Woman Contemplates Divorcing Emotionally Neglectful Husband Who Dismissed Her During Pregnancy And Refuses Therapy, Fears Impact On Her Child

"Problems started when I was pregnant, he refused to kiss me, touch me, show any sort of affection."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• October 20, 2023

In the quiet corners of her thoughts, OP, a 30-year-old woman, wrestles with an agonizing decision that has loomed over her for far too long. A decade-long relationship, once brimming with promise and affection, now casts a shadow of despair.

Her marriage to a 33-year-old man, a partnership that once held dreams of stability and happiness, has become a battlefield of emotional neglect and heartache. The descent into this turbulent state began during her pregnancy, a time that should have been filled with shared joy and anticipation.

Instead, her husband's cold detachment robbed her of the warmth she craved, his refusal to embrace the changes in her body leaving scars deeper than the physical ones of childbirth. Postpartum struggles exacerbated the pain, amplifying her isolation.

Amid her battle with postpartum depression and anxiety, her cries for understanding fell on deaf ears. His lack of empathy pushed her to the precipice of resentment.

His selfishness, insensitivity, and belittling behavior eroded the love they once shared, leaving behind a hollow façade of a marriage. Even in the face of her plea for therapy, his dismissive response echoed his disregard for their crumbling relationship, leaving OP with a profound sense of hopelessness.

Now, she stands at a crossroads, torn between the fear of disrupting her child's world, the daunting prospect of starting anew, and the relentless ache for a love that seems irretrievably lost. Just take a look at the original post...

OP is contemplating divorcing her 33-year-old husband after a 10-year relationship, as problems arose during her pregnancy when he became emotionally distant and unaffectionate. They have a 3-year-old child.

She feels robbed of her happiness during pregnancy and postpartum due to a traumatic birth, severe PPD/PPA, and her husband's insensitivity, which led to growing resentment.

He was self-centered and belittling, making her quit her job during her success, and eventually taking her business.

Resentment has led to her refusal of sex, and their relationship suffers as he blames her for not doing "wifely" duties. She finds sex with him repulsive.

She's scared of leaving him because he guilts her by saying it would harm their child and imply she'd be promiscuous with a new boyfriend.

She's anxious about asset division after he took much from her and is terrified of starting over, impacting her child's future. Despite advice on working things out, she believes it's too late for help.

She asked for therapy, and he agreed only if it were a male therapist to make her "act like a wife." His comment made her lose interest in therapy.

Scroll down to see what people had to say!

She likely already knows the path forward. The fear she's experiencing is a sign of the bravery within her.

"Go see a lawyer."

"For your sake, leave him."

"This dude is the definition of abuse..."

"Starting over is hard..."

"He sounds emotionally abusive."

When peace of mind's the cost, it's too rich for anyone's blood.

Marriage shouldn't resemble a prison. If it sounds like misery, don't sentence to a lifetime of it.

No one with self-respect stays tethered to that!

This isn't a marriage, it's a horror film.

Exposing the child to that toxic attitude is like feeding them expired candy.

Her marriage's Titanic, and he's the iceberg of abuse.

Run, like an escape artist fleeing the circus.

Prioritize kids and sanity. At 30, there's time to craft a happier life.

Don't let her child pick up his act or let her youth slip away.

This guy's performance won't improve, just worsen.

He missed the 'husbandly' memo when she needed support most.

In her shoes, it's a thunderstorm, but sun follows rain.

No one likes a rerun, and kids prefer the comedy over drama.

Show the kids to stand tall by leaving.

Experience is a tough teacher, but the lesson's clear: staying in a crappy marriage doesn't help the family; it's showing them the way out that truly does.

"It ain't going to get better."

Staying in a gloomy marriage makes her child the critic of life's worst show.

Swap the full-time drama for a career in happiness.

In the depths of her heartache, OP found the strength to confront her pain and consider a future beyond the confines of her deteriorating marriage. The realization that her happiness and well-being mattered, even in the face of fear and uncertainty, marked the first courageous step toward reclaiming her life and rediscovering her worth.

What do you think of this?

Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia