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Will the pain ever stop after an affair?

I learned a week before Christmas my husband had been having an affair for at least 6 months. I found a love letter from his girlfriend in his work bag. We have been together for 21 years. I have never felt so much pain. I can't get thoughts and images of them together out of my head. I don't know what she looks like but I picture someone much prettier. I do know she's 3 years younger than me. Of course. He travels so it's easy. He as a hotel room and he's in another state and they work together.
I'm tired of crying all the time and thinking about them. I cry in the shower, in my car to work, during lunch, in the car on the way home and when I go to bed.
We have 2 children and I don't want to hurt them.  I have thought of divorce but of course my husband is sorry...he lost his way...didnt realize what he had. All the typical answers you would expect to hear. I don't know what to do. I feel like a fool. I have always felt ugly and now i really feel ugly.  I had a feeling something was going on all last summer but I was told no and that I'm being ridiculous. Then the truth comes out only because I caught him. What if I didn't find that letter?
I have been told by others to let him go because he will do it again. I have been told I deserve better. My dad cheated on my mom. My neighbors I grew up next to, he cheated on her. My sister in law is currently having an affair, our newest neighbors are divorced due to an affair. Does everyone cheat now? Does anyone know what it means to be married? I have thought of revenge. I know there's one guy if I asked him to have sex with me he would. I've thought about doing it to put him in just as much pain as I'm in, but then I realize I'm a better person and I know right from wrong. It would make me just as sleazy as him.
I want to know if his affair is over. He says yes, I don't believe him. I want to know everything about her that is better than me....he won't tell.  I want to know if the pain will go away? Will I ever trust him again? Will I ever forgive him? Am i going to be made a fool of again if i stay? Will I ever love him again?
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Avatar universal
Here is the best example for how it feels to stay with a cheating husband.

You spend eight years knitting a sweater. In your opinion its magnificent. you put your heart and soul into making this for him.
When one day you give it to him. He tells you its not what wanted, a worthless piece of junk and then throws it in the garbage. Thanks for nothing because its just not good enough.
Its crushing. But wait, a miracle (yeah right.) He realizes how much he's hurt you. Now he says he loves the sweater. He wants to prove to you how much he loves it because he knows how bad he messed up.
So he wears the sweater every day and says he really does love it. But guess what? He didn't appreciate it or love it when it really mattered. So its very hard to believe he'll ever really enjoy wearing it.
The sweater is my love I have had, and the life I've commited to my husband. I'll never understand why he could hurt me.
It's only been a year and 2 months since i found out but I still feel like I'm dying every day. I thought I was his best friend. I've been admitted now three times to psychiatric care facilities and have been arrested once for my mental breakdowns. The arrest was because i broke a wedding picture in the house and woke one of my children and when the police arrived I was naked and histaricle.
I'm affraid it will never get better for me. I'm affraid that it is going to kill me or that I will kill myself. I want to live the worry free life that we had before. But now it's all my fault that it doesn't get better. I've lost my mind and what he doesn't seem to understand is I just need, and desperatly, want to know is that he needs me.
I want him to NEED the sweater. I want to feel like, without it, He would surely freeze to death and that nothing is my comfortable to him than my sweater.
Everyone, Please pray for me.
Desperately
Nikita2
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This has been the hardest journey of my life and I never want to go through something like this again. My husband and I have been through hell and back. We are in a much better place our love is strong the days are still hard some times but they are mostly good. This time last year he was in a relationship with her and it has been very hard for me to erase the visions of them together for some reason the visions are hard to deal with these days. I know he loves me and I know I love him I also know I want to be with only him I just have to learn to leave the pain in the past. God has been by out side through all of this and I know he will continue to do so.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I read many of your stories and my late husband cheated on me several times I continued in the marriage. I was young and believed God would intervene. It was a long hard road and the ending of my husbands life was horrific. I will advise anyone that is breaking a marriage covenant to beware it may seem as if nothing is happening while you are in the relationship but eventually it does end in pain.

