Marriage and Mental Illness: For Better or Worse?

Helping someone with this issue is hard. And even more if you love him. I know that very well. We struggled with it for many years until I saw a recommendation for this guide by Ellen Petersen. I got it here - https://www.net-boss.org/shop/how-to-help-an-alcoholic-you-love
Excellent approach, which turned out to be a godsend so I can easily say that it's the best help so far and believe me I have read a lot of books in my life about alcoholism. Hope it will help others too

My husband just lost his job yesterday, the second job he’s lost in 3 years. This is on top of his mother suddenly passing away nearly a month ago, and multiple, diagnosed, m mental illnesses (ADD, Anxiety Disorder, Sexual Dysfunction). We have a 4-year-old. We’re now on one income. My husband has been and is more so than ever, angry all the time. My child is starting to pick up these traits. It’s heartbreaking. And I struggle to even get into work on time due to all the chaos, and I’m now the sole breadwinner. Being the spouse of a partner with mental illness is beyond heartbreaking, especially with a little kid involved. I was already trying to cope with a sexless marriage (his choice, after years of couple’s therapy). Now this. I’m not sure what’s left other than compassion, a love for our son, & loyalty.

I have been with my lady for close to 7 years now. Im 25 and shes 24. We have a 4 yr old son as well. About a year of us being together i had discovered a bit of depression out of her but she always reassured me that she just gets down sometimes. After about 4 years In her depression got a lot worse along with panic anxiety occurring more and more. Her sex drive substantially decreased as well. She then started telling me it was because of our son being born. Which i completely understood being that she 3 years earlier was just a late teen with lots of dreams and ambitions but now had to sacrifice much for our son which she never planned on having. Her and I even til now have always been that lovey dovey couple, but her anxiety is taking over the girl I first met. There use to be just the bad days where every now and then, her mental illness got the best of her. Come almost 3 years later its now more of there is just 'some good days'. She has always been aware of her mental state but has a significantly harder time controlling it now. Weve worked to get her the help she needs but no resolutions came. We had a decent "behavioral" place for a little bit but the medications they tried werent doing anything but make it worse. After letting them know they still refuse to try diff meds for her and take her rejection to them as her being difficult and not wanting help. The hard part is other places we tried after all try to get her on the same meds and even with our info we give to them on how it's not helping we get the same resistance of its just her being dificult. We constantly let eachother know of the amount of love we have for eachother and both want the help for herself but its getting worse. She gets "triggered" now into explosive outbursgs or into extreme depression over something as simple as not having matching colored socks, etc. In tbe last year her filter has gone and I recieve much mental abuse from her. I know she doesnt truly mean the things she says, but when you hear it on a daily basis at least 3 weeks in a month it gets to me. Its at the point now where if theres anything wrong in her day she blows up on me, and with no retaliation or rebuttle on my part if im still not the one to go and apologize and comfort her after a session of verbally abusing me then it leads to a breakdown for her. She hurts herself, only herself. To the point where shell only stop once she hears what she wants to hear. This all would be less tense if I could be there for her more but the snowball is getting bigger and bogging me down. I work about 55 hrs a week and we only have 1 car. She has crippling anxiety to where she can barely drive withiout having an unsafe panic attack so I make all the commutes along with getting her to her part time job on my days off. She stays home the rest of the time with our son which she is a great mother too, but still sometimes gets emotionally unavailable to him which i understand. The biggest fear I have is not having the time to help her. We have no family around and cant afford daycare. She gets herself into this headspace while stuck home of depression and cries herself most the day til I can get home to help comfort her. Though this last no more than 30 minutes until her mood will swing dramatically. I wish i could be by her side constantly but someone has to keep the bills paid and my own mental health I feel is starting to deteriorate. Even currently she is in a hosp being watched after a recent episode. Her getting help is my only concern yet the problem is im now missing out $ and work (in which my position is relied heavily upon) to care for my son. I cant give up on her and wont but its hard when she herself has told me she wants me to give up on her and that id be better off.
Any immediate advice?
- your local relentless husband

