Dear Christine,
My husband and I are very active in the LGBT community. Our daughter came out years ago and we fully supported her and we have been involved in our local PFLAG, marched in parades and made many friends in the community. We are almost as involved as if we were members of the community. Perhaps too involved. Though we are close friends, we don’t feel like a married couple anymore. I’m actually worried that my husband is now leading a double life. He’s become very close to one of our gay male friends and I’m suspicious. We haven’t been intimate in over 3 years.
I brought it up last night and it didn’t go well. My intention was to plan a romantic dinner and try and get our intimacy back. When I realized he was avoiding my attempts I confronted him about our friend and he just got angry and walked away. We haven’t spoken since. He won’t talk to me at all!! Should I have reason to worry?
Signed, Suspicious in St. Clair Shores
Dear Suspicious,
I think it’s important to trust your gut feelings, but you need to check them with reality. To assume means to make an ASS out of U and ME. I wish that you had sat your husband down for an honest conversation about your marriage minus any romantic dinner first. In that conversation, it’s helpful to make “I” statements rather than “you” statements. It’s your safest ground, to speak of your feelings, your needs, what you’ve noticed you no longer get from your marriage. Then, ask him what his experience of the marriage is, listening on many levels, not just to the words.
Stay away from the “we” statements, even if it seems silly. A good start is to say what you did: “I don’t feel married anymore.” Try not to say “we haven’t had sex in 3 years” but rather “I miss being intimate with you. I realized the other day that it’s been 3 years since I’ve felt that closeness with you.” Yes, having sex takes two (well, not always) but each of you needs to speak for your own self, not for the couple, or he’s going to feel like you are speaking for him and that may trigger more resistance.
After you both have had a chance to express your observations, feelings and needs, then is the time to ask a question. Which question depends on what was said by each of you. Starting with an accusation, which BTW begins with that “you” statement, puts him on the defensive, cornering him into denial, no matter what is going on.
Try psychotherapy if he won’t talk to you again. Perhaps a neutral party could help the two of you restore communication and figure out what is going on and what you both want moving forward. If he won’t go to therapy with you, try going alone. You need support in figuring out how to approach your marriage and some communication tools would be helpful as well. Good luck to you.
Christine Cantrell, PhD
Psychologist