Significant Other Struggling

bmariee

New member
Hey there, I'm Bree. I have been, over the past months, acclimating my partner of nearly seven years to the fact that I am poly. I have known this since I was 17. For a long time I didn't understand why you could only love one person forever or at a time. So, with zero arm-twisting we decided to give it a try together. We both have begun dating and my First Partner thought cuddling and watching TV with the Second Partner was perfectly fine. The other night though, we had sex, something my FP was kind of pushing me to do because he liked the thought of it. Turns out that FP was totally not fine with it. He came home from work this morning a mess and he was crying and I was trying not to get angry.

Is there any way I can help him through this short of going back to the way things were and pretending I didn't feel this way? I just need some support or advice. I don't know where else to turn.
 
It might help to identify exactly what triggered that reaction in him. Was it jealousy? Fear of some kind? If you can work that out it'll be much easier to come up with an effective coping strategy, otherwise you're shooting in the dark.
 
Hey there, I'm Bree. I have been, over the past months, acclimating my partner of nearly seven years to the fact that I am poly. I have known this since I was 17. For a long time I didn't understand why you could only love one person forever or at a time. So, with zero arm-twisting we decided to give it a try together. We both have begun dating and my First Partner thought cuddling and watching TV with the Second Partner was perfectly fine. The other night though, we had sex, something my FP was kind of pushing me to do because he liked the thought of it. Turns out that FP was totally not fine with it. He came home from work this morning a mess and he was crying and I was trying not to get angry.

Welcome to the board, bmariee.

I am sorry if I get the sex/gender of you and your partners wrong. Since you kept it neutral I might use him/her incorrectly.

So your FP fantasized about your having sex with new guy and thought it was hot, in his head. Did all 3 of you have sex together, or was this one on one for you and new person? Not that it matters a whole lot, just wonder.
Is there any way I can help him through this short of going back to the way things were and pretending I didn't feel this way? I just need some support or advice. I don't know where else to turn.

You can't go back to the way things were, ever. Cat is out of bag, barn door is open, horse is out.

It is a reality that ideals or fantasies about open relationships, when a couple is discussing it beforehand prior to actually going for it, quite often do not match the reality.

It can be rough. I am sorry your FP is struggling. Jealousy often is a mask for fear of loss. Is your FP afraid you will leave him for new person?

Watch your own behavior. You are probably in a state of NRE (new relationship energy) where you are full of lustful romantic thoughts and feelings for an idealized version of who your new person is.

Be careful to pay plenty of attention to FP, loving them in the manner they can feel. Beware of gushing too much about SP, beware of texting them too much when it's time to be with FP, keep going on dates and having lots of sex with FP, etc. It's a balancing act that can be hard for people new to poly to practice.

Go to the lovingmorethantwo website to learn about opening up, the common pitfalls, and strategies to make this transition smoother. And good luck, dear!
 
Bree

Magdlyns advice about extra care for FP right now is so so true. Your slow assimilation of the poly life structure to your FP was wise too. I am sorry for your struggles but pleased you had the courage to reach out. I too had been doing that with my mono husband (assimilation) and as long as their were no details and he thought it was fun and frolic, it was harmless. When a my more serious relationship enters the picture it changes the whole dynamic and they are confronted by their denial. My husband just recently confronted me with sobs and crying and after really talking it out it was fear of loss that reared its ugly head. I had had a planned weekend with my second partner Sam but when my husband had the courage to come to me in a vulnerable state, I knew other issues should be on hold so care could be given. It's painful for certain and I really understand. Your first partner being in that state can really get you in the heart. Always take time to get to the heart of the emotions then concentrate on reassurance. Try to really focus on FP needs for the present moment
'm so greatful you choose to reach out. That's what a community is for, others experience and others skills help us all on this journey.
 
Thank you all for your advice. Both are male if that puts any perspective on the issue. My FP works nights and I have made sure that our life during his days off is unchanged. I have put a concerted effort toward taking him out on lunch dates and trying to be more assuring of him when we're together.

A major issue also, is that he feels lonely working the night shift. He's an RN. When he began working nights, my sleep schedule got messed up too so he's been able to text and talk to me pretty much at all hours of the night. A few nights ago, I was suddenly not there to respond to his message (it was about 45 minutes) and I think that's when the fear of loss started to set in.

He keeps saying he wants to try. But he also keeps saying he just wants me to be happy as if I haven't been for the past seven years. If he's going to suffer through this, I don't know that I can do it. He has even been pursuing a relationship with another guy who unfortunately lives over an hour away. I can tell that he really cares for this person--I think on an even more personal level that I care for my SP.

Sex for my FP is a very intimate thing and that's what upset him. To me, sex is the fulfilling of needs. I consider things like having thoughtful conversations and cuddling on the couch to be much more intimate than that so I'm trying to put myself in his shoes. The important thing is that I'll support him through this like he's supporting me.
 
So your FP fantasized about your having sex with new guy and thought it was hot, in his head. Did all 3 of you have sex together, or was this one on one for you and new person? Not that it matters a whole lot, just wonder.

And Magdyln, He had fantasized about me having sex with someone else (or he three of us together, I guess). It turned out one on one with a new person. He's not hiding his fear of loss in jealousy which is a good thing. He is at least open to me about that.
 
