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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 12:01:26 GMT -7
Welcome to the forums. I am sorry you are having to deal with this. Please remember that his feelings and thoughts are his fault and not yours. They are a product of his sexual sins. His mental issues also are exacerbated by his sins. Unfortunately he is held accountable for the covenant he made with you before God. You are the only one with a right to end the covenant bibically. I will be praying for you and your husband.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 19:22:21 GMT -7
Thanks so much. It keeps creeping into my mind about all the things I could have done better. Maybe I should have been more adventurous in bed, or maybe I should have told him I loved him more, or maybe I should have forced him to go to counseling...I could have done so many things differently. I just didn't know what was happening. I thought I was doing the right thing by giving him space to work out his issues. Now I know that by giving him space, it didn't make him want to return to me, it made us lose connection. I was trying to be patient and let the Lord work on him but I should have taken more action. I just wanted him to be the "head of the household," not me. I thought by giving him space to mature and grow, I could be supportive and loving. Maybe should have taken more of an active role
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 19:36:04 GMT -7
no matter what you could have tried, it would not have made a difference. This is an addiction and he would not have been satisfied with anything else. You could have pushed and pulled and unless he wants to change it would do no good. The only one that can change this situation is God working in your husband's heart. The only way God can work in your husband's heart is if your husband lets Him. What you need to focus on is working on your relationship with God and healing your heart.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 22:25:41 GMT -7
Hi livingbyfaith, It sounds like you have been/are going through so much. Wives often beat thenselves up over what they could have done, should have done, ect. I did as well, in the beginning of recovery. The truth is no matter how perfect, how sexually available, how understanding you could have been - none of it would have mattered. His sex addiction is not about you, He has choices to make - and from what you have stated - he is making selfish choices that further him along in his addiction. It doesn't sound like your husband has come to a point of brokenness before God. Take steps to protect yourself physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. A man who is unrepentant in sex addiction will continue to get deeper and deeper in it. Your health could be at risk now - or in the future if he is acting out with other people. Join a support group and/or see a counselor who is experienced with helping spouses of sex addicts. I'll be praying for you.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 5:13:42 GMT -7
no matter what you could have tried, it would not have made a difference. This is an addiction and he would not have been satisfied with anything else. You could have pushed and pulled and unless he wants to change it would do no good. The only one that can change this situation is God working in your husband's heart. The only way God can work in your husband's heart is if your husband lets Him. What you need to focus on is working on your relationship with God and healing your heart. Amy makes a wonderful point here and speaking from one addict to another, I am familiar with the way men think. No matter what you might have done or thought to do it would not have mattered. Porn has a strong hold on the male mind and the longer that hold exists the harder it is to break free. We addicted men are all over the board and often doubleminded at best and deceitful at worst. We try not to cause harm but are unable to stop ourselves from destroying everything good in our lives. So to sum up it was never your place to fix, control, or change your husband. It was his job to surrender himself to God and God's job to rectify your husbands heart. I too am learning this process and it takes time, prayers, patience and tons of forgiveness. It isn't easy nor pretty. Porn recovery is messy and painful and will try the best of relationships. But in the end those that go through the flames will be better off and shine like pure gold. I wish you both the very best.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 9:29:03 GMT -7
Thank you all for the encouragement and feedback. I've learned so much about all this just over the past week since I joined the site. I think my husband is an intimacy anorexic and I'm going to ask him to look into this further while I work on myself and my hurt and codependency issues. I always thought I was crazy for not feeling loved by him and feeling like he was always slightly disconnected from me, and now I know I was right! I didn't realize that along with sex addiction comes intimacy issues that I have nothing to do with. I think I am just scratching the surface of all the underlying issues we have. I hope and pray that he decides to walk through this with me and that we can be restored.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 13:56:23 GMT -7
I will add my prayer to yours as well. It is never easy to work on a relationship under the best of circumstances...however our God is bigger then any troubles we have. Remember that God doesn't work on our time. things may happen that make it seem that God has abandoned us but He is right there with us through it all.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 20:32:41 GMT -7
Hi Livingbyfaith,
I just wanted to say that as I have read your thread here I have prayed for you and your husband. I have shared my short journey of healing and recovery with my husband on here as well, and even though I have known of his struggle with pornography for almost 3 years now it's only been the last 3 months that I have started to fight for my marriage. You shared in one post that you think your just beginning to scratch the surface of some of your issues and I feel the exact same way. All the members who have already shared some thoughts with you are so helpful and real and I pray you find encouragement and hope here and most importantly in Jesus who loves you so much!
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