View Full Version : Wife Purposely Trying To Hurt Me
AJDAN
Jun 23, 2009, 12:23 PM
My wife and I seem to get into some sort of arguement/ fight on average of at lease once every 10 - 14 days and they usually last between 2 - 4 days in length and involve a lot of silence, then shouting, some swearing and button pushing. We got into another argument where I had a day off at my job and decided to work my second part-time job that day for some extra money (which ithe week before she yelled at me about not having enough money, my life goals, my career, how much I make etc). She works shift work so she was getitng off night shift, then going to bed for the day to ge tup and work night shift again, so I would have only seen her for two hours and had to travel for 2.5 hours just to see her. She told me I don't care about her because I dodn't come see her etc. but yet has taken off camping for two days and nights with her friend on nights we would have together.
Well that escalated into her telling me she wants a divorce (which I told her to not talk about just to hurt me before) her crying, ripping up pictures of us and mean things were said on both sides. Only difference is I told her things like I think we fight too much over stupid things, that sometimes I don't feel comfortable calling her (like walking on egg shells), that we need to do soemthing (more time apart, more time together , what ever) and I was honest with her about having a child. We have been married a year, and her friends are having babies and now she wants one. I said we should stick to the plan of buying a house this year first and that at this very second I am not ready to be a father. She took everything I said to her personally and has spent two days crying. All I wanted to do was to talk to her about ways to cut down our fighting so we had more quality time together and I didn't feel like I was walking on egg shells. My first thought was to limit the conversation after her night shifts as I know she is very tired and the conversations usually go down hill fast. Instead she is making me feel like a bad person and that I have "broken her heart" and make her sad.
Anyway, she went on her camping trip and last night called me at 1am drunk and her and her friend were hanging out with two young guys (strangers) they met camping. She told me they went skinny dipping, and when I asked to her to confirm who all went skinny dipping she said "not until you start treating me better" and still hasn't confirmed. Its obvious all 4 went as her and her friend would not go alone or she is making it up to get what she wants and to hurt me. I don't know how to react to this other then with anger. I feel she has no respect what so ever for me and now, even if she is making it up, I cannot trust her or believe she tells me. I know skinny dipping is not cheating, but I don't feel its something a married person should do unless with their spouse. It feels like a High School relationship of "who can top who" which I didn't want. From here I don't know where to go. She gets home tomorrow night and already coming off a tough weekend/ arguments this does nothing but make things worse in a whole other level.
Am I overreacting, or what is the best way to handle this?
jolienoire
Jun 23, 2009, 12:47 PM
Marriage Counseling is highly suggested, some of the things you described does seem rather childish.
I don't really know what you are fighting over as you really don't go into enough detail, and I don't want to make assumptions about your marriage.
But I can tell that there is something bothering her deep down. You need to find out what it is, and I think because you and her can't communicate effectively you need a mediator, so that the both of you can get out those feelings that is causing the two of you to fight.
maria73110
Jun 23, 2009, 12:52 PM
Aj, get out of your relationship. You either agree to seek counseling or get out of it. It takes 2 to make a relationship work. There is no shame in getting out of a marriage that is useless and gone wrong. If you don't do anything about it, you will just be prolonging both your agony. So, what's holding you up?
Neither of you are happy, she finds fault in you, you can't seem to please her, etc..
Ask yourself honestly if you really love her, and did you get married for the right reason - meaning it was not for physical reasons, loneliness, etc..
What did you like about her when you guys got married. Maybe you need to start from the basics. Point out the good things about her, focus on what you like about her.. maybe that will change things around. The Law of Attraction states that what you focus or give attention to, the universe will give you more of it. Think about that.
The best gift you can give to anyone is to be a whole person first. Otherwise, if you are miserable, nothing good can come out of the relationship. If I were you, I would have a heart-to-heart talk and let her know that you want to be happy. And if she is not happy with you, then close the case. What else are you waiting for ?
