You may have just recently discovered your partner accessing pornography, holding sexual secrets from you and/or having affairs. As well, you could have been holding on to the unsettling feelings associated with your partner’s sexual acting out for some time but are now willing to seek help.
If you have come to realize or are wondering if you are indeed the partner of an addict, please know that you are not alone in your journey and that it is not your fault. Some feelings you may be experiencing are similar to those that suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or anxiety and depression. These may include: intrusive thoughts, sleeplessness, denial, sadness, hypervigilance, irritability, fear, responsibility for your partner’s acting out, and hurt. You may also have feelings of disgust, shock and confusion. Some of these feelings can impair your ability to function on a day to day basis and feel powerless. The life that you thought you had has been turned upside down. You may ask yourself: how did this happen to me; why did I not see this happening; what do I tell others?
I can help you deal with the distressing emotions that you are experiencing, normalize your feelings, and provide a listening ear for all the pain that you have carried. I will also point you toward resources that will help on your healing journey and let you see that you are not alone.