to do with what I had to do with for 4 years you probably stop doing everything is well until people started opening their eyes and getting on the same team.
What a great article- thank you so much! As the wife of a man addicted to porn, his porn use really did take all the fun out of sex with my husband. It’s too bad because I have a very high libido. His loss.
How about bringing up ex partners. One side is happy to stay in touch and being friend with and the other side feels insecure and betrayed.
That is exactly what I'm going threw! I'm the one who cheated but I don't know what going threw completely this was years I got pregnant for the second the first one was easy bc I didn't know I was pregnant so it doesn't effect me like it dose now iv work hard to gain my trust back and I truly don't think he is in love with me since I got pregnant and he just leave don't say anything and it's been 2weeks of hell !! please give me comments I know I sound like the horrible person but I took the blame and I try to do everything i can do to gain his trust back and it like he thrownit I'm my face and this week alone he never came home and I don't know who he with but I'm pretty sure that everything I think going on !
Guilty as you described!
Any ideas on what to do to begin healing?
The damage might be too severe to reverse. All those things you described were on the money as to what I did.
Well written article. Thank you.
I was married for 11 years. In the last 3 years I accepted I was the only one fighting for this marriage, while he literally couldn't care less.
I suggested activities together, a getaway, counseling… ANYTHING to save our marriage. He always said he had no time. No interest from his part whatsoever.
I stopped caring too. I quit. No amont of prayer could save my marriage. I still feel numb from the pain and indifference my ex showed while we were getting divorced, but at least I'm not in a fake marriage anymore.
I am not happy yet, but I'm getting there slowly. Sometimes you just have to accept that your spouse is simply not worth your brutal effort and complete devoted energy to make things work.
When reading this article it was as though you were speaking directly to me. After 8 years of marriage and 2 children later, unfortunately he makes me feel as though I don't exist. Yes he works extremely hard to provide for all of us, I appreciate that, but that is always his constant come back - 'I work hard!' He doesn't see or care that I equally work hard bringing up our kids, especially knowing that one of them has a disability. All I ask for is a little emotional support and some affection every now and then. I am literally craving for some affection - holding my hand, a kiss... I have spoken to him about all this a million times but its no use :(
My husband is always gone either work or Hogg hunting all nite. He goes 3 to 4 times a week. I recently lost 30 pounds for him to notice me. Its been one thing after another in our marriage. I cannot compete with material wants he has or crazy hobbies. I am sick of begging for any time attention or even money.. I do act out now but he just trys to turn it to my fault. He thinks hes not doing a thing wrong. I feel i am just in the way of his good time
I could have written this, but I would have had trouble listening to all that was written. Why am I hurting when my husband treats me so poorly? Why do I feel sorry for him and how our divorce will affect him?
Two
HUGE thing missed...
Placing family of origin, friends, or hobbies BEFORE marriage/relationship!!!
For example:
Making time for basketball practise or regular golf outing, but not committing to a regular date night.
Refusing to grow yet expecting wife to do so.
For example:
Choosing not to learn about children's issues or not caring about sexual issues.
Expecting wife to " handle it "
When a woman comes to you and azkz you to try something, don't judge her nor shut her out because you are uncomfortable! She made herself vulnerable and is trusting you
* when a woman is made to feel second, third or fourth, she disconnects.
* When the marriage and she are not watered and fed, sex is not even desired.
When a man doesn't lead, she doesn't feel like a woman.
Good points...
I'm actually facing this it really healed me reading the above article but the pain of being neglected remains the same.
Thanks alot. Keep sharing
My husband has been doing all these things for a long time. His behaviour is toxic to me. I'm still with him because we have a five year old child. Otherwise I would run as far away from him as possible.
I was so sunk in your article, I couldn't stop! I would TOTALLY purchase a book if you were to ever publish. Maybe a "How to Work Together for a Happy & Healthy Marriage"?! You could totally pursue and conquer that dream if you desire, an absolutely talented writter. Thank you for sharing.
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