Hi Sam
I am a BW and don't really know how to comfort you but I know what your spouse is going through and you can't really imagine it. I know you think you have an idea, but trust me, you don't have a clue.
First off - have you been completely honest with her?
Have you told her everything. I just found out some stuff yesterday - 8 months after my WS came home - 8 months into R....it's been TT all these 8 months. Everytime, I feel like I am back down in the black hole and can't see any light at all.
I am dying inside all over again.
Please if you truly want this R to work, tell her EVERYTHING. No matter how much it will hurt her I can assure you it will hurt her even more if she finds out later because it becomes a two-fold thing - the truth that hurts and the fact that you have continued to lie. Even stuff the you might have omitted - for some reason WH don't think they need to tell if they haven't been asked a "direct question".
Tell her everything - rip the bandaid off. I know you're trying to spare her the additional heartbreak and suffering, but believe it from someone who knows. Finding out later is so much worse.
In order to rebuild your house you must strip it down to the bare beams - you cannot use any of the old material because it is compromised....you need to start from scratch. It will cost a lot more, but with luck it will be a much better house than you had before.
If you have remorse - show it.
If you are sorry - keep telling her. We cannot hear that enough. When she triggers do what you need to do - sometimes she needs space but sometimes she needs to be held and told how sorry you are and how much you love her and how you will make this right for her someday someway.
Do not close down. Always, always, always be there for her. Show her the most patience you have ever shown anybody in your life. Bring her gifts - stupid things - chocolate bars, a rose anything to show her that she really is the most important thing in your life. Big things too - just anything to show her that you are constantly thinking of her and want to be with her.
Hopefully, you are in NC with OW. If not - make sure you do that.
There is a good book called, How to help your spouse heal from your affair. It's in the Healing Library - read it - commit it to memory. There are so many truths in it and it might help you deal with some of the stuff you two are going through.
I know you are hurting too. My husband is hurting and going through so much, but at this point in time, I DON'T CARE. He did this - he ruined our marriage - destroyed my image of who I thought he was. You have no idea how hard that is to accept and recognize....I have no clue who this man is. I would have preferred that he had killed me - I'd rather be dead than be going through this.
I don't know if this helps, but I'm sure there are others who can shed some light on how to help your BS and yourself.
Good Luck.
Be kind to everyone you meet - after all, what might be in their life that you don't know about. Everybody hurts in some way.