I know only when people do not have faith in God or respect for God they will break the vows which is not worth the pain anyone will have to endure. My prayers to everyone that has pain I pray God heals you all in Jesus Name.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I see it has been a while since you were in this chat and hopefully you read this because I just want to say Thank you for everything you wrote. I found out in July of this year that my husband of 14 years had been having an affair for 7 months with a someone I knew, basically her fiance found out and gave my husband the ultimatum to tell me or he was going to. My husband took me for a walk while our children stayed at home, he told me he had cheated on me, when I asked him with who, he said her name, I was soo stunned cause he use to cut her up and say how stupid she was (obviously it was me who was stupid for not catching on). then i slapped him in the face, when I asked when, how long? he said 6 months, when half way thru my rage, I realized that they (her and her fiance and there kids) stopped in on our family vacay, I asked him if they "did it" then too? he said yes, I totally lost it and punched him in the face (felt great) he was crying the whole time telling me this but I didn't care. I told him to pack his **** and get out, he did, but because we have kids I had to figure out what to do, meanwhile the fiance of the "capital W" contacted me to ask to talk to make sure my husband told me the whole story because apparently she came clean about everything. I found out things from him that my husband conviently left out. Long story short, after a week I told my husband he could come home and work on things only if he told me the truth and was honest with me and went to counselling. He agreed to all of it, and he changed his cell number to prove to me he wanted things to work. We went to counselling and took some time for us ( which is hard when you have 3 kids but is TOTALLY necessary) things have been pretty good but lately I have been struggling really bad, I think because this is the time last year when it all started. I feel soo stupid for not knowing this was going on. I question everything he does now, and where he is, I check his phone all the time. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it and vision them together, I freaking hate it! People tell me I've only had 6 months to deall with it and it will get easier,,, man I hope so cause the thoughts, feelings suck. I really like your idea about writing it in a journal for my own piece of mind. We live in a small town and I still dread the day I come face to face with her,,, she had sex with my husband in my house when my kids were outside, and on my family vacay while I was 150 feet away. Thats the one thing that bothers me the most, I was right there, he chose her over me, I was right there and he had sex with her then came and sat with me after?? I love my husband and know he is trying to make up for what he did but how do you not question when he is late getting home from work or goes out with the guys?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I so feel your pain, cmommyof5.  I feel if he has cried in your arms for hours and you are praying together, then you should forgive him.  He obviously is remorseful and is really trying.

My life turned upside down just 4 days ago.  I have been married for 24 years and we've been together for 26 years.  We have 5 children ages 15 to 21.  My husband is a VERY quiet man.  He always has been.  Off and on throughout our marriage, I have cried not knowing what is wrong.  Why he ignores me as if I'm not even there for days sometimes weeks.  About 5 years ago, things were getting really awful again.  I couldn't handle how lonely I felt.  I started dreaming (literally) about asking for a divorce.  One night I talked in my sleep and told him I wanted a divorce.  It woke him up and to make a long story short...he agreed to start being more loving towards me, etc.  Things started to get much better between us.  We started to have date nights and they really helped.  I thought things were much better and I truly loved him more then when we were married.  (Although he is still extremely quiet, cold, and insensitive man...I've just have had to learn to deal with it.)  Then 4 years after that happened, March 19 of this year, something just hadn't been right for about 4 months with him.  He was spending a LOT of time texting and "helping" our mutual friend (my ex-best friend).  She is a single mom and about 5 years younger than me.  I confronted him about it and he just shrugged it off.  Finally one day he said he was going for a ride and took off.  It was almost dark out so I figured he would be back shortly (he doesn't like to ride at night), but after a few hours I knew in my gut where he was.  I drove to my ex-friends home (her kids were at there dads that weekend) and saw his motorcycle in her driveway with all the lights off in the house except her bedroom.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I knocked on the door and could see thru the glass front door him leaving her bedroom and pacing back and forth.  Then a few minutes later saw her walk out of her room adjusting her shirt.  They finally answered the door and proceeded to tell me that he was "fixing her bedpost" and showed me a set of tools!  I kept my cool and told him it was time to leave.  When we got home I saw something all over his arm and figured out it was massage oil.  So I confronted him if he was giving her a massage and he finally admitted he was.  I told him to never talk to her again and he promised.  I felt in my heart I stopped it before it got any further.  Since then, this has been a very tough year.  He was becoming more and more distant.  Then this last Sunday Dec 9, I opened our cell phone bill and glanced over it.  Something caught my eye, he had over 6,600 texts!  I couldn't believe it.  Who texts that much?!  So even though I have never believed in snooping, I got online and looked up our phone records.  I found out what I didn't want to.  He had been texting my ex-friend non stop.  Since the beginning of this year he had texted her over 15000 times!  But to make it worse...he had started to text an "old" friend of his he had met through work years ago.  In just the last 3 months he has texted her over 15,500 times!  I felt sick but I knew I had to confront him about this.  So on Tuesday, I sat down with him and asked him.  He finally confessed to having an Emotional Affair with both women.  He then proceeded to tell me it was my fault because I am now (after 26 yrs together) fat, ugly and he's embarrassed to walk next to me!  I couldn't believe it.  I have struggled with my weight all my life but I have never felt I was ugly.  I work really hard to always look and dress nice and I do work out.  I am a size 10 now, although when we were married i was a size 3.  I know I need to lose some weight...but UGLY?!  I couldn't believe he blamed his indiscretion on me!  He then told me for the sake of the kids he will "try to make it work".  NO remorse what so ever!  He promised to break it off with both the women which i know he did.  But he is as cold as ever to me.  I know it has only been 3 days, but I'm so hurt.  I can't sleep, eat or stop uncontrollably crying.  He is a wonderful father, wonderful provider and together we have built a very comfortable life together..  I work as well and make good money, but only about 1/2 of what he makes.  I told him last night that I didn't just want him to stay for the kids, but because he wanted to make "us" work.  I wanted a man that would be happy to see me when I walked in thru the door and wanted to hold my hand and truly loved me.  I told him I deserved that!  He did say he still loves me and he will try harder...but that really doesn't help make me feel any better.  I don't believe in divorce and have tried everything I can to make it work.  I just don't feel like I can try anymore.  It's up to him now.  I know I have been rambling on here, but this is the first time that I have said any of this to anyone.  I've been dealing with this by myself.  I don't want the family to know and my best friend was one of them that betrayed me.  I'm just so confused.  I don't know what to do.  Will this pain and hurt ever stop?  Will it ever get any better?  I've been married to this man for 1/2 of my life.  Is it worth saving?  We still have 2 girls in High School and 3 sons in college.  I just wouldn't know where to begin.  Please help... devastated, lonely and hurt
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I so feel your pain, cmommyof5.  I feel if he has cried in your arms for hours and you are praying together, then you should forgive him.  He obviously is remorseful and is really trying.

