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stillsad1970 posted 6/30/2013 15:05 PM

Is it a bad idea to not ask q's about the affair? My H has been very forthcoming and answered all my q's honestly but I dont want to ask for fear of the answers. We Are in R and tired of hurting.

karmahappens posted 6/30/2013 15:15 PM

I think it depends.

I never asked graphic sex questions.

I asked more about feelings, whens and whys...

You can't unknow something but OTOH the truth is the truth.

Let the questions that you aren't sure about sit for a bit, if they nag at you ask, if they go away you didn't really want to know.

(((hugs)))

HardenMyHeart posted 6/30/2013 15:17 PM

I don't think it's bad. If you have the big picture and satisfied you know most of the story, then not everyone needs all the graphic details.

I think all BS's struggle with what kind of questions to ask. In my experience on SI, I have seen some BS's wanting every minute detail, while others are satisfied with just knowing the big picture, and everything in between.

Before you ask a question, know in your mind what the worst answer may be, and then decide if you can deal with it. As you know, once you hear something, it cannot be taken back.

redrock posted 6/30/2013 15:19 PM

I asked ALL the questions. I know all of the graphic sex happenings. I know as much as I could possibly get out of him.

I don't regret it.

But I think you have to know yourself and decide what is best for you.

What are you afraid to hear?

Lionne posted 6/30/2013 15:19 PM

This is very typical. You are afraid of more trauma so you don't want to expose yourself to it.

Whether or not you need to know more answers depends on you. There is an excellent article in the Healing Library called "Joseph's Letter." It's commonly used to help WS's understand why they should be truthful about details but it may help you in this case.

I think the issue may resolve itself with time and IC and later MC. You will know what you need to know.

stillsad1970 posted 6/30/2013 15:21 PM

This is so very hard. I thank you for the advise.

PrincessPeach06 posted 6/30/2013 15:30 PM

I find I have to ask everything that pops in my head or it eats at me. I find that once I have the answer I'm able to process it and move on.

LA44 posted 6/30/2013 16:00 PM

(((SS1970)))....I understand your fear. I wrote down about 30 questions. I would pick away at them asking a few at a time and would do in reporter or cop frame of mind. That is, when I was composed.

Some answers would generate more questions. Our therapist suggested we spend 15 min/night on this. ha ha I think we spent about 60 + in the beginning and then it waned.

I knew when the main questions were done. I felt it in my heart and there was nothing tormenting me. I looked at the list the other day - there were 3-4 left and I thought, "I don't care about this and I don't need to know about that."

It is hard SS. Never in my life did I think I would be doing this.

LA

sodamnlost posted 6/30/2013 16:53 PM

No idea if this will stay but lately - I am mostly at the point of not wanting to know anymore. I have enough info to know the story. I may change my mind but for now - I won't ask anymore questions. Not about details anyways. It doesn't matter what color shirt he wore when he fucked her, just that he did.

sisoon posted 6/30/2013 18:21 PM

IDK ... if you're scared of the answers, what will happen if you hear the answers inadvertently in the future?

My vote is to ask the Qs you want to ask and the Qs for which the answer are scary. Better to know one way or another than to wonder about a possible deal killer.

You're stronger than you think - if a feared sitch turns out to be true, trust yourself to figure out how to handle it.

[This message edited by sisoon at 6:22 PM, June 30th (Sunday)]

RedRaven6500 posted 6/30/2013 18:41 PM

redrock and princesspeach - I feel the same way. I HAD to know! If a question popped into my mind, then I had to ask, otherwise it would nag at me. Just know yourself, and what you can take. If the graphic details are too much, then ask, general questions, or stop the your H/W if too many details are making you uncomfortable. In the end, I wanted to know everything, in detail. My H had a harder time with it than I did. The fact I was asking him to explain, in detail, what I wanted to know, bugged him more than it did for me to hear it. I think he was so able to justify his sh!tty actions to himself, that hearing him say out loud what he did to us and our marriage, has made him realize what horrible choices he has made in the past, and that he doesn't want to repeat them.

sri624 posted 6/30/2013 21:31 PM

i was afraid to ask questions or push things at times for fear of what i might hear. i was afraid of the truth..or fighting for it. but in the end...as painful as it is, i am glad i know exactly what my husband is capable of doing, and what he did. breaks my heart...but at least i know.