Hi Ladies,
My husband started to cry and said he doesn’t know what he wants anymore after a little argument back in January. His work is very stressful And we had been trying for a child for 4 years. He asked me to leave to my home country for weeks to see if he would miss me. Before my departure he would not touch me nor kiss me, only my forehead! I also realized during that period of time that I had to make some changes about myself. Well 2 weeks before my departure we had incredible intercourses. He started to kiss me back but there was still this little distance!! While in France visiting my family his flame got back more than ever. He would make promises to communicate more and that everything is Going to be great!! So I was happier than ever I would get back to a happy and loving husband!! At my arrival he caught the flu and I was his nurse for couple days! After that he was not excited we tried to have intercourse and it didn’t work!!! Couple days later I asked that question : is everything ok? He started to cry and said I don’t know!! Just like back in January and we were beginning of April! I told him to seek for help. I made an appointment to a psychologist, he is seeing him and likes him but I am not sure he is making some effort outside the sessions!!! He said he loves me and that’s why he is getting help. He is so cold with me that is getting too heavy on me and we are only 32- 33 years old!! We should be happy and embracing life!!
I decided to make an appointment to the same psychologist, he said he can give me some techniques on how to approach him, he also said he is going to a midlife crisis/ depression. In the meantime I am thinking in going away to visit a friend for 2 weeks and leave him some space to think about it. He is the love of my life but if I can’t help, I can’t let the days go by and feel like nothing.
Does anyone experiencing of had experienced this kind of situation ? And how did you handle it?
Sorry for that long text, it feels good to get it out

My wife of 4 years hid her depression and anxiety from me until it showed up month 1 of our marriage. The career plan she outlined for herself in great detail all turned out to be a lie. She also hid her money problems, I inherited more debt than I can imagine. We have a 1.5 year old now and I don't know what to do. I want to leave, but I'm her only friend, supporter and source of income, entertainment & companionship. On top of that she has been suicidal as of last year. She has not worked consistently in nearly 3 years, hasn't worked at all in starting in '16. I understand her struggles to a point but I don't understand how someone would come into someone's life while keeping all this from their spouse or spouse to be. The stress I bear affects my work, my friendships, my relationships with family and my health. But for better or worse I guess

After four years in marriage with my husband with 2 kids, he suddenly started going out with other women and coming home late, each time i confronted him it turns out to be a fight and he always threatened to divorce me at all time, my marriage was gradually coming to an end. i tried all i could to stop him from this unruly attitude but all proved abortive, until i saw a comment in the forum about priest manuka who helps people to cast a reunion love spell on marriage and relationship problems, at first i doubted it but decided to give it a try, when i contacted this priest manuka, via email, he helped me to cast a spell and within 8 days my husband came back apologizing for all he has done and promised never to do such again and today we are happily together again. thanks to priest mamuka for renewing my marriage.. his contact lovesolutiontemple1@gmail.com.

After four years in marriage with my husband with 2 kids, he suddenly started going out with other women and coming home late, each time i confronted him it turns out to be a fight and he always threatened to divorce me at all time, my marriage was gradually coming to an end. i tried all i could to stop him from this unruly attitude but all proved abortive, until i saw a comment in the forum about priest manuka who helps people to cast a reunion love spell on marriage and relationship problems, at first i doubted it but decided to give it a try, when i contacted this priest manuka, via email, he helped me to cast a spell and within 8 days my husband came back apologizing for all he has done and promised never to do such again and today we are happily together again. thanks to priest mamuka for renewing my marriage.. his contact lovesolutiontemple1@gmail.com.

