Imagine being in a 16-year marriage, feeling belittled, and struggling to express your feelings without being stonewalled or blamed. Add in some health issues, emotional affairs, and the loss of a parent, and you’ve got one heck of a rollercoaster ride. Our protagonist, an Army veteran, turned to coping mechanisms like porn and eventually a hookup to deal with his emotional turmoil. But when his wife discovered his actions, their already strained relationship took another hit. Now, he’s working on himself, attending therapy, and trying to make things right, but still feels like a lonely roommate in his own home. Can this marriage be saved, or is it time to call it quits?
Marriage Struggles

Health Issues & Affection

Feeling Belittled

Coping Mechanism: Porn

Emotional Affair?

Disturbing Texts

Confrontation & Facebook Drama

Feeling Like a Third Wheel

Losing Mom to Cancer

Emotional Struggles & Army Life

Wife’s Perspective & Hookup

Turning to a Dating App

Caught & Consequences

Broken Trust

Loneliness & Therapy

Working on Myself

Efforts & Needing Advice

Marriage on the Rocks: Can it Be Saved?
Our protagonist’s marriage has been plagued by health issues, emotional distance, and a lack of affection. After discovering his wife’s emotional affair, he felt even more isolated and eventually turned to a dating app for a hookup. When his wife found out, their relationship took another hit, and he’s been working on himself ever since. Despite his efforts, he still feels like a lonely roommate and struggles to communicate with his wife. As they continue to navigate their rocky relationship, we’ve gathered some of the internet’s top responses to this situation. Will they offer the advice our protagonist needs to save his marriage, or is it time to move on? Stay tuned to find out! ✨
Traumatic childhood experience, questioning purpose of broken marriage.

Unfaithful couple with poor relationship advised to end marriage

Divorce advice with a touch of humor

Toxic relationship with emotional and physical affairs. ESH.

Cheating, loneliness and lack of intimacy. They need pro help. ESH.

Marriage in shambles, both miserable for years. ESH.

Divorce may be the best option for both of you

Sometimes being alone is better than being miserable together ♂️

ESH but husband’s hookup is worse than wife’s emotional affair

Longstanding issues and unmet needs led to emotional affair. Couples therapy recommended.

Leaving a toxic marriage for a better life

Husband’s infidelity exposed and called out for neglecting wife’s needs

Marriage in crisis due to mismatched needs and desires.

HRT could have prevented an ESH situation. Menopause is tough

User calls out OP on blaming wife for his cheating. YTA.

Divorce may be the best option for unhappy couples

A helpful tip for receiving feedback on long comments.

Divorce may be the best option for a functional family

Married man cheats on wife and prioritizes sex over family. YTA.

User calls out OP’s justification for cheating, no replies.

Brutally honest comment about marriage, effort, and divorce

Time to move on. Both unhappy and can’t confide. Co-parenting.

Cheating is never justified. Communication is key.

A candid perspective on a marriage lacking intimacy and emotional connection

Spicy comment calls out partner’s hypocrisy and suggests divorce.

NTA for feelings, ATA for cheating. Leave if unhappy.

Advice on menopause treatments and ESH/NAH judgment dilemma.

Communication breakdown led to emotional affair and hookup

Fiery reply to accusation of ’emotional affair’ in marriage crisis

Advice for reconciliation after infidelity: Radical Honesty and Mutual Amnesty ❤️

Putting on a happy face for the kids is harmful

Divorce advice and support from fellow readers

End the loveless mess, get a divorce!

Seek therapy, make decisions and prioritize your and children’s happiness ❤

Spouse’s possible narcissism and therapy addressed with empathy

Inquiring about possible sex addiction and wife’s perspective.

Choosing to stay in an unhappy marriage for the kids?

User questions site userbase for relationship analysis skills

It’s time to let the marriage go and find yourself

A humorous take on a serious situation with a sad advice.

Decisive action: therapy or divorce. Good luck mate! ✌

Therapy for all and divorce for both. It’s time to move on.

Brutal honesty. Staying together for the kids isn’t always best.

Heartbreaking comment urges couple to end toxic marriage

Time to find happiness outside this broken marriage!

Blunt advice: End it for your own happiness

Save your kids from emotional trauma, seek professional help or divorce.

Divorce seems like a healthier option for both of you

Letting go after infidelity: a tough but necessary decision

Encouraging comment suggests divorce and finding true happiness

Advice for open communication and marriage counseling

Divorce may be the best option for unhappy couples. ♂️

Divorce is better than a miserable, loveless hellhole

Divorce is better for kids than living in a tense home

Doctor’s decision has far-reaching consequences for family. ESH.

Kids suffer as parents’ toxic relationship teaches hate and toxicity.

Breaking the monotony in long-term marriage with kids

Is it time to re-evaluate the relationship?

A passionate plea for proper indentation in a comment section.

Compassionate suggestion on wife’s past trauma and its impact

Divorce isn’t a solution. Communication and patience can save marriages.

Divorce may be the best option for both of you.

It’s time to move on, find happiness elsewhere
