Now: problems with the spouse. How working on self ripples into marriage. HELP!

[Guest guest]

One of the biggest messages I've taken to heart after discovering my nada's

issues and how I fit into the over-all dynamic is that I need to work on myself

and declare that I have emotional needs and not to feel guilty about those.

I'm finding out how co-dependent I've really become. I haven't ever put my needs

above the needs of others- including my marital relationship.

Overall, my husband of nearly 11 years has put up with a tremendous amount of

FOG and nada-related crisis. I admit: for many years I was her flying monkey. If

nada crossed boundaries, acted inappropriately I firmly stopped my husband from

taking action.

I know now that my stopping him only reinforced to nada that her behavior was

OK.

Nada aside, I'm now having (ok, these are years-old issues)similar issues with

my husband.

We have long butted heads over his lack of affection(In the 13 years we've been

together I've never received a single love letter or poem. I've told him that

simple emails saying " thinking of you " or a post-it note on my steering wheel

that I would see leaving for work would have the same impact. I've even told him

that I would just like to slow dance in our living room once the kids are in

bed) Instead of respecting my emotional needs he's told me they are 'childlike'

and 'stupid' since he doesn't require the same thing. Six months ago he made the

ultimatum that I either let go of my needs and my requests to have my emotional

needs met- or he would be filing for divorce. He flat told me that he wasn't a

romantic person and would not, ever, do any of the things I suggested. That I

needed to accept him the way he was. He said it made him feel like I was telling

him he was a failure.

So basically, if we have sex: I initiate. If I want some romantic ambiance, I

prepare it. If I say I need held or would like to cuddle- I have to cuddle HIM.

I've done my best to focus on his good qualities and have repressed my needs,

trying to get myself to believe his views- that what I'm asking for isn't

important. (years ago, when I found emails he was sending to an ex-girlfriend I

took responsibility for them, vowing that I would work to meet his sexual needs

so he didn't have to look elsewhere, since that is what he told me he needed,

that he wasn't getting-which led to his seeking it out elsewhere_

So,ast night.

While hubby was watching a " guy-flick " with our oldest son I prepped for a

late-night romantic encounter. I cleaned out our bedroom of all distraction and

replaced them with scented candles, massage oil within arms reach, music, etc.

I thought we were on the same page- since we'd been flirting and he said he was

looking forward to the evening all day.

Once the kiddos were in bed I asked him if he was ready to go to bed- knowing

that he knew what awaited him.

His response was less than enthusiastic and it really hurt my feelings. I wanted

to hear: " babe, I've been ready all day, " not his shrugging his shoulders and

giving me a " eh, I guess. "

I didn't know what I had done wrong and pressed him for answers.

He said there was no reason for me to feel hurt- even saying that had I sat down

to watch the movie with him and then, once the kids were in bed, " came on to

him, rubbed on him, etc, " that everything would have been different.

In my co-dependent way I told him that I respected his needs and would work

harder at meeting them- but told him I was scared to death of acting too

romantic or asking that we " make love, " versus straight porn-style sex because I

was afraid that those actions would be considered off limits and part of his

" don't go there or I'm leaving you, " stance.

I feel like a prisoner and I'm hurt that once again, find myself in a

relationship were my emotional needs don't matter but his do.

After declaring that I would respect his needs I asked him to make the same

agreement- that we would work to make the other happy, which would help keep the

marriage healthy.

His " agreement " shocked me. Instead of taking ownership and vowing to do

something I've said would mean the world to me he promised to " help around the

house more so I would have the energy to sit down with him and feel like doing

the things he wanted. "

So basically, his stance was: I will help you meet my needs. Am I wrong at

feeling badly about this?

When I told him that wasn't along the lines of what I promised him, he just got

angry, shut down and said " i dont' know what you want. Again, this is just

another example of how i'll never meet your needs. I don't know what you want. "

So my question is: as children with BPDs- how has the discovery of yourself and

your working on you, and trying to take care of yourself and have your needs met

for a change, effected your relationship?

Is this normal?

We've tried marriage counseling but only went a few times and hubby told me he

had no intention of following through with her suggestions, that he only went to

shut me up- so I'm feeling trapped.

AM I the one asking too much?

In my warped sense of identity, i feel guilty. Just like my past relationship

with my nada I feel like if i work a little harder, do a little more.....

Suggestions?