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Topic : 07/03 "I Want My Ex Back"

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Created on : Friday, March 31, 2006, 12:46:27 pm
Author : DrPhilBoard1
(Original Air Date: 04/04/06) Have you ever called it quits and then decided you wanted your ex back? Amber's divorce from her husband of 10 years, Duane, is almost final, but she wonders if she's making the right choice. Is Duane willing to change and meet some of Amber's demands? Should Amber tear up the papers and let Duane move back in? Then, Scott and Erin have been married, divorced, reconciled, engaged and are now separated again. He wants her to come home and raise their children together, but she says she doesn't know how she could ever love him again. What's behind the conflict in this marriage, and can they resolve it and reignite their romance? Share your thoughts, join the discussion.

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April 4, 2006, 6:47 pm PDT

hmmm

Quote From: wizardstree

  i'm a 45 year old male, i was once very close to walking in your husbands shoes. the questions you need to be asking  yourself.  what do i want and need out of your life? will he satisfy you in every way needed by the time your old? what do you see in him, you can never find in somebody else? 

  what i would suggest for the both of you. if, he is the one you want to be with for the rest of your life.  

to do this, you both need to be on the same page, same level of understanding. next go back to a time in your life, when everything was perfect.  such as a time when you were a child, before you heard bad words or were aware of thing that were not good for children. 

  go back to when you lived liked a  five year old, if, you have to. the point is that you need to start over. the only way to do this, is to reinvent yourself for who you really are.  

  think about this theory. from the day we are born. we are affected in one way are another. by the age of two, we have learned the most diffcult things to learn, walking and talking. next, we start school to meet different people. with each passing day a little change takes place inside us. the next thing we know we're 25 years old and somebody we shouldn't be.  

  stop and think for a moment, growing up in the country without any outside contact would create the same kind of person growing up in a city, filled with bad things.  

  your husband did'nt invent the things he does. somehow along the way he was introduced to the things he does. he has found a off-way of thinking which gives him a feeling,  i call this personal self-made values.  

  reinventing, once you find that place go back to the town you lived in and go through your mind about the things you did as a kid. while doing this, keep somethings in mind as you reinvent yourself(the real you)or(finding yourself)you must never watch televsion, listen to the radio or read any reading material its very important to keep your mind in focus. 

  in focus- its alot like trying to quit smoking, yet you hang around with smokers. so, stay focused on the reinventing. you do not have to move back to that town, a simple  little visit will do. by combining a feeling with a way of thinking. you will be on the right track to changing. 

  next, everything you do, you can share with anybody. a child, a preacher, your mom, the pope, because it is good stuff. if, you find your doing something and can't share it. it will affect the change. 

next, get out and show compassion and help somebody in need. 

  if, he is not willing to live as a child. for a child has compassion and isn't afraid to speck freely. then you need to move on without him. 

also one more thing..... 

You say that I need to ask myself some question well to quote you "will he satisfy you in every way needed by the time your old?" "what do i want and need out of your life?"  

Ok here goes.....I do not mean to offend I just have a difference of opinion, that being said, 

There is no one person who can provide everything you will need out of life. So by asking that question you are setting every person in the world up for failure. There is only one person in this world who can satisfy your every need and since religin can be contraversial and this is not my website I will not press the issue. In my humble opinion though....God is the one and only  thing in life that can satisfy your every need. I know for a fact there is no one person in life who can satisfy your every need. If there was everyone on earth would be a happy camper. Also to ask what do I want and need out of life......Once again any one person cannot provide everything you want and need out of life. If that were the case we would all be billionares with no problems. Anyways......Back to my original question.....What should I do in my situation with my husband?? I still love him but not in the same way i used to. I believe that this relationship is very unhealthy and is getting nowhere real quick. Any advice??  

