Feeling emotionally isolated in my 6-year marriage. Not sure what to do anymore. (F31, M35)

🧍‍♀️ Married but Feels Single

I’ve been married for 6 years. From the very first year, my husband (M35) and I (F31) started having frequent fights. Over time, things have only gotten worse, not better. There have been multiple instances where he’s insulted not just me, but also my family. He makes faces or acts cold whenever my family is involved, yet expects me to be fully involved with his side of the family without hesitation. Emotionally and mentally, I feel completely unsupported. He expects physical intimacy but shows no interest in emotional closeness no hugging, kissing, or even holding hands. Whenever he touches me, it's only with the expectation that it will lead to sex, which makes me feel used and disconnected. For me, emotional closeness is a must before I can feel any desire for physical intimacy, and that’s just not there anymore.

On top of that, he’s constantly working. Even when he’s home, he’s always on his phone or laptop calls, messages, emails always something. It feels like I’m living alone, even though we live under the same roof. We also live in another country, far from family and friends, which just adds to the isolation. Most days, it’s just me and the kids, and I feel like a single parent.

Things have been especially bad over the last 2 years, and I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel completely stuck, and emotionally drained. I’ve tried talking to him about how I feel, but he always brings it back to how we’re not physical enough, ignoring everything else I bring up. Is there a way forward? I don’t even know what I’m holding on for anymore.

TL;DR: Married 6 years, fighting started early. Husband is emotionally unavailable, prioritizes his family over mine, constantly working, and demands physical intimacy without emotional connection. I feel isolated, unsupported, and like I’m parenting alone in a foreign country. Not sure what to do anymore.

Posted Aug 3, 2025, 8:54 PM UTC

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