How to best deal with the mental images...
 Talk About Marriage
  The Marriage Advice and Relationship Help Forums
  right
Forums - Online Counseling - For Therapists - Link to Us - Advertise  

    A Public Forum Provided by The Family & Marriage Counseling Directory
Register FAQ Community Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Navigation »Talk About Marriage »Focused Topics »Coping with Infidelity » How to best deal with the mental images...

Coping with Infidelity Relationship recovery from the destructiveness of infidelity.

Like Tree8Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 05-26-2012, 11:27 PM   #1 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 28
Default How to best deal with the mental images...

I've been having a hard time dealing with my thoughts getting off track. Sometimes, I just start thinking about my wife's affair and having the images of what had happened go through my mind. Unfortunately I do know the appearance of the OP. It kinda comes and goes, but is there anything other than time that helps these get out of your head?
CarlJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2012, 11:48 PM   #2 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 7,278
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

You have to force them out. When they come, tell your self "I diserve good things" and repeat it time and again. When I'm alone, like on my way to work I say this out load.

I refuse to let my wife unhealthy behavior dictate my life, I will not be defined by her crap. So find a mintra and use it to force those thoughts out of your head.

I aslo have heard were the betrayed imagine the AP wearing a clown suit and a clone nose, the betrayed will think about how clumpsy the AP is .

Often PA are on the run and are very ackward, its not so great when the guilt is there. But in any case as far as the mind movies go the thing that worked for me was plain old forcing them out and replacing them with something positive.
the guy is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 12:07 AM   #3 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,475
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Find a counselor who specializes in treating victims of infidelity and PTSD. I was given the name and phone number by a life saving friend of mine, and it helped me tremendously on my road to recovery.

While the following articles are no substitute for a good therapist, they can help nevertheless.

3 Ways to Erase Post-Affair Anger
Cheated On, Tortured by Images
Feeding the Affair-Image Beast
Erase Obsessive Affair Images (in 30 Minutes)
__________________
"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." Robert A. Heinlein

Links
morituri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 12:26 AM   #4 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: West Georgia
Posts: 329
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

I hate to put it this bluntly, but anything he did, you can do or have done. Its pretty much the same with everybody. Every guy who marries a woman who's been married before could have the same issues (i.e. visualizing what "they" did together) but we accept the fact we ain't the only one who's been there. Its tough thinking about someone hammering your wife but unless a guy marries a virgin, someone else has been there. ( but those things clean up nicely ) . My wife was married before and had a couple of long term boyfriends in between. They did it. I guess I could sit around and create my mental version of their activities, whether they were better than me, etc., etc. But I don't. Your in the same boat as the rest of us who are married to someone who, at some time, got it on with someone else. Sex is a natural act. I do it pretty much like you or the O.M. It's like my uncle used to say, "you ain't the only one with a mule that can plow that field boy" Your bigger problem is that you can never really trust her again.
Fvstringpicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 09:46 AM   #5 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 28
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Quote:
Originally Posted by morituri View Post
Find a counselor who specializes in treating victims of infidelity and PTSD. I was given the name and phone number by a life saving friend of mine, and it helped me tremendously on my road to recovery.

While the following articles are no substitute for a good therapist, they can help nevertheless.

3 Ways to Erase Post-Affair Anger
Cheated On, Tortured by Images
Feeding the Affair-Image Beast
Erase Obsessive Affair Images (in 30 Minutes)
I appreciate the help.
CarlJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 09:48 AM   #6 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 28
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fvstringpicker View Post
I hate to put it this bluntly, but anything he did, you can do or have done. Its pretty much the same with everybody. Every guy who marries a woman who's been married before could have the same issues (i.e. visualizing what "they" did together) but we accept the fact we ain't the only one who's been there. Its tough thinking about someone hammering your wife but unless a guy marries a virgin, someone else has been there. ( but those things clean up nicely ) . My wife was married before and had a couple of long term boyfriends in between. They did it. I guess I could sit around and create my mental version of their activities, whether they were better than me, etc., etc. But I don't. Your in the same boat as the rest of us who are married to someone who, at some time, got it on with someone else. Sex is a natural act. I do it pretty much like you or the O.M. It's like my uncle used to say, "you ain't the only one with a mule that can plow that field boy" Your bigger problem is that you can never really trust her again.
Yeah, I've been trying to accept this as well. To me, its the concept that our bond was broken, more than the idea that someone else has been there. It's also just a reminder of of disappointed you are that your wife could make conscious decision to do such a thing, despite knowing the damage it will cause.
CarlJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 10:04 AM   #7 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,475
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

