Quote:
Originally Posted by bowooden
I'm trying so hard to keep in this marriage and I'm having the "me and my daughter would be happier without her" thoughts. I'm starting to notice other girls again and I know where that road leads for me because it took me there once before. My wife is so angry and mean and says that I don't understand her and shuts me out when she needs me most. She gets mad at me when she believes I get hit on or if another girl even talks to me. I know she may be depressed but how do I handle it and stay in this marriage. I stay away from all women now because they say things like "you deserve better" and I just don't like hearing it. I'm tired all the time and can't even keep a job anymore because I always quit. I get stressed and then fall asleep a lot when my wife is home and I don't know why. I'm too young to have these problems and I feel like the life is being sucked out of me.
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Family therapy would be my suggestion. Set clear goals in the session and ways to work on them. If, after a set amount of time, this is still going on, then you've given it your best shot. Leave. Don't blindside your wife, share these feelings with her in the session and let her know this is the last shot this relationship gets. Your personal happiness is being effected negatively and I know that can't be good for your kiddo.
If therapy isn't an option, sent the kiddo to a friends house or to grandma's for the night and sit down and have an open, honest heart to heart with your wife. Be prepared for all the of the awful things she could say but don't react. When you don't react you can't further the situation. When she's done raging, have three goals set. One you would like to achieve, one you would like her to achieve, and one the family needs to achieve by a certain time frame. Make sure the goals are measurable and not vague. For example, instead of: I want you to be nicer to me, you would make the goal: I would like for you to not yell or cuss at me this week. It states what you want exactly and gives a time frame and is measurable in definition of parameters and time. Also discuss what will happen if those goals aren't met. When I tried to stop biting my nails, I had a nail jar. Each time I caught myself I had to put a dollar in and couldn't touch it until I stopped. If I was successful in not biting my nails, I got a nice pedicure and massage from the money. If I didn't, it went to a charity.
When you talk about her goal, give her the opportunity to formulate it herself. If she chooses not to, make two or three and let her choose the one she wants to work on.
Also set a time frame for how long you are willing to work on it. If things aren't better by __________ date, then I will make arrangements for myself to live elsewhere and file for divorce.

I am sorry you are going though this. Being in a marriage and working on it when you really don't want to be there is tough.
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