Working on it.
So, I have a lot of PTSD from my last monogamous relationship still.
Which, it ended in 2018? But I guess trauma has a weird way of lying dormant until its triggered....
My ex, John, used to cheat on me virtually - meaning, he would have these relationships with women online. He would send nudes, sext, talk about ‘if he was single’, shared intimate details of MY sexual preferences, saving photos of my friends in various degrees of undress (some photoshopped even to appear “x-ray visioned” through clothes), and deceived me into thinking everything with us was ok.
It fucked with me, hard.
Especially the last part - He wouldn’t pursue me sexually, he would hide his phone screen from me, he changed his phone’s password (we both had shared ours with each other - made sense at the time), I could *tell* there was a shift in his demeanor towards me. And yet, when I asked if something was wrong, he would deny it. It was damn near gas-lighting. It drove me insane....
So, I would end up snooping on his stuff....I’m not proud of it. It would both satisfy the feeling of being crazy and inside my own head about it, but it was a double-edged sword - I always found something.
And each time? I’d cause a fight, I would be on the cusp of breaking up - and then he’d cry and martyr himself. I would feel so conflicted each time - surely, THIS was the time to leave, right? ...But I didn’t. I was scared to leave, I was heartbroken to think of leaving, I was stubborn in thinking “I can make it work still, we’ve been together for so long...”. I still didn’t....Not until after I ended up cheating on him, myself.
This has led me to realize, that I have some major relationship anxiety issues.
My partner and I are polyamorous - we live together and plan to someday get married. He has two other partners, and I only have him at this time. Adjusting to his newest partner has been a challenge for me - it seems to bring up these old feelings, that I’m being neglected, or that he’s sneaking something, or that he’s searching for my replacement.... All of which are not true - and I know they aren’t. If I ask anything about his relationships, he always tells me honestly, and has even shown me some messages to help ease my growing pains.
I can tell, this time is especially hard due to other stressful factors going on with my life - but I’m trying to minimize the adjustment time, and really work through it.
I WANT to be accepting and supportive. I WANT to enjoy my poly life.
I just need to get through this...












