Monday, June 6, 2011

Co Dependant

When I joined Cosa the first time I didn't believe I was co-dependant.  Trying to take a good look at my place in this relationship. 

Yep...I may be a bit co dependant.  May be textbook. 

More info see this article.

http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/signs-of-a-codependent-relationship

Friday, June 3, 2011

Why...

There are 3 reasons I do this blog...
1) An anonymous way to vent without having to burden friends or family.  None of the names on this blog are our real names and nothing is specific enough to divulge where we live.
2) As a record of how this journey will play out.
3) So that other partners of SA's won't feel as alone as I did. 

When this problem first happened to us I thought I was a big part of the problem.  The "what if I had" question popped into my brain constantly. 

Then I felt I could control the situation and control David's recover.  Yes, I am a controlling person and that is something I am working hard to overcome.

Now I realize that with the amount of SAA meetings in the area and state I understand that this is not a small problem only happening to us.  This is the alcoholism of our day.  It is shameful, it is hidden and it is not understood.  I doubt I will ever understand. 

That is why I am here.  And that is why I don't delete comments or questions.  Everyone has their own journey.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

A Visit to the Divorce Lawyer

Yesterday was a hard day.  I did something I always hoped would never happen.  Even when I first found out about David's addiction I hoped that a lawyer visit would not be part of our recovery.

Visited a divorce lawyer to work on the separation agreement.  In our state you have to be separated for 12 months before you can file for dissolution. 

What a lot of people do is get a separation agreement that goes over what is done with what during the separation and then what happens after the divorce.  If you don't agree before the divorce is filed you then let the courts decide. 

Since this is not a clear case of adultery it is a bit stickier but due to the long history of email and chat and phone records I have and the fact that this was him messing up his second chance I have a good case to get what I want in the divorce and separation.

I am suffering from "indignities" and that is grounds for divorce. 

I want to get all of our terms on paper not only to protect me and my sanity...also to get it done before David's guilt goes away or he gets caught up in the whole "this isn't my fault, I have a disease!" bullshit. 

Oh by the way...our 5th anniversary was last week.  Great.

"Maybe it is you"

My last post got a very interesting comment.  Essentially the person asked if maybe David's addiction was due to our lack of sex life.  It was almost as if I went back in time and asked myself the question.

There was a time when I thought Sex Addiction only had to do with the act of sex or orgasm.  That if only the Sex Addict wasn't such a disgusting, selfish person they would get over it.  Or if the Sex Addicts girlfriend/boyfriend would just give it up more than the addiction would go away. 

Not sure if anyone remember David Ducovney and his addiction.  This is exactly what I thought and wondered how Tea Leone could stay with him?  After a lot of reading and a lot of professional help I have a different look at this addiction.

Asking a question like that is like saying to someone who is married to an alcoholic "maybe it is your fault...maybe you weren't drunk enough with him.  Maybe if you were drunk more often with him he would not want to be drunk as much."  Since this is a SEX addiction the other person in the relationship is looked at a lot closer and blamed a lot more.  If you found out your wife was addicted to internet shopping you as the husband wouldn't think "if only I was on ebay with her more often!"

It took me a long time but I realize this addiction has nothing to do with me.  He had signs of it before we even met.  I have been an enabler at times but most of the time sex addiction really has nothing to do with sex! 

Working on the co-dependency has been hard.  It is easier with him out of the house.  Not easy.  Just easier.