I am so scared my husband and I have been together for 17 years. We have a mine his and ours family. Over all our marriage has been very healthy and happy. He went for 3 surgeries 3 years ago and life has spiraled since. Lots of pain medications, lack of ability to do enjoyable things in life, such as hobbies, sex drive, go for walks etc..
Long story short, during that time we didn't have health benefits, nor income from his employer. It made things very tough, and my husband felt very Dishonored from his company. We ended up getting lawyers to fight for disability, 2 years dragged on, no solution, no income no nothing.... Finally we agreed to drop the law suit in order to get his job back. The agreement was, if we drop the law suite, he can go back to work for @a year at least. They took him back. Not ethically though. He found out in January 2018, when they Laid him off, it was planned all along. He took it to heart, felt betraded and self worthlessness. I tried reassuring him, it wasn't his fault. Over the last couple months, monies tight, no work and he has been recently diagnosed with severe depression and has now been hospitalized. He is normally a big, living, giving caring guy. He now is a ZOMBIE and no care in the world! Not even for himself anymore. I am SO SCARED OF WHAT MY/OUR FUTURE HOLDS!? I just want my husband back! HIM to be HIM. I am 110% supportive of him, but I'm horrified of him being a different person after. They're estimating 1 month treatment, hospitalization. He says I LOVE YOU because he said he knows he should, but has NO FEELINGS for anything or anyone. He talks so gently and slow. It breaks my heart. I don't know what to do to help him., Or don't do that would help him? I'm so scared of losing my husband to a breakdown and our life changing or separating. He says I'm better off without him. I told him I'm not one of those wives that is here for the money.... Clearly there isn't any, and I love HIM TO DEATH!! But I don't know what to do or expect... Can someone please help me? Can a marriage be saved after clinically severe depression has been diagnosed?? I'm so heartbroken missing my hubby so much!!

Hello,
After 24 years of marriage, and 27 years of being together, my wife told me she was no longer in love with me. My world changed completely in that instant of time.
I’m 59 … she’s 49. We have two children whom are now adults, with the youngest being 18.
I was sexually abused when I was 3 … not by a parent / relative. It happened only once … and was not discovered by anyone. I “froze” that moment … then 6 years later, when I was 9, I was traumatized again. The effects of those events, coupled to growing up in an emotionless home run by a dictator and supported by my mother’s passiveness, my sexual development was warped, and I became very adept at being alone. This lifestyle caused me great shame and guilt and I could never understand why I didn’t fit in – anywhere.
I tried suicide at 23 … and from that failure I ended up getting professional help for the first time – to gain understanding of “why” I was the way I was. That took time, and I was doing ok with the new-found insights … and I left therapy thinking I was mostly ok - still alone but with better understanding and strategies to cope - and that I needed to move on in life. Soon though, I found myself again “alone against the world” and went back to doing what I had been doing prior to my suicide attempt to get some connection and pleasure. And I continued living this “lie” – was a real Jekyll and Hyde … until I met my wife – who had / has a heart of kindness I had never experienced before.
I was so glad to finally have someone to love … my first and only love … that I stopped my anti-social destructive behaviours and together we were the quintessential happy young couple – we were never great at sex, but for all other aspects of marriage – even communication, we were as happy as could be. And I never really told her of my past … until we started to drift apart – sexually – after the birth of our son, which was 6 years into the marriage. Sex casually left the building – and life took over. The issue of lack of intimacy would come up every now and again – always from her, and always as to why “how come we never have sex anymore”. I never understood why I could not commit this last bit of my love for her. And, she admits that she has issues of closeness also ... so ... more time goes by, and we keep "trying" ... "working" ... yet even after attending marriage counselling together … it never did get resolved. And I knew that deep down inside my psyche I had unresolved issues – or aftereffects – of the early abuse, and the damage to my “self” that had never been repaired.
Then 2017 came and both of the kids are on their own, and I decided to try and retire, and my wife and I committed to working on the intimacy / sex issue again … and we even planned a vacation for August – which we took and was the first for us together in over 20 years. We had a great time … but never had sex. Then we came home … talked more … and again neither of us made a move towards the other.
I then made the mistake of writing down what had happened to me when I was a child (I had, over the years, told my wife all of this – this was my first time ever writing it down) and giving it to her to read and maybe … maybe … help her understand me more. My wife’s response was a total and complete shock to me. She told me that she knows I’m in pain over all of this but that she is “no longer is in love with me”, and that she wants a separation and divorce, and that she does not see us ever getting back together. She next said that she thought I’d be better off alone.
That was at the end of September. I took this pronouncement very badly … and as I had already “opened” up all that shit in my mind re the abuse, neglect, trust, love, manhood, etc when I wrote it all on paper … I had a breakdown - I lost control of my thoughts. My wife moved out of the home … and two days later I woke up to my 3-year old damaged self holding onto an Exacto blade knife in one hand and my penis in the other as I was looking to cut that part off of me. I was so scared … and so alone … and it was so all of a sudden.
I realized I needed help, again, and I have since been doing that. I had to leave my home community as there is no available help there at all – and what help that is available is on a “wait list” and is for a residential facility outside my province only (and the wait list is between 6-10 months long).
My wife’s response was a complete shock – I truly believed she still loved me as much as I have always loved her … she was my only love … I have never loved anyone else and I never once fell out of love with her. I was the romantic in our marriage. I never had a clue … and so I could not understand her response. In the month it took for me to pull myself together enough to find the help I need and make the arrangements – she withdrew from me even more. Granted, I was pretty screwed up and I felt hopeless. But, I searched and I found a new place (with help from my in-laws - really), was diagnosed as suffering from PTSS, arranged therapies, and prepared to leave.
Then, while cleaning up our home computer, I found a file of pics. It seems that 3 weeks before I wrote her of my history and my concerns for us, she had had an affair. That discovery changed my fragile mind even more – it made me physically ill. My immediate thought was that I had caused so much angst with this lovely woman that she had changed her values … and that … that realization … is so damned PAINFUL. This pain consumed me … and it is what drove me - literally - 3700 kilometres to get the professional help I needed.
I've now been in intensive therapy - EMDR is a blessing - for three months and have made great progress with insightful linkages … and it is all led by my being as brutally honest with myself as possible. It is good. It is also very very lonely.
I have too much time to think … and I’m very scared for my future when I think thoughts like “what is the value of doing all this work?” The early traumas’ have been resolved to great satisfaction in my mind … I am confident that my thoughts are really mine now. I’m standing on my own again and confidently looking around at this new “present” … I’m just not ready to figure out the best next steps for myself … and I wonder about my ideals around “love” and “trust” and “sharing” and “truth” and it is scary. I have never wanted to be “alone”.
What bothers me the most though is the effects my early “life” has had on my wife ... I really don't know her anymore - she is that different to me now ... and I suspect she has been in pain for a long while and it took her that long while to get up her nerve to leave ... and I understand that on an intellectual level. Emotionally, I'm so very lost without her … so yeah it's very hard to learn that she's already planning a vacation for next month (February - something we had wanted to do ourselves but never did) ... and that she is so so quickly leaving me in the dust. This is so hard on me - trying to work on the issues of my early life which is so deeply tied to my present ... and my present has imploded.
Too much pain ... too alone ... and so full of guilt / shame / etc that I let my marriage fail. I had the best and I screwed it up by not dealing with my adult issues that were born in the unknown issues surrounding my childhood sexual abuse ... catch-22 at it's finest.

