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How much responsibility do you have in your s/o's well-being?
Sex & Intimacy / 3:19 PM - Tuesday November 03, 2009

How much responsibility do you have in your s/o's well-being?

I have anxiety-related insomnia and nights are difficult for me. I need to try to wind down about an hour before bed, not watch thrilling movies or tv, no arguments or stressing out. My husband is a night owl, loves for me to watch movies and tv with him and tends to want me to stay up with him. We have had lot of arguments and discussions about this and we've talked about it in counseling. I have asked my husband to not argue or deter me when I say I am going to bed. He has improved but still does it sometimes. I go to bed all frustrated and stressed out. Yes, he's emotionally clingy.

Recently, there were two incidents: we were watching a show and he said the host gave a really articulate and great speech, did I want to see it. I said yes, but not tonight. I was in the kitchen and he puts it on anyway, wanting me to watch. I gave in instead of saying not tonight. It really was a great speech!I then am getting ready for bed and he's standing in front of the bathroom, talking about the lecture topic. I have to move around him to get ready and finally, I say in a very nice way thatI am enjoying the talk but I need to get to bed. "I'm not stopping you!!!" he says, upset and defensive.

Then, last night, he went to bed right before me and I decided, against my better judgment, to crawl in bed with him for a little while. We don't sleep together normally due to my insomnia and he's really hard to sleep with. So, I tell him I can only stay a minute and he starts talking about something that is upsetting to him (not about me). 30 minutes later, after consoling him and saying we just need to pray about it, God has always taken care of us before, I say I need to go to bed. "I am NOT stopping you! Don't say that!!!" I ask what he wants me to say and he finally comes up with, "I am going to bed." Sheesh, this man with split a split hair. Anything, anything at all to not be at fault or have any responsibility in anything. I go to bed and get settled and then I feel the mattress move. He's getting in bed with me! I carefully asked (he is very sensitive and defensive) what he's doing in bed with me. He takes my hand... and you know what he wants. It was just for a quick release but still! He'd just said he doesn't keep me from sleeping and he's in my bed??? We have gone around and around on just the issue of late-night sex. That's when he wants it and gets mad if I say no. I tell him he has from the time he gets home until about 9pm to bust a move and he's very oppositional and have been resistant to this. He has gotten better once he realized it's much better to get willing sex early in the evening than no sex or obligatory sex late at night. Anyway...

He's been doing similar things for years. I will say goodnight and he will suddenly just HAVE to show me something or wants me to see some video or something he made. He has finally admitted to have separation anxiety but doesn't deal with it in our counseling.

My question is, what do you think your role is in your s/o's wellbeing? If he or she has an issue that can be exascerbated by things you do that are just normal parts of life (example, if he/she is an alcoholic/drug addict/food addict, do you or would you be careful about your behavior in front of them so as not to negatively influence them?)In my case, my husband is wide awake and wanting to connect with me when I need to be getting ready for bed then sleeping. He will put a movie on at 9:00 or later and I need to be in bed or at least getting ready by then, and then want me to come and watch it with him. Or he will want to somehow deter me. I try to engage him/have sex/spend time earlier in the evening so that we do have quality time. He doesn't do this every night, thank God, but it's enough to be very frustrating. If I complain, he says it's my responsibility to have good boundaries and say no or that I need to go to bed. I say I shouldn't have to defend my boundaries time after time.

What do you think?




- Asked by Female, 36-45

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My husband does the SAME THING!!! wow.
He gets all defensive and yells when I calmly say the smallest thing.

I think your schedules are opposites and just dont mesh up.
this will pass with time. You PROBABLY wont be working the SAME jobs with the SAME shifts until retirement? he might take up a dayjob and fall asleep early, ANYTHING could happen.

Our situation is the opposite. I work 2pm to 11pm and am WIRED after 11, making dinner, watching a movie, play on internet, then I get horny.
HE works 9am to 5pm hard labor in a restaurant.. has to get up at 6 for Travel Time...
yeah. I go bed 3 or 4am he gets UP at 6..

he goes with lack of sleep a lot.
He sleeps ALL DAY on his off days when I have to work.