Good luck.
jolienoire
Jun 23, 2009, 01:08 PM
Also wanted to add
Honestly, reading your post you make it seems that she is at fault for the disruption of this marriage, and you have not admitted to anything you have done to contribute to the arguing, so for me to say leave her, without knowing the true relationship is absurd, as we all know there is two sides to a story.
As I said, I think both of you have differences that needs to be sorted out with a mediator, Your marriage can be saved but it will take work just as anything we want to hold on to. You have to be willing to work hard at it together. It's not going to be easy all the time, but at least try at it, before you just give up.
MsMewiththat
Jun 23, 2009, 01:29 PM
I just started reading your posting and within the first few sentences it sounds to me like she is making up things to fight about or she is being a spoiled brat. With all the fighting that is present in your relationship I think it is reasonable to hold off on having a child. It's important to remember that children don't make things better, they have a tendency to put more stress on relationships. If it's not okay prior to the children chances are it will not get any better.
Secondly, the skinning dipping with strange men and the game playing is really just uncalled for in "the real world" she has a lot of growing up to do.
AJDAN
Jun 23, 2009, 01:42 PM
Also wanted to add
Honestly, reading your post you make it seems that she is at fault for the disruption of this marriage, and you have not admitted to anything you have done to contribute to the arguing, so for me to say leave her, without knowing the true relationship is absurd, as we all know there is two sides to a story.
As I said, I think both of you have differences that needs to be sorted out with a mediator, Your marriage can be saved but it will take work just as anything we want to hold on to. You have to be willing to work hard at it together. It's not going to be easy all the time, but atleast try at it, before you just give up.
I know it sounds like that, and believe me I have my faults (lack attention to detail = not noticing a new hair cut or shirt), can get defensive, not a big fan of controversy/drama/ conflict which then leads me to sometimes bottle things up are just a few that are on top of mind.
I can honestly say that despite being told that I don't make her happy, or do anything for her or take care of her I try very hard (I go shopping with her twice amonth, rub her feet on a nightly basis, make dinner 80% of the time even when I worked that day and she has been home all day, watch what ever she wants to watch on TV everynight (despite having two TV's she has such a fear of being alone that she gets upset if I go to the other room to watch a ball game and she considers watching her shows "quality time".
Anyway, I know I get upset at her when she says mean things to me in an argument and then I find myself doing it now. I feel I tried to talk to her about how I was feeling and what could be done as a couple to improve on it and ended up somehow making her miserable, my problem un-touched and now her skinny dipping with strangers.
jolienoire
Jun 23, 2009, 01:56 PM
her skinny dipping with strangers.
You have every right to feel betrayed if this in fact is true, there is still a possibility that she could be purposely trying to get you upset to get a reaction out of you, to see how much you care. It is the wrong way to communicate in a marriage, and like I said earlier it does seem rather childish.
From what you are telling me it seems she is unhappy with something perhaps it is her ownself, and also it depends on whom she surrounds herself around, and what they are telling her.
I don't really know what is bothering her, but I had a phase like that in my life at one point, where I would just be unhappy with everything despite nothing really being wrong. I use to create problems when there weren't any, and always felt my behavior was justifiable. I have grown out of that stage. However, I realized that I had a problem with wanting everything to be perfect in yet an unperfect world.
I would anger easily and become frustrated at the drop of a dime taking my frustrations out on my partner. In order for me to realize that I had to do some extensive self-repair, and major communication with my partner.
Is she happy with herself? Is she constantly looking for attention? If so she could be suffering from self-esteem issues. Or so afraid of having a failed marriage she could be creating the problems.
A year is still early to be facing this perhaps, anxiety is kicking in and she feels the pressure, marriage is not for everyone, and once the honey moon phase dies down people start to panic, and begin fighting, just as the two of you are doing with no valid reasons, or real issues. I mean there could be many other reasons but you guys need to get to the bottom of this so you can start anew.
I mean this is why I stress counseling is very vital if you want to stay in this marriage.