My husband has had anxiety issues for many, many years. I left him for a few years and returned to be with him when my daughter (not his) was 5 years old. He comes from a difficult background where his parents suffered a cot death in the family which started a whole spiral of negative things including his Father becoming an angry alcoholic and beating his wife. My husband suffers from anxiety, hypochondria and I think a touch of OCD plus depression. To be honest, I'm not sure what to do anymore...it all makes me feel like jumping in front of a bus myself as it is too hard. When he's good, we have a good laugh but when he's down, anxious, has health concerns...it is so hard for me, my daughter (now 15) and my elderly Mother who moved in recently (adding to the problems we have).

My wife was diagnosed over six years ago after several violent episodes arising out of non issues. Once on treatment, smooth sailing until last December when she had another violent episode, but now our youngest is at an age where he would remember. This was her first one since her diagnosis. Police were called twice, each time I refused to hospitalize her. Told officers to let her go with friends. The next day she began process of divorce, within one week she moved in with these friends, and they filed for divorce. The husband is her attorney. Six months later she still lives with them. I'm contesting the divorce. As of now I have not spoken to her. Children devastated. Luckily, I have an incredible support group, have been in therapy as well as the children. I will fight knowing I will probably lose. But she is worth it. My only goal is to get her back in treatment and away from her friends. She has refused to return to the marital home, even if I leave it to her and I pay the mortgage.

