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betrue21self
1 135 M Embraced 1
PathStep 1 Compassion hearts49 Forum posts2 Forum upvotes37 Current upvotes37 Age GroupAdult Last activeNovember, 2024 Member sinceOctober 8, 2024
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Help me with my wife!
Family & Caregivers / by betrue21self
Last post
 October 12th
...See more I spent the last 2 1/2 years on a work project, 10+ hours a day, 6+ days a week, with no days off but Sundays. I am the sole provider for our entire livelihood, and I put my work first & foremost, above all else, especially all my wife's needs. The individual I worked for was a total narcissist, and a complete sociopath (the very definitions), and I went from the most positive and cheerful person, to struggling just to heal every day. I was very little fun to be around, no use to her before work because I was getting ready, no use to her after work because I was physically and mentally and emotionally exhausted from his brutality, and my day off was me trying to recover and rejuvenate first, and quality time with her second. She became so unhappy. She felt completely alone. She was managing all the household, cleaning, and chores alone. None of her needs were being met, not physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. When she told me she can't do it anymore, I woke up. I opened my eyes to see what I had done, who I had become, and how I was treating her (or rather wasn't). I immediately quit my job, and focusing entirely on her (with the exception of trying to find more work). I am putting her first & foremost again, and now I am committed to rebuilding, but she has been sooo unhappy for sooo long. She has huge resentment in her heart, she is overly critical of everything I say and do, she is uber-sensitive to the slightest bit of adversity, she is extremely defensive about everything, she is confrontational, skeptical, cynical, pessimistic, and negative (and can you blame her), and she has given up on trying to tell me what she needs because she has been doing so for the past 2 1/2 years, and it went in one ear and out the other, so there is very little sharing of her feeling, emotions, wants or desires now. She reacts to everything with sarcastic remarks and curt comments, which is how I know she's still harboring all the aforementioned issues. I NEED HELP! I need real-world, practical advice on specific steps I can take to bring back her joy in our relationship, her trust in me, her calm and her peace of mind in general, her optimism and positivity. How do I overcome her resentment? How do I gain her trust again? How can I satisfy her needs if I'm not sure what to do? How can I not make her feel so defensive? How can I stop her constant criticism? How can I make her happy again? (...side note) We have been married for 16 years. Our love is so much stronger than this, we both agree. We are still completely in love with each other. She is not thinking about leaving me, or wanting a divorce in any way, shape, or form. She just misses me and wants her husband, partner, and lover back. We have a beautiful life together, and a beautiful home. She has an amazing side business that fulfills her completely. She's an artist, a medium, a reiki master, and a spiritual healer. Thank god for that because it is what has kept her occupied while I had my priorities all wrong! 
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