AJDAN
Jun 23, 2009, 02:10 PM
I don't really know what is bothering her, but I had a phase like that in my life at one point, where I would just be unhappy with everything despite nothing really being wrong. I use to create problems when there weren't any, and always felt my behavior was justifiable. I have grown out of that stage. However, I realized that I had a problem with wanting everything to be perfect in yet an unperfect world.
I would anger easily and become frustrated at the drop of a dime taking my frustrations out on my partner. In order for me to realize that I had to do some extensive self-repair, and major communication with my partner.
That is a good description actually. She is a very pestemistic person, only see's the bad side of everything, nothing is good enough, always needs attention, has a very short fuse and is often angry, and if not angry then sad. She gets furious if she doesn't get what she wants and pulls temper tantrums in places like the gym and in other public places. I have seen her take her ring off and tell me its over because I was meeting her at the mall and told her to leave early in case there was traffic. She ended up being early, and though I was on-time she freaked out and said she is sick of me leing to her and she can't trust what I tell her and took her ring off and stormed out of the mall. It may be beyond that though, I have seen her scream for help when I was walking after her trying to settle her down in an argument, been stabbed with a dull butter knife cause I wouldn't let her leave in an argurment, been back handed in the stomach during an argument, seen her stair into a mirror while I am standing behind her while she says "I'm all alone. Your not really here" during an arguement(that one was on our honeymoon, which I was accused of looking at aniother girl in the pool) and most recently she got mad because I fell asleep before her because she said if I was sleeping "what if I saw a ghost and I was the only one awake?". I know everyone has their quirks, but these things kind of freak me out. Are these at all normal? Could they be linked to depression or anger problems? Monophobia maybe?
MsMewiththat
Jun 23, 2009, 02:13 PM
Your feeling guilty right now. You need to understand that there are always going to be things that we do that do not make the other people happy. That doesn't make it okay to lash out and hurt each other. You do deserve better treatment. There are several women that would be over the moon with a man like you~ from the sounds of it.
jolienoire
Jun 23, 2009, 02:26 PM
I know everyone has their quirks, but these things kind of freak me out. Are these at all normal? Could they be linked to depression or anger problems? Monophobia maybe?
Normal, Absolutely not!!
Wives don't normally try to stab their husbands with butterknives, or go skinny dipping with strangers, or throw temper tantrums. What she could have could be signs of monophobia, but she claims to be alone when you are there with her, I mean does she want you to be in her skin would that be enough for her?
I mean she feels alone because she want to be. She definitely seems as though she has some major issues, and I don't know if this could be something that happened in her past that causes her to act this way but I definitely sense major issues.
It can be many things, depression could be on of them, or just maybe she needs to be alone, again you need to get to the bottom of this. Especially for your own sanity.
If you have to separate yourself from this situation than do so.
Also to add if she isn't willing to go the mile to correct this, then unfortanately this marriage may be doomed.
What do you want to happen with this marriage? How far are you willing to go? And how much more you can take?
Gemini54
Jun 23, 2009, 07:47 PM
Adjan, this isn't your first post on this site about your relationship.
See: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/marriage/selfish-wife-just-immature-349678.html
I think that there are serious issues in your marriage, that won't be resolved by just writing to this site. Have you done anything that was suggested to you in your previous post?
The first thing I would suggest is to stop feeding into her drama. It continues to be 'circular' with her, because you allow your buttons to be pushed. Retreat from arguments with her, don't engage when she pushes your buttons - the skinny dipping call is a classic example.
I'd like you to go to a website called "Shrink4Men". Have a read, and see if there are any similarities with your wife. I have a strong feeling there will be.
Essentially you're the one that must decide what to do. You don't need to do this immediately, but ask yourself if you want your relationship to continue in this way. I think that you have 3 alternatives:
Stay and cater to her moods, needs and demands. The life will soon be sucked out of you and you'll feel like an empty shell.
Stay and assert yourself, don't cater to her moods, needs and demands. Your life will be full of drama and conflict and it will only be a matter of time before you will want to leave.