It's like sacrificing your life to try to fix their life

ME AND MY WIFE ARE BOTH CHRISTIANS WHICH I AM THE ONE WHO UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERS FROM SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS STRUGGLES!!!! ONE THING THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT "IS HOW SOME PEOPLE INCLUDING SOME SPOUSES WOULD RATHER POINT THE FINGER OR PUT DOWN THE LOVE ONE WHO IS STRUGGLING INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SHARE SOME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT AND WILL RIGHT AWAY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PERSON NOT GETTING BETTER!!!! I LIVE WITH THE STIGMA EVERYDAY AND BECAUSE I LOVE MY WIFE AND KIDS I DECIDED TO STAY IN LIFE AND ASK "GOD FOR HIS HELP IN OVERCOMING THESE STRUGGLES!!!!" BUT WHAT MAKES IT MUCH MUCH IS WHEN YOU DECIDE TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS TYPE OF CHALLENGE AND THEN TO SEE YOUR SPOUSE TURN AGAINST YOU AND NOT HELP BUT INSTEAD WANT TO ADD TO THE BURDEN BY PUTTING DOWN, BLAMING THE PERSON AND MAKE FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST YOU AND THINGS SUCH AS THIS BRINGS SO MUCH MORE SADNESS ALONG WITH HELPING THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF BEING VICTORIOUS IN THESE STRUGGLES DRIFT FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY!!!! WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY DOWN AND THEN TO RECEIVE THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT AND LOOKED AT BY THOSE THAT SHOULD LOVE YOU AS "DAMAGED GOODS" I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN HOW PAINFUL IT IS TO THE HEART AND SOUL AND ADDS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PERSON STRUGGLING WITH THIS TYPE OF ILLNESS NOT TO SURVIVE!!!!" "LOVE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL BLESSING WHEN IT IS USED THE WAY GOD INTENDED IT TO BE!!!!" "BUT IT CAN ALSO BE USED AS A WEAPON OF DESTRUCTION WHEN IT IS USED IN THE SENCE WHERE THE PERSON IS MADE TO FEEL "THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTH RECEIVING ANY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OR SUPPORT!!!!"

My mother was temporarily mentally incapacitated, husband took everything leaving her with barely enough to survive

I am in similar situation here. I've been married for 10years. With 2 children, and recently gave birth. My husband has anxiety, depression and anger issues. He is rather controlling, verbally and physically abuses me. He tried to choke me when l was pregnant. I regret giving birth to my second child and not being abke to give her a happy family. Everything has to be his way because everything l do is wrong like in the way l smile, talk, dress etc. This reduced my confidence and self-esteem. My eldest started behaving and talking lIke him. I had to tell him that Daddy is sick.
He refuses treatment and constantly says I'm giving out negative energy.
I hardly go out and neither do the kids because he wants us to be home with him all the time.
I work full-time, the kids are cared for at day-care. I do not leave the children with him as he had vented his anger on my eldest whilst l was pregnant and l had to use all my strength to stop him.
I feel drained. I put on a fake assuring smile all the time. None of my co-workers know.

Sian, your feelings and worries seem valid. Everyone needs support, especially if choosing to stay with, and become a carer for, a spouse with a mental illness. People caring for family members with MS need support, much less MS with psychosis. Of course you're feeling the way you do, you are human, It's important you get care and supports in place to help you process. It's a concept called 'self-care': People are better able to sustain a caring roll if they have supports in place; looks after their own needs; and take sometime for respite.
Also for everyone else in this comments section, this is an example of a website that might be helpful for free CBT etc. for yourself, spouse, kids.
https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome/faq
Everyone is different and I wish you all the best. If I could send resilience the mail, I would. Take care of yours self first; put your own oxygen mask on first in an mergency, because only then can we help others who needs us.

I'm hearing a lot of pain in these posts and it seems like lots of people are going through of hardship, stress and struggling. I'd just caution that this is not a psychologist forum and perhaps, after posting what you need to, reflect on what it is you feel you need to express, why you need to express it and follow up to take it to a safe space (i.e. counsellor, psychologist, helpline).
Sometimes marriage (we are all human, navigating the world in terms of our relationships with others) get into cycles of distress with repeating patterns and behaviours.
It's awful to feel stuck and change is the hardest thing of all. You have bravery, you have courage, and though it may not feel like it, you have choice. Make a booking and shop around till you find a counsellor you trust; or join an online forum staffed by trained volunteers/counsellors. Call a TOLL-FREE helpline if money is a issue and someone will listen to you, facilitate you sorting out what you want to do next to break the cycle of dysfunctionality and make a referral . There's no shame in that. It's important to get help for yourself.
For women (and men), family and domestic violence is never okay. Speak to your local women's organisation or shelter to help you figure out how to stay or leave safely.
If you have children and you feel stuck, unsafe, scared or unsure what to do regarding a spouse that is violent, abusive, or you fear your partner's current behaviour so much, you use the analogy you feel you're walking around 'on eggsshells', learning a bit more about yourself will ultimately help your children and they will thank you for it down the track. Lots of spouses feel this way. You are not alone and there is help and a better way of living. Talk to somebody.
Goodluck.