 
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April 4, 2006, 6:48 pm PDT

04/04 "I Want My Ex Back"

i have a situation a little different than everyone elses. i am 20 yrs old, before you judge me and say im young and dumb just hear me out, i need advice.  im not married but have been in a serious relationship with my boyfriend of 2 years we talk about living together and maybe one day getting married but i dont know how much longer i can take this.  like everyone elses stories he was great in the beginning. shortly after we got together he left for the military, since then everything has changed.  he lies about the smallest things and he makes me feel like next to nothing on many occasions.  one time he went to a strip club and told his friend if he had a girl that could dance or move like that  he wouldnt have to go to the clubs, i got a box of chocolate for christmas and he told me if i ate it i would get fat and we would have to break up; i know he jokes about these things but it really gets to me.  he also has a big spending problem, for the first year of our relationship i paid for and he made about double the amount i did, he buys things just to buy them and he doesnt need anything that he buys.  he has his credit cards maxed out and cant pay his insurance or phone bill because he never has any money but he goes to the bars and spends $200.  also i called him about 6 times, he didnt return my calls until about midnight i was worrried about him the whole day and he didnt seem to care, the next day he called me twice and couldnt get a hold of me so he called my cousin to find out where i was, what i was doing and why i wasnt answering my phone, its like we only talk when its convenient for him. another thing that is really getting in the way of things is one of his "girl friends"  for christmas he bought her a $300 louis vuitton bag.  he will pretty much do anything she asks, if she has a problem he listens and is there for her. she tells him to buy her a bag he does it.  t he thing that bothers me with all of this is when i try to talk to him he tells me he doesnt want to deal with it we can never get anything worked out also i asked him to download some music for me so i could burn a cd and he told me no because he didnt want stupid music on his computer.  i have thoughts about breaking up with him and how i cant live like this anymore but i love him and he is the best boyfriend i have ever had.  he is shipping out to sea in about a month and i am worried what might happen to us, does it seem like i am headed for disaster, should i end things before they get worse? advise please! sorry so long!!!
 
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April 4, 2006, 7:03 pm PDT

Huh?

Quote From: blueyes85

also, 

Why on earth would I want my husband to live like a child?? 

I am not his mother. I have two children of my own why would I want him to live like a child?? 

I want a MAN someone who has lived by trial and error. Someone who can be in a 50/50 relationship not someone I have to take care of or teach. I want someone who knows what it is to have been a child....but has grown up. I don't understand your post at all. I am sorry but telling someone to re-invent themselves in order to have someone else treat them right....in my opinion is just silly. Not to mention that if you have to change yourself in order to have someone else treat you right (unless you have some serious issues) you are no longer true to yourself and therefore can't really have a healthy relationship. 

  

I've just read your replies and I almost can't believe them.  One of your requests was for your husband to move back with his parents?  He is 30 something.  That would sound like you want him to be a child.  Why would you want him to do that?  Because it is taking money from you?  Do you work?  It wasn't mentioned but I seem to have gathered from what I've read from the transcript  that he is supporting you and your children.  If you are divorcing, how come you are not selling your "material" things and finding a job and getting an apartment for yourself and children.  Seems to me that you both could live comfortably and take care of your children.  Neither of you looked like you were unkept or were starving.  Life is too short.  I sincerely hope that you re read your replies and try to move on with your life.  Seems like some deep soul searching is something you should do.   