Let her know that unless she's prepared to make some changes to her moods, needs and demands you cannot stay in the relationship. Give it a period of time. Keep your word about leaving if nothing happens or if it recurs.
Ask yourself - do you REALLY want a child with a woman that behaves like this? You have some serious thinking to do.
AJDAN
Jun 24, 2009, 06:01 AM
Yes I know writing in to this website can help me with advice, but isn't really going to fix anything.
I think being un-confrontational has really not helped me. I know its not good to compare relationships in the past, but I try to think back to one I had for 4 years and I don't understand how it went 4 years with maybe two or three fights, and they were for good reasons. In many ways I feel that I have almost lost touch with reality, and what has become the "norm" for me really isn't normal at all and that has left me kind of confused and not feeling like myself, or really knowing who I am at times. I know I told her this and she cried and focused on it being such a horrible thing and didn't stop to actually talk about why I fell this way and what WE can do to alleviate the problem. Her answer to issues that I have brought up usually is "you just need to be nicer to me and things will get better" or "just take care of me".
I do love her, but do fear that she may have more things going on inside her head then I can deal with or help her with and it is really stressing me and affecting my personal well being at times. There are times I feel I have become a more angry and less optimistic person then I once was and it has affected my life at work, with friends and with my family. Again, I can't blame her as I should not have let it get this way.
I know things have to change before moving forward. Its just never easy to talk to someone about how you feel when I know she is going to cry for days and tell me how sad I make her and horrible our marriage is and then will be left feeling bad, comforting her and then my issues will get shoved aside instead of worked on as a couple. I know this has to stop because your right, I am feeling dead inside at times.
I will check out the website you recommended. Thanks again for your time and hopefully I won't have to post anymore issues.
jolienoire
Jun 24, 2009, 06:34 AM
Yes I know writing in to this website can help me with advice, but isn't really going to fix anything.
I think being un-confrontational has really not helped me. I know its not good to compare relationships in the past, but I try to think back to one I had for 4 years and I don't understand how it went 4 years with maybe two or three fights, and they were for good reasons. In many ways I feel that I have almost lost touch with reality, and what has become the "norm" for me really isn't normal at all and that has left me kind of confused and not feeling like myself, or really knowing who I am at times. I know I told her this and she cried and focused on it being such a horrible thing and didn't stop to actually talk about why I fell this way and what WE can do to alleviate the problem. Her answer to issues that I have brought up usually is "you just need to be nicer to me and things will get better" or "just take care of me".
I do love her, but do fear that she may have more things going on inside her head then I can deal with or help her with and it is really stressing me and affecting my personal well being at times. There are times I feel I have become a more angry and less optimistic person then I once was and it has affected my life at work, with friends and with my family. Again, I can't blame her as I should not have let it get this way.
I know things have to change before moving forward. Its just never easy to talk to someone about how you feel when I know she is going to cry for days and tell me how sad I make her and horrible our marriage is and then will be left feeling bad, comforting her and then my issues will get shoved aside instead of worked on as a couple. I know this has to stop becasue your right, I am feeling dead inside at times.
I will check out the website you recommended. Thanks again for your time and hopefully I won't have to post anymore issues.
I feel you are okay to post your marital issues, as someone may be going through the same thing and may stumble upon the information some of us took time to respond to. You are not the first person going through this and I guarantee you won't be the last.
But I asked you prior did you try to seek some sort of counseling? My next question is although you are writing on this website to get feedback the next question is do you want to remain in this marriage?
Yes you say you love her, but you need to love yourself more and to know when enough is enough. If she doesn't want to seek marriage counseling and try working at this marriage then my friend it will not work with just one person willing to try. It's a marriage a partnership there has to be balance and this marriage clearly lacks discipline, standards, and tolerance. So start making decisions this is your life too you can either be happy in it or miserable its your chose, choose wisely.
Your doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
Jake2008
Jun 24, 2009, 07:29 AM
Both of you fight an average of once every two weeks. The fight goes on, unresolved, for sometimes 2 days.
Why is that.
