My Wife Friend-Zoned Me And Wants A Platonic "Companionship."....- Reddit Family
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We Couldn't Save Our 15-Year Marriage Because My Wife Friend-Zoned Me And Wants A Platonic "Companionship."
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The story revolves around a 15-year marriage between a couple that has hit a significant rough patch, leading them into a more platonic, co-parenting dynamic rather than a romantic one. The husband, feeling neglected and undesired, details how his wife, after 20 years together and raising two kids, has stopped being intimate or sexual with him, expressing that she sees him only as a best friend. Despite their efforts in couples therapy and individual therapy, the wife's feelings of disconnection have only grown, ultimately transforming their relationship into a purely functional partnership focused on their children.
Over the years, the couple had engaged in swinging, which temporarily invigorated their relationship, but as that phase ended, the wife's interest in sex dwindled completely. The husband’s numerous attempts to understand the root of the problem and his wife’s feelings of resentment have been met with unclear responses, leading to frustration and desperation on his part.
In a pivotal therapy session, discussions around their early marriage challenges, raising children at a young age, and the loss of social connections surfaced as potential underlying issues affecting their relationship. However, the wife's inability to pinpoint a clear reason for her feelings leads to a stalemate.
The husband then decides to adopt a "180 method," a strategy of emotional detachment and focusing on self-improvement and setting clear boundaries, which gradually changes the dynamic between them. His wife begins to react to the new dynamic, showing signs of missing the connection they once had.
After weeks of implementing the 180 method, the couple reaches a turning point. They have a heartfelt discussion about their individual needs and set clear personal goals without imposing them on each other. They agree to work on themselves individually while still being open to helping each other. This new approach brings about a slight improvement in their relationship, with increased communication and some resurgence of intimacy.
They conclude by setting a deadline to reassess their relationship and decide whether to continue or end their marriage, aiming for a future where both could find happiness, whether together or apart.
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