My life turned upside down just 4 days ago.  I have been married for 24 years and we've been together for 26 years.  We have 5 children ages 15 to 21.  My husband is a VERY quiet man.  He always has been.  Off and on throughout our marriage, I have cried not knowing what is wrong.  Why he ignores me as if I'm not even there for days sometimes weeks.  About 5 years ago, things were getting really awful again.  I couldn't handle how lonely I felt.  I started dreaming (literally) about asking for a divorce.  One night I talked in my sleep and told him I wanted a divorce.  It woke him up and to make a long story short...he agreed to start being more loving towards me, etc.  Things started to get much better between us.  We started to have date nights and they really helped.  I thought things were much better and I truly loved him more then when we were married.  (Although he is still extremely quiet, cold, and insensitive man...I've just have had to learn to deal with it.)  Then 4 years after that happened, March 19 of this year, something just hadn't been right for about 4 months with him.  He was spending a LOT of time texting and "helping" our mutual friend (my ex-best friend).  She is a single mom and about 5 years younger than me.  I confronted him about it and he just shrugged it off.  Finally one day he said he was going for a ride and took off.  It was almost dark out so I figured he would be back shortly (he doesn't like to ride at night), but after a few hours I knew in my gut where he was.  I drove to my ex-friends home (her kids were at there dads that weekend) and saw his motorcycle in her driveway with all the lights off in the house except her bedroom.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I knocked on the door and could see thru the glass front door him leaving her bedroom and pacing back and forth.  Then a few minutes later saw her walk out of her room adjusting her shirt.  They finally answered the door and proceeded to tell me that he was "fixing her bedpost" and showed me a set of tools!  I kept my cool and told him it was time to leave.  When we got home I saw something all over his arm and figured out it was massage oil.  So I confronted him if he was giving her a massage and he finally admitted he was.  I told him to never talk to her again and he promised.  I felt in my heart I stopped it before it got any further.  Since then, this has been a very tough year.  He was becoming more and more distant.  Then this last Sunday Dec 9, I opened our cell phone bill and glanced over it.  Something caught my eye, he had over 6,600 texts!  I couldn't believe it.  Who texts that much?!  So even though I have never believed in snooping, I got online and looked up our phone records.  I found out what I didn't want to.  He had been texting my ex-friend non stop.  Since the beginning of this year he had texted her over 15000 times!  But to make it worse...he had started to text an "old" friend of his he had met through work years ago.  In just the last 3 months he has texted her over 15,500 times!  I felt sick but I knew I had to confront him about this.  So on Tuesday, I sat down with him and asked him.  He finally confessed to having an Emotional Affair with both women.  He then proceeded to tell me it was my fault because I am now (after 26 yrs together) fat, ugly and he's embarrassed to walk next to me!  I couldn't believe it.  I have struggled with my weight all my life but I have never felt I was ugly.  I work really hard to always look and dress nice and I do work out.  I am a size 10 now, although when we were married i was a size 3.  I know I need to lose some weight...but UGLY?!  I couldn't believe he blamed his indiscretion on me!  He then told me for the sake of the kids he will "try to make it work".  NO remorse what so ever!  He promised to break it off with both the women which i know he did.  But he is as cold as ever to me.  I know it has only been 3 days, but I'm so hurt.  I can't sleep, eat or stop uncontrollably crying.  He is a wonderful father, wonderful provider and together we have built a very comfortable life together..  I work as well and make good money, but only about 1/2 of what he makes.  I told him last night that I didn't just want him to stay for the kids, but because he wanted to make "us" work.  I wanted a man that would be happy to see me when I walked in thru the door and wanted to hold my hand and truly loved me.  I told him I deserved that!  He did say he still loves me and he will try harder...but that really doesn't help make me feel any better.  I don't believe in divorce and have tried everything I can to make it work.  I just don't feel like I can try anymore.  It's up to him now.  I know I have been rambling on here, but this is the first time that I have said any of this to anyone.  I've been dealing with this by myself.  I don't want the family to know and my best friend was one of them that betrayed me.  I'm just so confused.  I don't know what to do.  Will this pain and hurt ever stop?  Will it ever get any better?  I've been married to this man for 1/2 of my life.  Is it worth saving?  We still have 2 girls in High School and 3 sons in college.  I just wouldn't know where to begin.  Please help... devastated, lonely and hurt
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