Oh, and I forgot. He is on SSI and does not work due to his mental disabilities. He has been through multiple jobs over the years and his anger at work scares people. He has been on SSI for over 6 years. He never leaves the house unless he has a Dr. appointment.

I have been with my husband for over 20 years and have known him for 30. He had a very bad first marriage with someone he couldn't trust. When we were first married, he was diagnosed with maniac depression/rage problems. He was on meds for awhile and started to feel better. Now, the last 10 years have been straight hell. He has now been diagnosed with schizophrenia with psychosis. He seems to think he also has Anhedonia. He says he can no longer feel pleasure from anything, including sex. He blames this on the fact that he was a "good guy" all his life. He didn't use people, cheat, lie, etc... He thinks if he would have done these things that he would still be able to feel now, because the people he considers "liars, cheaters, bad guys, deserters, etc" are living it up doing whatever they want being worshiped by those around them. He is focusing on people that I had relations with after I was divorced from my first husband, while he was STILL married to his first wife. Did I mention this first wife trapped him into a pregnancy? I mean literally trapped him? (put her legs around his waist and held on so she would get pregnant). He never stops. He just keeps coming at me about these people that have nothing to do with us or our lives. Honestly, these people have nothing to do with him at all. I am at a loss of what to do. He refuses to take his medication like it is prescribed. He is becoming more angry as the days go on. I am so afraid to have him leave because I'm afraid he might hurt himself or others. But, I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown! i have no one to talk to that would ever be able to understand what is going on. Advice anyone?

My husband has been ill for most of our marriage and was extremely irritable and unreasonable. As time went on he also thought that things like WiFi and Mobile phones were making him ill. His left foot started dropping and he had optic neuritis. He was diagnosed with MS last year and by this time last year he was heading for psychosis and eventually got sectioned. He has been in hospital for most of the year and only him for a couple of months which were a disaster because he doesn't seem to be able to do anything for himself and would spend all day ranting about going blind. He is in a neurological psychiatric unit being assessed and treated. His moods have balanced and he is no longer narcissistic. Also he wants to be a real family whereas before he saw our son as a block to our relationship. He has failed a mental capacity test relating to making decisions about his health. I love him very much and that is why we didn't split up during the rows over the years but I don't know how to feel about him. He will be having an mri scan soon to see if the MS has damaged his frontal lobes. I just don't know how to deal with my emotions and am fearful that it will be another disaster when he gets back. He lacks a degree of insight into his condition but is articulate and looks like himself. I don't know who he is any more. I know that I need to pull myself together and not dwell to much on my worries.

I've been married nearly seven years to my husband andwe have two children. He's had between 8-10 jobs over the past 4 years. About a year and a half ago, he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I amso angry and full of resent that I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what to say anymore. I want to believe things will get better, but I don't know. I don't want to be the caregiver anymore. What about my feelings and needs? I'm so broken and feel stuck. I've made so many sacrifices to get to a better life but this keeps holding us back. We can barely afford his medication let alone the counseling. I feel so isolated and alone. I can't talk to him without coming completely unglued. I play our courting days over and over asking what I missed. I keep beating myself up. How could I have missed it? Was I that despair are for love? I'm so financially, emotionally, and spiritually drained. I feel like there are only pieces of me left and those are for my children's sake. I'm so tired and exhausted. To make matters worse I just found out I'm pregnant again. I feel so stupid and ashamed like a teenage girl. I just ache all over. I just don't know what to do anymore. I want to live freely but I feel like I'm dying everyday.