First time

The first time my gal had sex, I was okay with it and sent her on her way. When she got home, I was a total mess and was very depressed the next day. I had feelings of loss and I was very insecure. She was very supportive and reassured me that she loved me very much and would continue to love me just as much. It was very important for her to do that for me.
The next time I was much better about it but she stayed later than she was supposed to at his place. She promised to be home by one but didn't get back until 2am without a call. That caused a lot of problems because she broke a rule. The feelings of loss and insecurity were not as bad but the fact that she broke a promise by not checking the time really hurt.
She switched over to daytime dates where she wasn't out late and that really helped. She also is really loving when she comes home and that is really what I need reassurance with so it works out great.
I would tell your partner how much you love them before and after so they know that your relationship is not changing. Also, having awesome sex with them the day before or after doesn't hurt. I have been getting laid way more often now that she has a boyfriend and the sex is better. It really really helps.
One more thing, is he dating someone? If not, he may have feelings of exclusion. Why can she have fun but I can not? It is much harder for a man to find a partner in an open relationship than a woman from my experience. It has been an uphill battle for me and I am a good looking outgoing guy.
 
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One more thing, is he dating someone? If not, he may have feelings of exclusion. Why can she have fun but I can not? It is much harder for a man to find a partner in an open relationship than a woman from my experience. It has been an uphill battle for me and I am a good looking outgoing guy.

Yes, he is dating someone, but this person lives over an hour away. He is supposed to go visit him next weekend. I am very happy for him and very supportive of him. I made sure to clarify that he was only looking for men because he wanted to, not because he felt he could not find another woman. He seems very happy in this and has been open with this person about his feelings and the overall situation. I'm sure he's feeling left out because his person lives so much farther than mine. I just pop over after my FP goes to work, he can't do that.
 
Same here

Same here.
I haven't been able to find anyone where I live so I am forced to drive through traffic to a larger city nearby for dates. Just this morning we talked about that. It will be very hard to carry on a long term relationship when you have to drive and arrange meet up times. She can make a phone call and see him right away.
I would just put as much effort into making the primary feel loved and needed as you do into your new partner. That might be hard since you have all that new sex happening which can be distracting. If you talk to your primary a lot about the other person or about the sex and how good it is, then you may send him down a shame spiral.
My gals sends me texts when I know she is on a date. They are just nice texts about how much she cares for me. It is nice and I know she is thinking about me.
 
smiles

Your observations, side, pov and ideas are so welcomed! Your in site is very helpful at this current time with my hubby acceptance of a more serious second relationship than he had thought in my life. He's had some break down but also real open acceptance and encouraging attitude on some days. Especially when he knows we are doing activities he can't or won't do. skating, dance lessons ballet, etc. Extra attention, meaningful conversation and more romantic sex seem to be the medicine at this current moment of new openness for him.
 
As a significant other who has been going through the same process, I found Frankin Veux's book and web site/blog on Polyamory and techniques for dealing with anxiety and jealousy massively helpful. If you can get you SO to look at these it may help. I would also say small steps, even tiny steps help as does doing 100% what you say you will. If you say you will be home by 3pm, be home by 3. If you say you won't do X with you partner yet, do not do it.
 
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Zig zag

More than Two is an amazing book and I literally am reading some portion of that book on a daily basis. It's almost a bible for me. Since I discovered it it has helped me grow more than any other poly book I have come across. So glad you put that out there for Bree. I am using info in it for my SO. Love that book and his blog.
 
Our V just had this same break down the other day. My SOs OSO is a friend of mine that she was interested in, and he had voiced to me many times how pretty she was, so when she came to me to ask if she could get to know him better, I was okay with it. It wasn't the first time I had let her have sex with another man, the biggest thing I had to get over with the last one was how he one night stranded her and was freaking gigantic (below average here, but rock it)! All of us from the first are friends still, so that made it easier. With her current, the her having sex wasn't a big deal. The first time was a little hard, but we agreed that if she told me everything that happened, that it would be okay. Two reasons for this, it's so I know he was doing things that wouldn't make her uncomfortable, and two, it turns her on replaying the whole thing. As the relationship grew, it grew. We all have come closer cause of it, but there have been tough times. Yes mine and my SOs sex life has increased a lot because of the whole relationship, but they have grown closer as well. As we spent time together, J (OSO) and I enjoy teasing our So, and we just had a huge break in the teasing last night. But, before we got there, there was talks about how I was afraid she was going to leave me, tears, we literally were at a rest stop the other night talking everything over because I overheard them talking about how they had sex in the room right next to me that morning. Now, I am okay with them having sex, but they broke 2 rules, no sex while I'm around, and they didn't tell me. On top of that, I had felt like all my attempts at my SO were going nowhere, cause she would shut down on me, and I just learned that he had her going in no time. Discussions were had, apologies were made, and promises for all of us to try harder were put in order. And to me, that is a big thing. It is no longer just you and your SO, it's all of you now. There is a root cause to why he felt the way he did, and it seems like you have found it. But it's not just up to you or him to resolve it, it is up to all parties to fix the issue and come to a compromise that works for everyone. Now, as for the break through we made, J and I could only get so far teasing our SO before she would tell us she was getting uncomfortable. If she tells us to stop, we immediately do, and last night, J and I had her completely naked and aroused on all fronts last night, and had a small showoff competition with our best skills in the process. So, don't give up hope yet, but work on it as a family, not just a singular couple. In our house, the three of us are family.
 
Hi Bree,

People often think they'll be fine with something when they're just talking about it before the fact, but then after the fact they find out they're not fine with it at all. You and FP are just starting out on the poly path together, so you are both experiencing new things. Sometimes it is exhilarating, other times it is terrifying. The important thing is to try not to go into panic mode; work through the fear a little at a time; find out what's causing it and talk about what can be done to make it a little easier.

It takes a lot of patience to work through the early stages of poly. If you'll continue reading and posting here on Polyamory.com, we'll continue to try to help.

Regards,
Kevin T.
 
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