 
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April 4, 2006, 7:12 pm PDT

so sorry

Quote From: tajibear

I can really relate to so many of you, especially with the porn issue. I, too, saw the red flags and always got intimidation when I asked questions. There isn't enough room here for my entire story, not even an hour with Dr. Phil would be enough. I have read the boards on cheaters but this is my first time here. It is my hope that I might help someone else here.  We have been married for almost 31 yrs, grown children & grandchildren.  He has been a good husband, father & provider for the most part but has a big problem with porn & the truth, which he has yet to admit. This is my first marriage & his second.  He cheated on his first wife but convinced me that this time it was different. Well it was different alright.  He has worked out of town for most of our marriage and in 1999 I began picking up on things that made me question his faithfulness to me.  This went on until 2001 when I got proof  he couldn't lie his way out of though he tried.  He has bought a diamond & sapphire necklace for someone other than me.  Turned out she was a 33 yr old stripper. They had exchanged phone numbers & called each other a lot making plans for him to see  her whenever he could. Of course I knew the money for the main attraction for her but he thought she really cared for him.  He told her all kinds of lies too, including that I was dead.  I found out that he had been going to clubs for 3 yrs. Lots of money!  I suspect probably he had been going for longer but just like the whole ugly truth I will never know. I agreed to go into counseling & stay in the marriage because I loved him & felt that if I had an affair (which, by the way he still says it wasn't) he would give me the chance to be forgiven. I  stayed in counseling & he stopped going, he thought I needed fixing. This went on thru all of 2002 & things were going ok. He was making an effort to be open about his "affair" & allowed me access to cell phone, etc. I insisted that porn could no longer be a part of my life as it reminded me of what he did.  I thought we were on the same page with it.  In February 2003, our beautiful daughter, took her life with her father's gun. Recovering from his affair was nothing compared to this pain. She had been in an abusive relationship & was deeply depressed.  We seemed to put the affair & his lies away & I thought for good.  We reconnected in a new way when she died, or so I thought.  In April 2003 I found a porn magazine in the trunk of his car.  I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach.  He said it didn't mean anything & it wouldn't happen again. I told him I just couldn't deal with it ever again.  Well in December of 2005 I found him on the internet looking at porn, in of all places, eBay!  I told him again how it offended me & if it needed it he didn't need me.  Again, I thouht it was out of our lives.  I went online to check something under his screen name in his history & BAM! here we go again. I started keeping a log of everytime he was on looking at porn on eBay & other sites until  March 2006. By that time I had 30 pages front & back. I confronted him because he was leaving town. Of course it didn't mean anything. He then suggested I had a boyfriend online, yeah right!  I told him he couldn't expect me to "get over it", the past, if he wanted to live in it. All the porn did was remind me  of what I spent 4 yrs. working to recover from. He is now out of town, is he going to clubs, buying magazines, etc? I don't know, but I have leaned that I cant control his choices. I pray that it isn't happening.  I have gone into debt not so much to make myself feel better but as a diversion for the pain, from his affair but mostly from our daughter's death.  He has been understanding & is helping me with what I have done & I appreciate what he is doing. But should I have stayed, should I stay now, I am still working on that.  I, like the other writer, am not sure I know who he is anymore I even wrote a poem about it "Stranger in My Bed" because I have felt it for so long. As he puts it, "I like to flirt & BS but never got emotionally involved. I question if the porn & affairs have been going on out entire marriage but I don't allow myself too much time on that one. I know that God put me here for a reason & to learn from life & give back what I can, so I hope I have given something & thank you for letting tell my story.  I have learned it was never about me, thank you for that Dr. Phil, you have hepled me thru a lot of dark days.

you make my husbandsound like a saint. 

You say a few things in this post that stand out to me. 

First off "I know that God put me here for a reason & to learn from life & give back what I can" 

I don't know what your religion is.....but I know one thing. God did not intend for you to have to put up with infedelity. It states very clearly in the bible that adultery is a reason to divorce. Now that being said....Why are you allowing this man to treat you so cruely?? I know that love can blind....But one month after your daughters death and he is looking at porn??? That should tell you right there that he not only doesn't have respect for you.....but also none for your daughter!!! You said you have been married for 30 something years?? You have grandkids and all?? What are your grandkids going to think if they walk in and catch him looking at porn?? What message will that send to them?? You say you don't know if he is still cheating???  Well from what you have posted he has shown no remorse whatsoever for any of the things he has done to you. It sounds to me like he is doing what he wants no matter who he hurts. My advice to you is to really sit down and think this through. You need to respect yourself enough to not allow him to treat you the way he is. No matter what you think about yourself,,,, you deserve respect. You deserve to be treated as a human being. You deserve to be shown love and not be walked all over!!! Also.......Think about this....what kind of man would be out looking at porn (which I am guessing the women in the porn were about your daughters age or younger) not even three months after your daughter tragically died?? That right there to me is inexcusible and in my opinion a man like that deserves no respect whatsoever. I understand you have been married to this man for a long time. Now I want you to sit back and think real hard.....When was the last time you were happy? When was the last time you truly and honestly felt loved by this man?? When was the last time you trusted this man?? In my opinion you should very honestly sit back and think about yourself and not this man. Think about what would make you happy. Not what would keep feelings from getting hurt because in my opinion your feelings have been put aside for far to long. 