When things are not resolved when they happen, resentment, retaliation, loss of respect, and distance replaces resolving conflicts. These conflicts just fester, and by the time the next one comes around, it's a bigger, more aggressive, and hurtful. Keep adding to the pile of unresolved conflict and bad feelings, each argument is worse than the last, until you are left wondering why you stay at all.
Picking fights is also an excuse to cover up bad behaviour (ie skinny dipping with strange men). Deflect the cause of the behaviour back to the one not doing anything wrong; make them think they have caused this.
Often times this is getting to the stage where you might be considering marriage counselling, and it is a shame that it has taken so long. There is much more to fix in a marriage which has not confict resolution skills in place, and often it is just too late.
Whether she is 'off' because of shift work (having done that for years that can make a person crazy), or she has unresolved 'issues', or you have poor communication skills, or whatever the excuses are, both of you are adults, and you are both behaving badly. No excuses.
Before these fights get any worse, get out the phone book, and get yourself into counselling. If she won't go, you go. There are many things that you can learn to deal effectively with your anger toward her, and her anger toward you. Once learning that, if she is unwilling to change or get help for herself to repair her marriage, then you have some serious thinking to do.
Until you decide to do something, things are only going to keep getting worse.
AJDAN
Jun 24, 2009, 07:42 AM
To answer your questions. I have suggested marriage counselling before but her answer to that was again to "be nicer to her" and to "make her happy" and that it would be a waste of money.
As for if I want to stay in the marriage, I truly don't know the answer to that. Somedays yes, and others days I admit I think about where I would likely be if I wasn't married, and if I would be happier there. People say the first year or two of marriage is tough, so sometimes I just tell myself that everyone goes through this and that its normal. Problem is again, I'm not sure what normal is anymore and if those people are having issues about normal things, not petty things like not estimating how long it will take them to get to the mall correctly or when you get home from work everday at 6:45pm because you have to commute they get angry at you because of how late you get home and because they are bored and hungry. Anyway, I could likely go on all day with a list that would blow some peoples minds.
jolienoire
Jun 24, 2009, 07:55 AM
To answer your questions. I have suggested marriage counselling before but her answer to that was again to "be nicer to her" and to "make her happy" and that it would be a waste of money.
As for if I want to stay in the marriage, I truly don't know the answer to that. Somedays yes, and others days I admit I think about where I would likely be if I wasn't married, and if I would be happier there. People say the first year or two of marriage is tough, so sometimes I just tell myself that everyone goes through this and that its normal. Problem is again, I'm not sure what normal is anymore and if those people are having issues about normal things, not petty things like not estimating how long it will take them to get to the mall correctly or when you get home from work everday at 6:45pm because you have to commute they get angry at you because of how late you get home and because they are bored and hungry. Anyway, I could likely go on all day with a list that would blow some peoples minds.
Marriage to me really depends on two things that are crucial and important, one consist of finding the right person and one being the right person.
If there are any doubts in the two then the marriage becomes stricten with bitterness.
In the end you can seek counseling yourself, and let her see that you are trying if she gets mad then that is no longer your problem. There shouldn't be anything wrong with someone whom is trying to improve themselves.
Like I said the communication is not there her just saying, "oh well be nicer to me" is not enough.
Tell her you want details, give examples she is really not giving you a fair chance to be "nicer" to her, when you feel as though you aren't doing anything wrong.
It just doesn't make any sense. How can you try to fix something when you can't diagnose the cause.
In the end if the two of you can't come to common grounds and act like a married loving couple, instead of enemies to one another then there really is no hope for this marriage.
jmjoseph
Jun 24, 2009, 09:12 AM
The first year or so of marriage is tough, but it should never involve swimming naked with strangers, while you're drunk, after midnight, away from your spouse. Sounds like this relationship needs some major counseling. I'm sure it's a good thing that there hasn't been any children born into this environment. After everything has been tried to salvage a marriage, sometimes you have to say" this was a mistake". Good luck to all.