We have got in screaming matches about him waking me at 7am or 8am when I WORK 2pm to 11pm.... I dont HAVE to get up til NOON and I went bed super LATE..
but he gets ready for his work anywhere between 6-9am depending on his exact shift for the day.

Matt likes to play WAR movies with lots of shooting and screaming and HeavyMetal evil music before bed.

I nicely ask him to have some SILENCE before bedtime, I need to relax and NOT be stressed.
His godawful War movies have given me horrible sweaty NIGHTMARES on many occasions.

I say "I need sleep" I dont mention bed...there are LOTS of bed activites other than sleeping.
Or I'll tell him, "I'm exhausted, i'm going to get SICK if I dont get me some SLEEP!" exaggerate and say you're exhausted and feel like you're getting sick.

that shuts up a man and he MAY leave you to sleep.
Your schedules simply clash, Miss lady. Same with me and my husband....

You could try, "dont yell at me, that is very disrespectful!!" that worked to get him to holler less.

Men are big BABIES. the saying is true!

Get a sleepmask that says, "go away" on it?? heheh..

this SHOULD resolve itself with time.
it is good that you go to counseling, go some more if you can..



- Response by discotrash, A Life of the Party, Female, 22-25, Las Vegas, Other Profession

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Maybe you should see a doctor and get on some medication to help manage your anxiety because it sounds to me like your husband just wants a normal relationship with you.

To answer your question you are responsable for your own well being but a spouse should be willing to help if its an easy ask. Its hard to say how often this goes on based on your post but it sounds to me like he wants to connect with you which is a good thing in a marriage. 9pm is when children go to bed IMO.

- Response by newnumbersguy32, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 36-45, Financial / Banking

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That sounds really difficult, for both of you. The thing is, I also see his side. He is missing out on quality time with you.

I might see this wrongly, but how about this:
when he talked to you about what was upsetting him, did you actually listen and comfort him and try to devise concrete fixes to the problem or did you brush him off talking about prayer? I know if I were in his position and my partner would act like that toward me, I'd be very hurt.

He felt hurt that you were timing your moment of emotional exchange. His later approach was probably a way to repair the conflict.

Seeing this, I would say the two of you are as incompatible as a night owl and a morning person. When he needs emotional closeness, you are already about to sleep.

I'm not questioning your insomnia or your need for boundaries. But do ask yourself, are you trying to get more distance, albeit subconsciously? Are you looking for reasons to push him away? Because to me it looks like he's the one trying to get closer and you're the one running away.

Address the reasons that might cause you to want more distance. Do appreciate a man who is able to talk about his feelings and issues. I'm not sure however if you should strengthen your boundaries (you are not clear about it, you give in but then make him feel guilty) or relax them because having a schedule like that is pretty oppressive.

I don't know. I would be unhappy in his shoes, especially since you're not sleeping together. Sex is not the issue, sleeping together, cuddling etc. is.

- Response by A Career Woman, Female, 22-25, Student

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Women with clingy husbands do have this very common problem.
In your case, I don't know if your work, if you do, its only natural that you are dead tired by 9 pm, when the movie starts.

If uou don't work, perhaps a nap in the afternoon will help you
to stay a little longer with him.
But this would be only temporary solution. In reality clinginess stems from a deep feeling of insecurity and for that, he NEEDS to go to counseling ALONE. It will not work together in your case, because you both have alrready tried and hasn't worked. He has to talk to the therapist about things that he might be embarrassed to talk in front of you.
As for you, you msut not fight with him when he gets that way, it onlt worsen the situation and he'll get more defensive.
Just tell him I no longer want to fight over this issue and
emphasize to him he should get help alone.

I hope I helped, but this is a very difficult issue to deal with, on a daily basis,
:O)
argie


- Response by argie, A Creative, Female, Who Cares?, Who Cares?

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