SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I don't know how to break out of what I feel is a negative cycle.

I never had issues as severe as this before, or if I did, at least I had some defense mechanisms to deal with them.

When I'm feeling caring towards WH, then I really care what he thinks of me, if he's attracted to me, loves me, needs me, and the way he treats me effects me deeply. And caring what he thinks of me makes me a crazy person. Am I attractive enough? Am the clothes I'm shopping for clothes that WH would think are hot? Am I interesting enough? Cool enough? Oh no, do I have a zit? What if I go out and run into OW and she sees me looking less than awesome? What if all this crying makes WH fall out of love with me? What if he can't help but think I'm pathetic? Insecurity isn't attractive, and those thoughts aren't healthy.

And then, I get pissed off. Who is this horrible new me that cares about any of that superficial stuff? I didn't behave like a morally bankrupt, screwed up, manipulative psycho, he and OW did. Why does his good opinion matter anyway? He gives that good opinion away cheaply, without thought. It's not that I'm not measuring up - it's that EVERYONE measures up to his low-ass standards. Why do I need his love? He craps on everyone he says he loves - in fact, the more he loves someone, the more he hurts them. I've always been the kind of person that did what I wanted, wore what I wanted, and was just, well, un-apologetically me. I don't need to put myself down because of his gross problems. So why should I care about the opinion of someone who treated me the way he did? Screw this. And screw him!

And while that makes me feel better about myself, that makes me feel distant from him, and uncaring. That's not healthy for R either.

I talked to WH about it last night, and he paid me lots of compliments (this isn't something I particularly need from him now, as he's always done that), and said, "You shouldn't care what I think of you."

I lost it. I just lost it and screamed at him. Of course human beings care about what the people they love think of them. I don't give two shits about everyone else, but to not care what my husband thinks of me? That's insane and unrealistic. How can I not care that the only person in the universe I'm supposed to be having sex with may not think I'm any more or less attractive than everyone else out there?

I don't know how to cycle out of either being angry and self-assured, or caring and open but weepy and insecure. I don't know how to care about him and his opinions, while still feeling good about myself. I need a new way of thinking about this - anyone?

[This message edited by Thessalian at 8:35 PM, November 13th (Wednesday)]

Honey, your Ddays are so recent, don't worry about doing everything right, just take care of yourself.

Hugs!!!

I know, I know, but I really don't like wallowing. Surely someone else has dealt with this?

Read some books on infidelity. There are alot of good ones. It really helps. Most explain the A. What causes A. What reactions people have after A. The emotional rollercoaster after A. What to expect, how long this can last. I love this book, " not just friends" author is glass, . Its very good. It makes you realize the pattern, the causes, the lies, symtoms, and you learn you are not crazy. ANd sadly , how common this is. I read so many books. It helped with the panic. I keep them all. In case I ever feel this panicky again. This website is a life saver.

I hear you Thessalian...

I too cycle between being SO insecure about my looks, my personality, my skills, my abilities - I feel so much "less" than OW who is a thin/pretty/bubbly/successful business-woman. I get all chewed up and fret about my weight, my wrinkles, my hair etc. Then I get so PISSED with myself for caring what this screwed-up, morally bankrupt person actually thinks of me. I start thinking "why the heck should I worry about being perfect for him, when he was lying and cheating and being so deceitful and disgusting, who's HE to judge me!"

It's a cycle I go through again and again and again. Been doing it for 15 months now!

I am trying very hard to work on myself. I know I have to learn to validate myself and not care what other people think of me. I want to be the best version of me for ME, not for WH or so that I feel more "worthy" than OW. I feel that if I can build my inner sense of self-worth, then none of this stuff will matter to me anymore. I haven't got there yet, I still have times when my self-esteem is very lacking; but I can definitely see that there is improvement.

[This message edited by ItsaClimb at 11:21 PM, November 13th (Wednesday)]

I understand your feelings.

In MC, the counselor was trying to explain to me that fwH didn't really "love" affair partner since they didn't have a "real" relationship. (Paying bills, raising children etc.) But it was a "lust type love". I was and still have issues with that. So it is worse not to be "good enough" as a person physically or emotionally? Then again you can't tell me after a 2 year emotional affair with physically the last 8 months, can't imply there wasn't emotional connection/love there too...

So in general it is a double whammy to a self esteem. Then again, when the emotional stuff started I was down to my goal weight, but then gained weight the last two years. Now I am starting to think the extra stress by him checking out of the relationship/family could have added to my weight gain? (Not a total excuse by me...) But anyway I look at it was that I was rejected emotionally and physically...