Hello, question asker. I'm Evan, your relationship counselor.
From what the author says, it seems like she's confused and angry, and has other negative emotions. The author and her husband's intimate life isn't perfect. Often, they don't take care of the author's feelings, and even spend more time with female colleagues at work, which makes the author think her husband is cheating on her.
In an intimate relationship, if the questioner wants something that her husband can't give her, it's only natural that she'll feel negative emotions.
How should a wife act around her female colleagues? This is something the husband needs to be aware of. Are both of you getting what you need from your intimate relationship? In an intimate relationship like marriage, it is necessary to maintain basic trust and do things that reassure your loved one. If you cannot take care of your loved one's emotions and feelings, then it is because their needs are not being met. In this case, the husband can only turn to the outside world for help.
I'm not saying the approach taken by the questioner's husband is the right one, but I want to tell the questioner that when there are problems in an intimate relationship, we learn to understand each other's needs and see if we can meet his needs. This may improve the relationship. If you just force your lover not to do something, it will instead make the other person feel rebellious and even worse.
The key is being able to communicate well about the problems that have arisen in your intimate relationship and making an effort to change.
I'll give the questioner a little encouragement here. When talking to your current husband, you can calmly, sincerely, and clearly state your feelings and communicate about them. Since the questioner asked the question on the platform, I'll also give the questioner some brief advice here:
It's important to understand what you want from a relationship.
In an intimate relationship, everyone's needs are not necessarily the same, and this is normal. So, in this situation, what does the questioner want? The questioner can try to express this to her husband.
Everyone has different needs in an intimate relationship. The questioner wants to feel valued and wants her husband to maintain a distance with other women that reassures her, rather than ignoring her requests and only fulfilling his own expectations. If the questioner's needs cannot be met or are not valued in this intimate relationship, it's worth thinking about how this relationship should be managed.
Discuss your relationship or future plans.
The questioner can talk to her husband about their relationship, about her concerns about the current relationship, or about her current needs, and share her feelings about their respective marital status. To get the ball rolling, ask your husband how your relationship has developed over time.
Have some relationship discussions and future discussions: "What made you first think that we should get married? What is the biggest change you have noticed in me since we started getting married?"
As a partner, what are my strengths and weaknesses? How can I improve?
"What are your thoughts on our future and your plans for the future?"
"I've been thinking about marriage. What are your thoughts?"
"I believe that in a close relationship, everyone's needs should be met. What are your thoughts on this?"
"
Talk to your husband about your relationship in a calm, objective way.
If the relationship between the questioner and her husband is facing challenges, it's important to stay objective and calm when discussing the relationship. If you're facing problems as a family, it's crucial to keep an open mind and avoid getting emotional.
It's important to keep the spark alive in your intimate relationship and not get stuck in a rut.
If she wants to tell her husband that she has her own needs regarding contact with his colleagues, you could say, "I'm not trying to be difficult. I care about you and our relationship, and I just want our relationship to be more intimate and mutually satisfying."
"If you want to keep things going, I hope you can take my request seriously, give me a sense of security, and maintain an appropriate distance from your colleagues."
Be open about your feelings.
It might seem easier to let things take their natural course and avoid difficult topics. However, avoiding these topics will only make things worse.
Instead, take the time to talk through the issue. You could say, "I know that I'm a bit dissatisfied with our love life at the moment and I want to make some changes."
"I think it would be great if we could find some time to chat."
Remember, avoiding these difficult issues will only make things slowly get worse and eventually destroy your relationship. Tell him, "I think we can calmly and honestly talk about our problems."
"Or, there are a lot of things I need to talk to you about, and I hope you can keep an open mind."
Take a moment to identify your feelings in the marriage. Try to think about the reasons for your feelings and explain them to him.
Tell him, "Both of us have needs when it comes to intimacy. I don't know what you're thinking, but I feel like things are different now that we're married."
I hope my feelings will be taken seriously, or that my requests will be taken seriously for our future married life. I feel lost and desperate about the future. This is not the life I want. I hope that husband and wife can be honest with each other and accommodate each other. I hope you can discuss this with me patiently.
Be patient.
If you run into any issues, it's best to communicate in a patient and compassionate manner. It's important to be understanding and open when talking to your loved ones about your thoughts and concerns.
If there's a conflict or problem, stay calm and try to understand the other person. You could say, "I don't want to put too much pressure on you."
I hope we can talk through this calmly and patiently, and I hope you can listen to me. I'm happy to discuss anything openly and honestly.
"
Personal growth
Has the husband of the questioner improved or changed as a result of your communication? In this process, it's important for the questioner to pay attention to their own growth and needs.
It's important to develop your own interests and social circles. That way, you won't depend on your husband for your happiness. In a marriage, it's easy to focus on your loved one and neglect yourself. This can extend to your husband, who might neglect your feelings too. Only when you value your own growth and feelings can your husband change his views and realize that you deserve to be loved.
It might be a good idea to seek professional help.
You can also get help from a professional, like a counselor, psychotherapist, or family counselor, if you need it. Ask them if they have any advice. If your husband agrees, you can go to counseling or therapy together.
It's also a good idea for the questioner to speak with a psychologist about the root of their pain and see if they can offer any solutions. Often, in a difficult relationship, the only way to make a change is to take the initiative. This could be a great place to start.
In a marriage, open communication is key to a long-lasting relationship. Love, respect, and courtesy are the basic ingredients for a happy married life.
Be open and honest with your partner and show them you care.
I hope this helps!
Comments
I can see why this situation is troubling you. It's natural to feel uneasy when someone outside the relationship becomes a significant part of your partner's daily life. Communication seems key here; perhaps discussing boundaries and your feelings openly could help.
It sounds incredibly tough to watch your husband repeatedly place so much trust in colleagues that it strains your marriage. Maybe focusing on rebuilding the connection between you two, by spending quality time together, could remind him of what's truly important.
The pattern repeating with different employees does raise concerns about underlying issues within the workplace or possibly within your marriage. Seeking professional advice might provide guidance on how to address these recurring problems effectively.
Your dedication to trying to salvage the marriage despite these challenges is commendable. Sometimes, though, it's necessary to consider if the effort is reciprocated. Evaluating whether both parties are willing to work on the issues can be crucial for moving forward.
Feeling like your concerns are dismissed can be deeply hurtful. It may be beneficial to involve a neutral third party, such as a counselor, who can facilitate a conversation where both voices are heard and understood, aiming to find a way to heal and strengthen your relationship.