 
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April 4, 2006, 7:13 pm PDT

LOL

Quote From: skeptic

I've just read your replies and I almost can't believe them.  One of your requests was for your husband to move back with his parents?  He is 30 something.  That would sound like you want him to be a child.  Why would you want him to do that?  Because it is taking money from you?  Do you work?  It wasn't mentioned but I seem to have gathered from what I've read from the transcript  that he is supporting you and your children.  If you are divorcing, how come you are not selling your "material" things and finding a job and getting an apartment for yourself and children.  Seems to me that you both could live comfortably and take care of your children.  Neither of you looked like you were unkept or were starving.  Life is too short.  I sincerely hope that you re read your replies and try to move on with your life.  Seems like some deep soul searching is something you should do.   

I am not amber. 

I have a entirely different post. 

Read my first post.  

 
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April 4, 2006, 7:15 pm PDT

That message was for Amber

Quote From: skeptic

I've just read your replies and I almost can't believe them.  One of your requests was for your husband to move back with his parents?  He is 30 something.  That would sound like you want him to be a child.  Why would you want him to do that?  Because it is taking money from you?  Do you work?  It wasn't mentioned but I seem to have gathered from what I've read from the transcript  that he is supporting you and your children.  If you are divorcing, how come you are not selling your "material" things and finding a job and getting an apartment for yourself and children.  Seems to me that you both could live comfortably and take care of your children.  Neither of you looked like you were unkept or were starving.  Life is too short.  I sincerely hope that you re read your replies and try to move on with your life.  Seems like some deep soul searching is something you should do.   

I may have confused who was replying to whom.  The message that says "Huh" was meant for Amber
 
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April 4, 2006, 7:24 pm PDT

grrrr

Quote From: hill0234

i have a situation a little different than everyone elses. i am 20 yrs old, before you judge me and say im young and dumb just hear me out, i need advice.  im not married but have been in a serious relationship with my boyfriend of 2 years we talk about living together and maybe one day getting married but i dont know how much longer i can take this.  like everyone elses stories he was great in the beginning. shortly after we got together he left for the military, since then everything has changed.  he lies about the smallest things and he makes me feel like next to nothing on many occasions.  one time he went to a strip club and told his friend if he had a girl that could dance or move like that  he wouldnt have to go to the clubs, i got a box of chocolate for christmas and he told me if i ate it i would get fat and we would have to break up; i know he jokes about these things but it really gets to me.  he also has a big spending problem, for the first year of our relationship i paid for and he made about double the amount i did, he buys things just to buy them and he doesnt need anything that he buys.  he has his credit cards maxed out and cant pay his insurance or phone bill because he never has any money but he goes to the bars and spends $200.  also i called him about 6 times, he didnt return my calls until about midnight i was worrried about him the whole day and he didnt seem to care, the next day he called me twice and couldnt get a hold of me so he called my cousin to find out where i was, what i was doing and why i wasnt answering my phone, its like we only talk when its convenient for him. another thing that is really getting in the way of things is one of his "girl friends"  for christmas he bought her a $300 louis vuitton bag.  he will pretty much do anything she asks, if she has a problem he listens and is there for her. she tells him to buy her a bag he does it.  t he thing that bothers me with all of this is when i try to talk to him he tells me he doesnt want to deal with it we can never get anything worked out also i asked him to download some music for me so i could burn a cd and he told me no because he didnt want stupid music on his computer.  i have thoughts about breaking up with him and how i cant live like this anymore but i love him and he is the best boyfriend i have ever had.  he is shipping out to sea in about a month and i am worried what might happen to us, does it seem like i am headed for disaster, should i end things before they get worse? advise please! sorry so long!!!

