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June 10, 2018 4:39 pm  #31


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Philly wrote:

 

Every one of us has a story and 
everyone's story is different. And 
the way we get to the last page 
of the last chapter is varied


 


KIA KAHA                       
 

July 29, 2018 12:01 pm  #32


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Ellexoh_nz wrote:

Coulduseadvice wrote:

What I'm really wanting is to find the best balance of being supportive but also clear that I'm not wanting to get a divorce. ( We both know that may happen in the future). So far we've had some really really honest conversations and i think we both feel worried but hopeful we'll figure something out. It feels like we're leaning towards an open marriage type thing for her. I'm just wanting to take this slow and be comfortable with every step along the way.
So anyone out there done anything similar?  What can I do to support but not push? Thanks

 

I'll start by saying.....we have a long road ahead of us. I'm just over a year learning of my partners increased interest in his bisexual side. It's been rocky, and I now see our 32 years together in a new light, and although we have both said we can't see ourselves  apart....I have to constantly work at where I am in the r'ship, battle with my insecurity and lack of trust, and my belief in a man who has changed. 

Communication is THE MOST important tool we have. And knowing the right time for that always falls to me because he's not a talker. In fact....if he could....he'd sweep all this under the carpet, out of site, just carry on as if he'd NOT dropped a bombshell on our r'ship!

As for the open r'ship you're leaning towards.....yes take it very slow. Finding the balance between support & not being pushy is a tough one. Process how you're actually going to feel when your life-partner is off fucking somebody else, and be totally honest with yourself....and her! 

##All my partner's desires/fantasies seem to have been locked away in a box. He says he's no longer reading literotica, or watching porn, like his dishonesty & fabrication were just a mirage. But I feel resentment just under the surface. It's extremely difficult to get a man to talk about something he knows has hurt me....##


 

I could have wrote every word of this. Only difference in time. Disclosure Day July 10th.

 

July 29, 2018 2:35 pm  #33


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Lisa Emelsee wrote:

.....I could have wrote every word of this. Only difference in time. Disclosure Day July 10th.....

I've just checked back on the date I wrote that post and it was last December! ..about 11 months after my partner telling me he wanted to explore his bi-side more and maybe one day be fucked by a man. 
This changed my whole life. I no longer see him as the man I see myself spending the rest of my life with (and actually have no clear view of my future at all), no longer respect him as I once cherished & respected what *I* thought was an unbreakable, strong, awesome r'ship. We're still together because neither of us wants to let go.
What I'm trying to say Lisa...is that disclosure is Step One. What we're going through, you and I, only appears the same because you're reading something I wrote 7 months ago, and in between *the email* and Now....approx 18 months...there have been counselors, books/articles I've read, tears, arguments, the realisation all this was, and still does, isolate me, and yes....pockets of strength along the way when I've told those close to me what I'm going through.

Have you told anyone what has happened....is happening? A relative, friend..?
 


KIA KAHA                       
 

July 30, 2018 12:58 am  #34


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Not a soul. I cant. I made an inquiry for counseling so I will see where that takes me.

 

July 30, 2018 2:07 am  #35


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Lisa Emelsee wrote:

Not a soul. I cant. I made an inquiry for counseling so I will see where that takes me.

 
I had mentioned to my daughter that her father was bi, and to my son that I suspected he was seeing somebody else so when things progressed and I learnt more...it became impossible to hold it to myself so after 4 or 5 counseling sessions..I told them more.
We all move at our own pace so don't do anything you're uncomfortable with. Good on you re your inquiry about counseling


KIA KAHA                       
 

July 30, 2018 3:53 am  #36


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

We cannot carry The Gay Thing alone. It is simply too traumatic, too earthquake-ish. So shaking of our identity. We have to seek out friends AND therapists to help us on our journey. We cannot make it alone. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We've done nothing wrong, other than fall in love and develop a relationship with someone who wasn't straight and perhaps didn't understand themselves and their gayness. Or did, and deliberately hid it. But again, that's their responsibility, not ours.

 

July 31, 2018 9:32 pm  #37


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Brassyhub wrote:

We cannot carry The Gay Thing alone. It is simply too traumatic, too earthquake-ish. So shaking of our identity. We have to seek out friends AND therapists to help us on our journey. We cannot make it alone. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We've done nothing wrong, other than fall in love and develop a relationship with someone who wasn't straight and perhaps didn't understand themselves and their gayness. Or did, and deliberately hid it. But again, that's their responsibility, not ours.

I am not in a good position to confide in anyone. I've had the same group of friends for 20 years with love/hate relationships in between. There isnt one person in that group I can count on to keep a secret, especially this!, and especially because there are some gays in group as well. More like acquaintances to us but still.  I cant tell my aging parents or my sister, I already had one failed marriage with a severe alcoholic. They will somehow blame me for this. My only friend I can tell is going thru so much with her aging father, I cant lay this on her.
The next issue I have is that my DGH wants to stay married. I opened his side, he said no. He is in love with me and I am his soul mate. He wants me. I love him more than life itself. He is an amazing man, he took care of me while i went thru 3 years of cancer.

So for now, we stay married. I play "gay sex" and have fun with it. He is starting a new job and once he get started our financial situation will improve. When that's all settled we can revisit. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy this new fun happy man who likes to go shopping and watch high Jackman on TV.

Lisa
Waves and Riptides

 

August 3, 2018 3:47 am  #38


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

Im 4 weeks into my husband coming out that he's been unfaithful in exploring his sexuality. He is now seeing a psychologist working through his same sex attraction. He says hes so confused as to what and who he is. 
I am supporting him. I am still in shock =, going through a roller coaster of emotions. We still see a life together, but what that looks like will be very different. Apart, together, who know's. I have a strong faith, which is really helping me, although I am very mindful moving foward whom I seek support from .Seeing an amazing psychlogist, Hubby is seeing his own which is gretat 20 years together 18 married, two kids, amazing expereinces had and future plans.... what those future plans look like, will be most different now.
So good to have this forum to write. thanks for reading/listening. 

 

August 5, 2018 8:00 pm  #39


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

I am new to this world. I have always suspected that my husband leaned toward bisexuality and after a breakdown from PTSD 1 1/2 years ago, He came out to me last year about this time. I cannot say it was a shocking revelation, but somewhat unsettling in the beginning. The big question, "Can we make this work?" Neither of us want a divorce, we love and like each other,we have built a wonderful life together over 27 years of marriage. We have many complicated issues as we are both Survivirs of Sexual Abuse and Rape from childhood. We are also in the Ministry. I think that what helps to keep us strong is our open communication and our understanding of each other. We make sure to schedule time for our relationship. We have an agreement that permits him to have friends outside of our marriage. That may be a cup of coffee and conversation, it may be time with a close friend in a more intimate setting. Our rules are mutual respect, honesty, safety and discretion. My husband also is in Therapy for his PTSD and for sexual issues in regards to his orientation.Is this the ideal situation, the ideal marriage? Perhaps not for some, but it works for us.

 

August 5, 2018 8:21 pm  #40


Re: Anyone have experiences with staying together?

@DoingMyBest This is my first time on this forum. Hearing other experiences so similar to mine is encouraging. We are truly best friends, as well as spouses, lovers. This life I have chosen with Him is better than life without him. He was not unfaithful before disclosure and I guess I don't consider it unfaithful now that we are open and honest with each other about the subject. I love this man, he loves me, I can tolerate the occaional "friends" aas long as he comes home to me and we don't keep secrets from each other. We have children and grandchildren, a lovely home, we have not ended our marriage, like yours it is evolving and I am ok with that.

 

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