In addition to some other serious issues, my wife's illness makes her believe that I'm having affairs with all the women in our town, including her friends. As such, she resents me and sees me as a filthy maniac and she will not let me touch her. The meds have not helped. I've decided to stay with her and help the best I can. We have two teenage children.
However, I'm feeling the void that has been created by our physical and emotional distance. What should I do about my sexual and emotional needs as I no longer have a partner.
I don't want to feel like I'm cheating on her but God created us in a way that we try to fulfill these urges yet she will not let me near her.
Should I get someone on the side?
Samuel

I have been in a relationship for 8 years married tomorrow for 2. I have bipolar and have struggled my whole life to just maintained a resemblance of life. I wasn't diagnosed untiI I was in my mid 20's. I have a barely adult child that has had to go through all this with me. I regret I wasn't stronger, every day. All that it's something but not my main issues. My husband has issues as well, it runs in the family. But he will not even admit that anything is his fault. I use meds and understanding and practice control. He uses blame and threats. He constantly threatens divorce or hurting me. He has never out and out hit me but he has pushed me around and left bruises. Every time I need him to do anything that's when threatening and fighting begins.As long as I don't request or ask for him to do something we can go by day. But that doesn't stop it because we'll be going about our lives, everything is just fine not awesome, but fine. And bam! I'm nagging him, I'm a psycho, and he hates me, I made him marry me and he'll prove what a crazy I am and I'll have nothing. See I'm disabled and haven't worked in a very long time. He works, which is nice but isn't everything. He thinks that makes anything he wants, have or do or say is fine. He knew I couldn't work before we even started dating but I see now he didn't mind that because he could throw it in my face any time I needed him to step up as my partner. he doesn't pay my bills. He only makes more bills. I have to take care of all financial tactics. But if I don't pay the way he wants, so there is money for him to gamble, there is hell to pay. All he does is go to his job, does a super awesome job for them then brings home all the frustration and lack of interest. This is something I didn't know about him before I felt it was too late was he was in almost 30,000$ in debt. I didn't know this until the IRS started taking all my income tax. That doesn't count the numerous other bills he has added over the years. We just this last month paid off the last. And after 5 yrs of paying his debt and putting up with him promising to get help. His credit is best it's ever been and we can finally buy a house. He has told me that now that my credit is good and I don't need you any more, I want a divorce. And I'll get a house and you'll be left with nothing, because your a psycho bitch! He has made it where none of my small bills that is keeping my credit down have gotten paid and I'm worse off after being with him and trusting in my love. I don't know what to do. Because after everything I still love him. But he needs help, he is ex. military. And he has been in jail for abusing his daughter. Where they diagnosed him with Asperger's.Had an abusive relationship with his ex wife, but I push him, I make him, it's not him it's my nagging. His cousins have also recently told me about times they have gotten this behavior from him as well. I've never had these problems in any of my other relationships. So I know it's not me,which is what he gets infuriated at me for not excepting. I know myself. And yes I'm afraid that instead of the life that I thought I was supporting, now so close it will be ripped out of my hands, because my husband decides to be selfish and not get the help he (we) needs. And I will be on the streets. Which he loves to rub in my face. I know life is never fair,but there has to be something I can do to force his hand. I don't want to divorce, I want my life. Please some one out there, reach out to me, for I am falling further than I ever could on my own. I can't do this by myself any more! I can not carry his illness on top of my own without his willingness to help himself and us. Do on to others as you would have done on you, not because I'm religious, but because we're all human. Seriously at this point every single day I fight the thought that there is only one answer for me. And every day I feel myself weaken from all the fight that is life.

I was diagnosed in 2009 with No-Polar, no one in my family took the Time to educate themselves about the illness or to provide any support. After 40 yerars of marriage, he used my illness against me and has filed for a divorce. My illness cost me my whole life.