AJDAN
Jun 24, 2009, 01:25 PM
After further researhing I really think she has Borderline Personality Disorder and also shows some signs of Narcassistic Personality Disorder. Everything I have read about them sounds so much ike what I go through that's its scary.
If this is the case (as I am not psychiatrist by any means) can anything be done? Or is Counselling the best bet?
jolienoire
Jun 24, 2009, 01:32 PM
After further researhing I really think she has Borderline Personality Disorder and also shows some signs of Narcassistic Personality Disorder. Everything I have read about them sounds so much ike what I go through thats its scary.
If this is the case (as I am not psychiatrist by any means) can anything be done? Or is Counselling the best bet?
First of all if she doesn't think she has a problem, she may just get more annoyed and more upset. In order to be diagnosed with anything she needs to admit to something being wrong and have to be willing to get help.
And maybe you just bring out that side in her the only way to know is to get help.
How can you convince someone who think you are the problem that they may possibly be suffering from some psychological problems?
vivia12
Jun 24, 2009, 01:41 PM
Please get yourself out of this situation,abuse is abuse,you have to,gather the strength,best of Luck
Jake2008
Jun 24, 2009, 01:43 PM
After further researhing I really think she has Borderline Personality Disorder and also shows some signs of Narcassistic Personality Disorder. Everything I have read about them sounds so much ike what I go through thats its scary.
If this is the case (as I am not psychiatrist by any means) can anything be done? Or is Counselling the best bet?
Be careful with what you read, there are so many diagnosis that seem to fit, but only a Psychiatrist can diagnose. I am familiar with BPD, and the others, and when you are dealing with something that requires a great deal of expertise to identify, let alone treat, she needs to be assessed properly. Not to mention you might worry yourself sick.
It is a good point though, that there may be something to her behaviour that she herself cannot identify or control. Some things are so obvious, like needle marks, and you know what you're dealing with. But even an educated guess isn't going to solve the problems here.
I agree with the others that this goes beyond the settling in phase of a new marriage. If anything you want to spend more time with each other, and her behaviour is for now, not something that is healthy for either of you.
Would she even agree to see the family doctor with you? That may be a less sort of invasive start with a person familiar with you both, and maybe a suggestion from him might not seem impossible to accomplish.
N0help4u
Jun 24, 2009, 03:47 PM
I don't know if she has a disorder it could simply be nothing more than her being selfish and inconsiderate.
AJDAN
Jun 25, 2009, 07:04 AM
Thank you all again for your help.
I know I am in no position to diagnose anything, its just when I researched BPD and NPD and the feelings it causes spouses/ partners to have when with someone with BPD is so bang on. In most cases if it listed 10 - 12 examples and said if you can relate to 2 or 3 of them then you may be dealing with someone with BPD. I averaged anywhere from 9 - 11 out of the list. And like I said, I could likely list so many odd examples of outbursts, putdowns etc over the past year and beyond.
Last night was our first night together since we had a big argument on the weekend and she is still upset. I know I said mean things in the heat of an argument but it was almost the same as she was saying to me. I asked her what the difference is and why she expects me just to forget and forgive every mean thing/ insult/ request for divorce she says to me but when I finally say anything back she takes it deeply and believes I met every word. Her response was because since she is emotionall unstable that she will say things and not mean them, but since I am more stable and say them then they are true.
I also said on the weekend that I am not ready for kids. She has been crying ever since and explained that she is ready for kids but doesn't want them for another year or two and that since I am her husband I should be ready at anytime to have kids.
Then she told me that "I don't even like her" and that I "need to be nicer to her" and to "stop making her sad" seriously about 15 -20 times and when she kept telling me that everything I said when we were fighting is true I said she was starting to frustrate me a bit because she is not listening to me at all and will only listen to herself. Then she started to cry again. She also said I feel distant to her lately and said its because we have not been getting along. She said she thinks its because "I don't like her" or " I like someone else".
I have suggested counselling before but she would not go. The Doctor thing would be a great idea but despite being an amazing doctor I know she would not agree to that. Every time I try to talk to her about an issue I have it seems that it always goes around to how I treat her and make her feel and that make me feel like I can't go to her with any problems and that I should just work through them myself.