First off let me tell you this...... 

Him having a girlfriend and dating you at the same time should give you a little bit of a clue to how serious he is with you. Obviously if he is dating you and her...He really doesn't truly take your relationship seriously. Now I am ex military and I know for a fact.....it is extremly tough to have a relationship when you are shipped off somewhere else. So not only is he dating you and her at the same time......but he is also fixing to ship out....in all not a very good combination. Now all that being said,I know it is hard to hear, but you cannot change a man. If he is treating you like this now...why on earth would you even consider marrying him. He can't possible love you....I know that sounds harsh.....but you do not treat someone you love like he is treating you. Also he is the best boyfriend you've ever had??? I would sure hate to meet your worst. You are selling yourself short. You deserve to be treated with respect and love. You deserve to be romanced and cherished. Don't make the same mistake I did because I am your same age and married to a ex military man. I was former military and he treated me the same way your boyfriend is treating you. Now I have two kids and am miserable. Get out of this relationship and find you a man who truly loves you and treats you with the respect you deserve. Don't allow this man to disrespect you and use you anymore!! 

 
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April 4, 2006, 7:31 pm PDT

Dirty Laundry

Quote From: mykidzmum2

Well said!!  Dr. Phil gave Duane the opportunity to speak up and defend himself and he couldn't!  He couldn't because there is no defending himself.  Dr. Phil always is fair and he was fair in their discussion.  It is obvious to me that Dr. Phil knows what Amber needs to do and I know Amber knows what she needs to do and I know she will do it! 

It amazes me how anyone would want to go on National Television and air their dirty laundry.  Amber initiated the Dr. Phil show charade and naturally it would lean on her side.  I laughed when I saw the list of things that Duane needed to do before she would take him back.  Sign the house over? Not talk to his male friends? And he has a problem with porn? but the tapes were for "them" and she was mad that he watched them by himself? Geezz.............something is wrong with that statement.  It all sounds pretty one sided.  And another thing..........whose husband has never given their wives a squeeze now and then?  If they haven't...........something is wrong.  It sounds as though Amber needs to take a look at the list as it was put on the screen on TV. I can't remember all of them but some of them showed that she wants to be the controller in this marriage, not an even partner.
 
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April 4, 2006, 7:51 pm PDT

04/04 "I Want My Ex Back"

Quote From: skeptic

It amazes me how anyone would want to go on National Television and air their dirty laundry.  Amber initiated the Dr. Phil show charade and naturally it would lean on her side.  I laughed when I saw the list of things that Duane needed to do before she would take him back.  Sign the house over? Not talk to his male friends? And he has a problem with porn? but the tapes were for "them" and she was mad that he watched them by himself? Geezz.............something is wrong with that statement.  It all sounds pretty one sided.  And another thing..........whose husband has never given their wives a squeeze now and then?  If they haven't...........something is wrong.  It sounds as though Amber needs to take a look at the list as it was put on the screen on TV. I can't remember all of them but some of them showed that she wants to be the controller in this marriage, not an even partner.
I agree wholeheartedly. Did no one else see it that way?
 
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April 4, 2006, 7:51 pm PDT

04/04 "I Want My Ex Back"

Quote From: skeptic

It amazes me how anyone would want to go on National Television and air their dirty laundry.  Amber initiated the Dr. Phil show charade and naturally it would lean on her side.  I laughed when I saw the list of things that Duane needed to do before she would take him back.  Sign the house over? Not talk to his male friends? And he has a problem with porn? but the tapes were for "them" and she was mad that he watched them by himself? Geezz.............something is wrong with that statement.  It all sounds pretty one sided.  And another thing..........whose husband has never given their wives a squeeze now and then?  If they haven't...........something is wrong.  It sounds as though Amber needs to take a look at the list as it was put on the screen on TV. I can't remember all of them but some of them showed that she wants to be the controller in this marriage, not an even partner.
I agree wholeheartedly. Did no one else see it that way?
 
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