I remember a fellow BH, said it best to his cheating STBXW "There is no more US. You killed US". The sex with the OM was the graphic symbol of this death. For this reason, if there is a willingness by both spouses to R, the idea of going back to the old marriage should be abandoned since it is gone forever and a new marriage should be the goal. Years later, a renewal of vows ceremony can be had as a symbol of the new marriage.
__________________
"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." Robert A. Heinlein

Links
morituri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 10:09 AM   #8 (permalink)
Member
 
bandit.45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,970
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Slamming my forhead into drywall sometimes helped.

Gets expensive though...
bandit.45 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 11:12 AM   #9 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: West Georgia
Posts: 329
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlJ View Post
It's also just a reminder of of disappointed you are that your wife could make conscious decision to do such a thing, despite knowing the damage it will cause.
That's what you need to be pissed off about, not the act itself. It kinda like premeditated murder; the planning is as evil as the act. I think the problem is oftentimes the "movies" are the brains reaction to refusing to be angry about the betrayal and forcing yourself, for the sake of reconciliation and a spirit of forgiveness, to not be livid and wanting some type retribution for what she done. The movies may be part of your brain telling another part, "Hey, I really want to dump this broad and here's why".
Fvstringpicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 11:50 AM   #10 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London
Posts: 1,818
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Men are visual creatures, it's incredibly difficult to get rid of them, it's not in our nature. I suppose you can have an alarm in your head pre-set to every time the thoughts come rushing in and distract yourself with other thoughts.
Complexity is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 11:59 AM   #11 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,475
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

The mind movies maybe difficult for us men to deal with but even visual creatures such as ourselves CAN conquer them with the right counseling therapy. I can vouch for this.
__________________
"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." Robert A. Heinlein

Links
morituri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 01:48 PM   #12 (permalink)
Member
 
AngryandUsed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: In myself.
Posts: 1,204
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

If you do D, why have the images? Get rid of the images as you got rid of the WS.
However, if you do R or contemplating on R, there are difficulties in dealing with the images. :-(
Efforts of WS in repairing the damage done is number one. Your own inner strength matters as well.
Tough work, dude.
AngryandUsed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 01:51 PM   #13 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 28
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Really taking control of your own mind as it goes through all these emotions seems to be a good focus.
CarlJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 02:04 PM   #14 (permalink)
Member
 
DaKarmaTrain!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 94
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

While I never caught my wife cheating conclusively her inappropriate relationships with over men (who she would magically meet at different social settings and instantly become 'best friends' with) was one of the key points in the breakdown of our marriage.

The 2 year party she has been having went into overdrive when we seperated last October...and even though I left her it still hurts to think about what she is doing out there now. From the rumours circulating her panties are up and down more than a $20 hookers. It hurts to visualize your wife of 14 years (and mother of your 2 children) turning into something you never would have guessed would happen in a million years.

So I too am searching for how best to deal with the mental images...
DaKarmaTrain! is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2012, 02:42 PM   #15 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: West Georgia
Posts: 329
Default Re: How to best deal with the mental images...

Just keep in mind that what she did is on her. Her actions were always beyond your control. Read Matthew 7:6
Fvstringpicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
It hurts so bad!! and the images...... atcdug Coping with Infidelity 20 10-25-2012 10:56 PM
Horrible images sbm1977 Coping with Infidelity 23 06-08-2012 10:41 AM
The Images ! CJ2 Coping with Infidelity 48 01-21-2012 10:52 PM
can't get the images out of my head sirwonder Coping with Infidelity 22 12-15-2011 09:55 AM

Member Area

Find a Therapist:


Sponsor Ads





Get The Family & Marriage Counseling Directory Help Guide via Email:
Name:
Email:




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:23 AM.



Copyright 2007 - 2013 © Talk About Marriage