I post on this website and have a close friend/ family member to get some others point of views and to vent sometimes. I know it is no one else's business, but sometimes I wish she would talk to a friend or her sister about things cause then maybe someone will give their point-of-view. I think she is afraid to because then someone might tell her she is wrong about things and as long as that doesn't happen then in her mind everything she says and does is justified and correct.
I feel I have a lot of work ahead of me and once again want to thank you for your time. We are going to be apart this weekend as she is working and I am at a friends wedding. I fear that she will call me to either fight, or tell me how sad she is before or during the wedding which she does every time I go somewhere without her. And even when we go to the weddings together we get into a fight. Once because we were hanging out in a group and she asked to to go get her some cheese and crackers. I went and on my way stopped for 5 minutes to talk to a friend I haven't seen in a while. When I got back the group had broken off and she was sitting alone and she yelled at me that I took to long, that she I left her all alone and literally was pissed off at me for the entire wedding. There has been 3 close friends of mine that got married in the past year and all three weddings have been about her. Okay, now I'm just venting. Sorry.
Thanks again.
N0help4u
Jun 25, 2009, 07:20 AM
She sounds like she is manipulating you with placing the blame all on you and not taking any of the blame. Of course much of what she did may be reaction to things you have said and done but you seem open to your mistakes. She is in denial to her share of the blame. Until she can see that you are going to have an unhealthy relationship. It is hard to fix it when the repairs are only being sought by one person.
It takes two.
Don't fall into her blame game. To me it sounds like she was taking advantage of the situation. Like okay she is hurting so now she is going to retaliate and she can bury all her actions under the fact that she feels hurt by you so what EVER she does is your fault. That only escalates the problems.
jolienoire
Jun 25, 2009, 07:29 AM
Thank you all again for your help.
I have suggested counselling before but she would not go. The Doctor thing would be a great idea but despite being an amazing doctor I know she would not agree to that. Everytime I try to talk to her about an issue I have it seems that it always goes around to how I treat her and make her feel and that make me feel like I can't go to her with any problems and that I should just work through them myself.
Thanks again.
Honestly, If she doesn't want to get help, and seek counseling you really have no other options.
This situation is really ugly, and it will not just resolve on its own if anything it will dissolve.
Kids are out of the question.
Jake2008
Jun 25, 2009, 11:59 AM
Sometimes your description of her seems as though she is quite aware she has problems that need to be addressed, such as how she reacts in public.
Other times, I think she is confused about what she wants, and doesn't think she needs help, like her refusing to see a doctor.
Either way, it leaves you in the middle of this torture, walking on eggshells, and doing your best to get help for her.
I don't know if rational conversation would make a difference in solving any issues, and I'm really sorry to say that.
What you are dealing with are problems she cannot ignore, and she cannot 'treat' herself to venting anger in order to make herself feel better. She knows you are an emotional punching bag, because she keeps acting this way, and you keep taking it.
If she clearly knows that you have limits, and she also knows that her getting help is the only requirement for you staying married to her, and she still refuses, then you have some serious decisions to make.
Maybe a separation, with the same agreement, that if she seeks help and sticks with it, you will consider going back.
I don't think that under the circumstances that is too much to ask, do you?
Gemini54
Jun 25, 2009, 11:56 PM
I really like Jake's suggestion that undertaking counselling be a requirement of marriage to her. It puts the ball back in her court and asks her to take responsibility for her moods and demands.
However, and I hate to say this, be very careful in having sex with her. Her desire to have a child may mean that she gets pregnant 'behind your back'. My husband's ex wife suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder and 3 months into the relationship she was behaving worse that what you describe - when he tried to set boundaries and 'manage' her behavior, she got pregnant and they had to have a 'shotgun' wedding.
Having said all that, asking her to take responsibility for herself is the only way that you will be able to get a sense of her capacity for self awareness and her willingness to change.