In a nutshell...

AlwaysForgotten
Community Member

Its hard to know where to begin as there is so much going on that there isn't enough place to put it all down, so here is a really high level summary just to get it out there.

I have no family, both of my adoptive parents have now passed away and my "family" disappeared when my mother passed, which I can only assume is because they never really considered me family. I have no brothers or sisters and have no children. I have been married to my wife for 10 years now, she has 4 children to a previous marriage she never sees because her ex alienated them from her, her family have always been abusive towards her and mistreat her but she keeps going back for more. So we really only have each other. She has a history of BPD, depression and trauma and it hasn't been easy dealing with all of this but ultimately I have always been there for her.

Something happened a few years ago when she was in a clinic, she just didn't come home & didn't tell me. Then she went through abuse where she was staying so she isn't doing well. Its now been 2 years and we have limited contact with each other, messages here and there and she eventually agreed to go to counselling with me but wont go more than 1 hour a month. She wont tell me anything, wont talk to me, wont even give me the rough outline. She keeps going out of her way to do things for strangers and has been slowly pushing me more and more away. Its like I just dont matter to her any more. What is confusing is that she keeps "saying" she wants us to work it out, but her "actions" never match what she says.

At what point does trying to be understanding turn into being the idiot who isn't getting the hint? I am trying so hard not to give up, but i dont know if she is being honest with me any more. All it would take to make things different is for her to genuinely talk to me, to explain where she is at and what is going on in her head... but she just keeps giving me nothing & expecting me to be there no matter how much her actions say I really dont matter to her any more.

2 Replies 2

Deckt
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

I'm sorry to hear your story. I am in a similar situation with my partner.

I'm further sorry that I have no advice for you regarding your partner. My partner needs help, particularly with her addiction issues, but also with mental health. She would prefer to blame me for everything going badly in her life, and project her insecurities onto me.

The only thing I can suggest is what I'm doing now - trying to take care of yourself. Spend some time doing things that you enjoy, and try to find people that bring you joy. Try to eat well and regularly, and exercise, even if it's just a daily walk around the block. Do you have any pets? I find that my dog is a great help to me, providing affection and something to care for.

You're not alone. Please take care, and I hope things start to look up for you.

I appreciate your response.

We moved to a new state 5 years ago and never had the chance to make a new circle of friends because she was never interested. Now that she is living on her own she is going to great lengths to create friends for herself which is a sore point. Everything seems to always revolve around her putting herself first and what she wants first even though she keeps telling me she wants to work things out.

I do have a dog, we got him for her as she was desperate to have a companion while I was at work. I told her I would only get a dog if she agreed to look after him equally... of course that never happened and I have been the one to take care of him. Its just another thing that she utterly lacks taking responsibility for.

To top everything off, it was my birthday last week and she completely forgot about it. Thats 2 years now she has forgotten & made the same excuse 2 years in a row. Its been 3 years running now she has said she will make it up to me. As always, a quick sorry and right back to carrying on like nothing ever happened. I haven't replied to any messages from her in a week and all she does is just send the daily obligatory "hope you are good, love you" message like it is on repeat. Not once has she asked me how I am doing or tried to "make up" for what she did, she just keeps acting like its a normal day.

I just keep thinking this is her way of trying to push me to end things with her... or worse, she just doesn't care so she is happy to take advantage of me as much as possible, stringing me along so she can keep being supported