I really appreciate everyones comments and not one here has offended or upset me because they are true and sometimes the truth hurts.
I remember in my 4th session I finally told my IC about my childhood trauma (that i didnt' know was trauma) and she told me she was proud of me bc my first 3 sessions were all about my H and HIS behavior. Which at the time that is kind of what I thought it would do for me is be able to FIX what my H did and somehow help me through it , which she is but it is more centered around my thought process, my boundaries, my relationships... it just wasn't what I was expecting.
That is when things got hard... I had to face parts within that I buried, or that I didn't realize were toxic and I told my H last night it was like I was placed in a snow globe and I just won't stop getting shook up... my life is different, I am viewing ALL of my relationships/friendships different and although I know it is necessary it is probably the hardest thing I have done.
There are a few friends of mine that I just see differently now and I realize they just aren't good for our M anymore... growth is hard. My brothers GF actually told me I was causing issues in their relationship because of always hearing about me and my H issues (She would call me and ask...) Looking back I NOW see it is easy to blame other people for your relationship failing when you don't want to face that there have always been issues but instead of owning them, lets blame everyone else.
I told my IC i do not talk to her about our issues anymore and really at all... I told her that I talk to my H about them now, that we have moved into the hard conversations and she was very happy and said it was a huge step. It feels good to not have to rely on people as much.
I think this is part of why it’s said that you should recover before you say reconcile. Otherwise you can end up crossing streams like this. You have new trauma, that has probably made you aware again of old trauma, and you are motivated to deal with it all to become a whole healthy person. That makes sense. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with WH atrocious, selfish, betraying choice to sleep with another woman. Gotta keep that straight with the way you are trying to parallel path healing and R (no stones to throw here, I tried the same thing).
INK THIS.... THIS. I always wondered what that meant and holy batman, I see it. I did sit my H down last night and I cried and told him I felt targeted by his question on if I brought up my drama with my brother and dad and that I felt like he was deflecting which i put in a previous post here, he explained why he asked. I made it very clear to him that NOTHING from my childhood made him have the A, he agreed, I felt much better after knowing he wasn't trying to deflect.
This is probably the hardest thing I’m ever going to say to you, but I think it’s important to say. You are accountable for your actions. If our wayward partners are not allowed to offload their guilt due to FOO and trauma and other reasons, then we must hold ourselves to an equitable standard. My mom emotionally damaged me in the wake of my father’s betrayals. And I can only now see how bad of a situation she was in, but she still shouldn’t have done what she did.
I will forever be thankful you had the guts to say this...
I was thinking it but of course actually having to face that I have contributed to her trauma by not coping so well... hard as hell. At the beginning , I don't think I could have done better bc I was so freaking upset but as time has gone on, I need to start utilizing things im learning in IC and stop giving into old habits.
Owning it now
THANK YOU SO MUCH for being so vulnerable and for sharing your story and how it relates to YOU because all of what you said resonates with me so much and we have a lot in common on how we reacted and honestly our husbands.. my H also was a porn addict. Thankfully only one of my kids is old enough to see and understand that what I am doing is not helpful and unfortunately sometimes downright traumatizing... I am sure the babies were also impacted seeing their mom not get out of bed and be short tempered when I was. I just know they will forget.. my 10 yo may never. I have a lot of changes to make and I know now that I can't hide my actions behind my H affair, it will never be fair but my kids don't deserve it.
I know I will stumble and sometimes downright fall but I won't give up.
House of plane
Consider that his A revealed a situation with you, rather than caused it. There has always been room for you to become a better you, more resilient and self-aware, more perceptive of life and those around you. I guarantee 99.99% of people are in that state. The A just turned it from an opportunity into a necessity for survival. You have to change in order to deal and to cope. You have to change. To grow.
YES! Now I see so many dysfunctions in so many relationships I have, even ones between other people that I am not involved in. The A was a huge eye opener for me and I am not jumping on the I love it boat but I am swimming towards it..
Sisoon
It's often very hard to understand what a therapist is saying. It's easy to turn an observation into criticism in one's head. SO maybe your IC is telling you you're partly responsible for your WS's A, but they may be telling you you're dodging responsibility for your actions.
After sitting on it a little bit today I am sure she meant I have not been taking responsibility for my actions and I wasn't and honestly I still kinda am not but I am trying. It is hard to not blame him for all of it because if he didnt do what he did I wouldnt be doing what I am doing. BUT at the end of the day, it isn't only me im hurting but everyone in my circle that didn't have anything to do with the A.
If IC is getting harder, you're probably doing it right.
I have to agree, nothing good in life is easy as I have learned. I know once EMDR hits it will just get harder on those days but I always seem to feel better the following days... like i let go of something heavy I carried.
H/O
You are doing great, Groot. Sometimes it’s hard to see that when you are in the thick of it . But I am proud of you! There is so much here that I see in you that inspires me. Be gentle with yourself!
Thank you for always being such a great supporter to all of us on SI, you're appreciated!
I will end this with , I told my H last night there are days I come home from IC or even days where I go through the day and I do not feel much of anything... I don't feel a big feeling of love or hate for him. When he comes home sometimes I feel its like I am walking past a stranger on the street and THOSE are my WORST days. I feel numb, I feel like I am empty and then that is when I have to feel something. So either alcohol helps put me in a better mood or I pick at my H until I feel sadness, anger , or even start a fight.. Then at least I can feel something and he understood better and knowledge is power. (I am not saying it is right) but telling him and my IC means at least I can start working through it and try to fix it. I told my H I never used to understand people that would use cutting as a coping mechanism... I AM NOT SAYING I WOULD EVER because I really don't think I would but it makes sense, being on the other side has helped me become so much more empathetic and in tune and if anything came out of this I am glad it is that. That I can eventually be a better parent, daughter, friend and POSSIBLY wife after all of this is said and done.
I really appreciate y'all letting me downright vulnerable and word vomity here , talking through it sometimes is what I need.