Ralph addresses a deeply personal letter from a listener named Jay, who is grappling with significant intimacy issues in his ten-year marriage. The common theme throughout this episode revolves around navigating the intricate web of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its implications on marital intimacy, emotional disconnect, and the potential for infidelity.
Jay's story revolves around his wife's OCD, which creates barriers to physical affection, leaving him feeling unattractive and unsatisfied. Ralph dives into the intricacies of living with a partner who has OCD, explaining that OCD falls under the category of neurodivergence, and often comes with other traits from the autism spectrum. Ralph emphasizes that these traits are deeply ingrained and unlikely to change, posing the critical question, "Should Jay stay in this marriage or move on?"
Additionally, Jay's budding feelings for a coworker add another layer of complexity to the situation. Ralph touches on the perils of infidelity and urges deep self-reflection. He advises Jay to evaluate why he stayed in a disconnected relationship for so long to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.
Join the HFM Brotherhood!What is Dad Starting Over?
Welcome to the Dad Starting Over podcast! "Starting Over" means different things to different people. It could be that you're newly divorced and starting over fresh with a new life. It could be that you're still married and wanting to hit the reset button and finally do things right within your marriage. Whatever your story may be, you're in the right place.
I'm DSO, the author of books called "The Dead Bedroom Fix", "NOW WHAT?", and "Red Flags". You can learn more about me, my books, one-on-one coaching, and the member-only part of my site called the DSO Fraternity at dadstartingover.com.