I just saw all these messages. I am not alone. I am having a terrible time. I have lost all my patience. I've been married for five years now and I have a four year old toddler. It first started with him being over obsessed. I couldn't even kiss my own father or brother on their cheeks or give them a hug. In a car. I couldnt even sit next to my brother. I had to wear modest clothes and to an extent that I had to wear full sleeves all the time.
It went to an extent were he started to take promises from me for every little thing but that was not enough he had to keep reminding me of my promises and keep reassuring hin that I would never bread such promises.
Even today five year later it continues. I'm fed up of these recurring questions. I'm tI red of hearing negative about myself and my family all the time. He keep's disrespecting me talking about what a piece of trash I am. And as soon as he insults me he wants to ask if I remember all that I have promised him again and till when. Some days are good. But if he's better one day he gets worse two to three days after that. He keeps telling me what a piece of trash I and my family are good for nothing and that I became decent after marrying him. I'm going nuts here. I'm not able to handle all this stress. My four year son is tired of our fights and I'm worried about how it will accept him. I'm tired but I can't leave him. I simply can't. I don't even know why I still love him anymore. He is making my life he'll. I'm not able to handle anymore and I wish I could just die. He mentally abuses me all the time. Picks up petty fights. Keeps making me remember about my promises and telling me how cheap I was and how cheap my family are . I want to die but I can't leave my son in his hands. I can't do that to him. I can't even divorce him.
I need help.
I need peace in my life.
I am tired.....

Hello all, ALL ADVICE & COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED, THANKS IN ADVANCE.. My wife and I have been married for 9 months now.. Together for 7 years. Her and I have a 6-year-old son. She was diagnose with a form of bipolar sometime in 2014, the doctors prescribed her medicine, however she only took it once I believe and she said it made her feel "spaced out".. To make a long story short she has had so many ups and downs (mostly downs) and I'm confused as what to do. I love her but I've done so much to help her and its not appreciated. Her siblings don't like me because I don't allow them to use her, they have mental issues as well.. I have no one in her family that is logical or conscious enough to talk to. Her mother is slipping away do to dementia at 51 years old. Her father is 54 and still running the streets and acting like he's young and married to another woman. But her and I moved to a more nice, quiter neighborhood in the first week of January, we moved from the next city where most of her family siblings are, there was always so much drama there, the neighborhood is much more expensive, but doesn't make any difference because I just want peace for my family..
Things went fine for the first few months until maybe may, when her sister and her cousin, one of her "friends" also, started calling and talking to her about gossip and drama back-to-back it seemed, this went on for a couple of weeks, that's when she stopped cooking, cleaning or anything else besides sex, no conversation unless it was an argument or condescending talk. I also cooked and cleaned half of the time. She left after an argument in June, she was gone for two weeks, we began talking again and she came back home, about two weeks later the same thing, we argued about her sleeping all day, she works 20 hours per week, I work 80 hours per week, all she ever did was sleep, same thing this time she left for 2-3 weeks, we started talking she came home. Just three weeks ago tomorrow we had a big argument she left again, had not saw her in almost three weeks, until Thursday (2 days ago) she showed up to the house with her female cousin and they tried to physically take our son, long story short the police came, heard both sides of our stories, she was high off of something. They made them leave, I left out the part where she hadnt seen nor tried to see our son in three whole weeks, I had to text message her and tell her I was going to take her to court and get full custody since she abandoned him, that's why she played it off and acted like she cared. My question is what do you guys suggest/think I should do? Keep trying. Maybe force her to get help? Or just give up? Its weighing on me either way I look at it. She's 32 years old, I'm 31. Thoughts? Comments?

I been married for 25 yrs. We have 3 boys. My husband has had 6 jobs in 5 yrs and now employed again. He is always thinking people are after him. He is paranoid with computer usage and call phones think others are hacking or taping his calls. He forgets important things but can remember things that have no meaning. He thinks people follow him while driving, last night he stopped his car and confronted a man for following him. It turned into an argument and my husband thinks he did no wrong. He snaps without notice even at my kids. Yelling at them for silly things then blaming me for all faults and failures. I want to leave him. I worry about my kids and how they will be when they get married. He is never wrong he never takes ownership on actions. He is not diagnosed with a mental illness he doesn't think he has one and gets mad at me for thinking that. He goes to counseling whenever it's really bad but doesn't follow thru. Tell me that his counselor thinks I am the problem. It's a mess. I want to take boys and just leave but he told me he will commit suicide and it will be my fault if I ever did. What should I do? We are always walking on eggshells when he is home.... tired of it but afraid to leave.