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NEED HELP WITH WIFE



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Sep 05, 2009 06:32 PM

NEED HELP WITH WIFE


Hi,

I need some advice. I just started nursing school in August and I have been married for 3 years. My wife is very jealous of all the girls in my class (although there's only 1 girl under the age of 35 and she's not attractive at all). She's came and walked by the classroom and she knows this but she's like having panic attacks every time I'm at school. She's also really worried about when I have to do the OB rotation and see girls naked. I've tried to explain to her that it's a professional setting and I would never think of it sexually no matter who it was naked, let alone with a baby coming out! She just keeps having panic attacks and I really don't know how to console her. Basically I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas. She says she's really scared of me finding someone "better" and leaving her. I think she's an amazing wife and a great mother to our 6 month old daughter she just can't stop obsessing over this. (and then she came on here and saw someone post about the beautiful girls in their classes and freaked out more).

Just for reference I have never done anything even remotely close to being unfaithful. She had a very hard childhood and was sexually abused for many years by a family member, so I'm not upset that she is so scared, I just was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what to say? Besides the normals "i wont leave you" "i love you" "it's a professional setting", etc.


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44 Comments
No. 1
from Remilekun
Old Sep 05, 2009, 06:50 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
Well, whenever there is a gathering of some sort with the other students, invite her. Express to her how you only have eye for her. If that doesn't work then, you might need some counceling because her issues might be beyond being jealous of middle age women she doesn't even know.
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No. 2
from milan18400
Old Sep 05, 2009, 06:57 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
she goes to therapy weekly to try and work on her self-confidence. I just wanted some extra ideas. I really like the idea of trying to get her to know some of the other girls in class so she won't feel so threatened. I never thought of that. I had just assumed she'd feel better as far away from the situation as possible.
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No. 3
Old Sep 05, 2009, 11:12 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
I might not be so sure of inviting her just yet if there is a gathering and she is insecure. Maybe when things have resolved but having her around right now might make things worse.

Just speaking as a woman. I already gave you my advice in your other thread so I won't elaborate again, but I just had to chime in on that.
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No. 4
from augiebear
Old Sep 05, 2009, 11:33 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
Yes Im a woman reading the male nurses forum, just curious.. I think the inviting her to a gathering with your classmates is a great idea. If she can talk and mingle with them and see that you are there for schooling purposes only, she might feel better. It wouldn't be like your are hiding or withholding anything from her. Also, besides telling her all those nice things, trying showing her how important she is to you,tell her how beautiful she is, you know, all that good stuff. At the end of the day there is only so much you can do, and if your trying your best, what else can you do?
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No. 5
from Essayons
Old Sep 06, 2009, 08:35 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
OK- since women are responding to this I will identify myself as a guy. I feel your pain, my wife thinks I am going to cheat on her even before I decided to become a nurse.

The offer to invite her has its ups and downs. Since in your opinion only one or maybe two are even remotely attractive, it may be worth a shot. It's great that she is getting couseling, but maybe you could go with her and talk about this issue together infornt of the couselor? Just a thought.

Maybe you can talk with some of your teachers? I am sure you are not the first student that has had this issue if some of your teachers have been teaching for a while like osme of mine have. Good luck.
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No. 6
Old Sep 07, 2009, 07:21 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
The reasons I would be hesitant if she is still feeling insecure and such is because she can over read the woman's responses if the woman are friendly with you. One of the woman can seem "overly" friendly in your wives eyes because she is already at a vulnerable state and when we are insecure and vulnerable we can sometimes read more into a situation. So the outcome can become worse. So I would for sure use caution.
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No. 7
Old Sep 07, 2009, 08:30 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
Sorry, the title caught my eye, I have to respond, but I will warn you, I'm a woman. Your wife is feeling insecure because of the baby, in my opinion. Her hormones haven't settled down yet from pregnancy and childbirth. All you can do is reassure her by making her feel great. She thinks you're going to find someone better because the women in your class are gaining knowledge. She might be feeling insecure about her own level of intelligence, if you will. Combine that with the fact that YOU are also getting smarter and it's a punch in the gut to her. You might want to bring up that you love her the way she is and thank her for having that baby! And tell her she's a good momma.
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No. 8
from Katie Bang
Old Sep 07, 2009, 09:30 PM

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
I didn't read the other responses yet, so sorry if this is a repeat, but I would assure her that you are in shcool for HER, not to find a replacment. Let her know if she can handle her emotions, it will be worth it in 2 years when you are making good money and have a great stable job with wonderful benefits for your family! Let her know no matter what she says, you're not dropping out of school, so she has 2 choices: Make the decision to not be jealous, and look to the future for comfort, or let it ruin your relationship and potentially ruin your schooling. Keep in mind just having a baby she is "fragile" Mine is 15 months old, and I still have some insecurities I've never had before! So be sensitive, compliment her often, especially before class. Just say how good she looks, so you can leave on a good note, and leave with her in a good mood hopefully!
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No. 9
from rn/writer
Old Sep 07, 2009, 09:59 PM
Updated Sep 08, 2009 at 12:43 AM by rn/writer

Default Re: NEED HELP WITH WIFE
Your wife's problem is not about the other women. It's about her own fears and insecurities. No amount of explaining your thoughts or discounting the appearance of your classmates, teachers, patients, innocent passersby will completely alleviate her concerns because they are not the problem. It IS important that you let her know you value her and find her attractive, but by itself, that isn't sufficient to fill the hole in her spirit.

The fact that she has a history of sexual abuse and a difficult life strongly suggests that these issues are still actively hurting her. You are both very fortunate that she was able to enter into a healthy marriage and have a child. Many former victims can't trust enough to do either.

The fact that you are starting nursing school isn't causing her insecurity; it's revealing what is already in there. If it weren't this situation, there would probably be another trigger at some point. An attractive neighbor or nice-looking coworkers (which will likely occur when you start working as a nurse). Eliminating the competition may put a lid on the symptoms for a time, but it won't fix what's broken.

I suggest that you both consider professional counseling geared toward survivors of sexual and other kinds of abuse and the people who love them. She may need a support group as well. Many former victims feel they have wounds that have "healed over" but that is a misconception. They may be scarred over, but unless the wounds were attended to and curative measures taken, real healing is still in the future.

Your wife may not initially be receptive to the thought of digging up the past, and that's all right. Some types of therapy are much more concerned with the present and resurrect history only enough to defuse it and let it go. The focus is on the ways that the old business hinders progress and function today. There may not be a lot of "wallowing."

Your wife getting help is important, not only for her own sake, but also because you have a daughter. Your wife needs the freedom (from old trauma) to communicate security, safety and joy to her child and to build a home that is free from unnecessary strife and old ghosts.

She is fortunate to have a caring and dedicated husband like you. Maybe you can do some research on your own to learn about the present-day fallout of unresolved sexual abuse and become an encourager and a resource in her quest for health and freedom.

I wish all three of you the best.
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