How Social Media Almost Destroyed My Relationship - and Why It Could Happen to You, Too E-Book

Gwendoline P. Point

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 71

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

How can love stay strong in a world full of social media and endless distractions? I share my own relationship challenges with honesty and offer practical advice for building trust, self - ove, and genuine connection. This guide is for anyone looking to protect and deepen their partnership - both online and offline.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Trigger Warning

Introduction

The Moment That Changed Everything

To Better Understand Roli: A Few Words About the Man by My Side

Thursday, June 6

Friday, June 7

Tuesday, June 11

Monday, June 17

Tuesday, June 18th

A few days later

Saturday, June 22nd

Thursday, July 22

July 31. The Birth of the “Word Magnet” Account

How does it continue?

What I can also share with you

Now Comes My Personal Conclusion

The Trigger of a Digital Escalation

Here are a few reflections that have helped me and might also inspire you

Important Takeaways

Current Status

Trigger Warning:

This guide covers topics that may be emotionally challenging for some readers, including issues of trust, emotional hurt, and the impact of social media on relationships. If you feel uncomfortable with these topics, please take your time reading and take breaks as needed.

Introduction:

A few weeks ago, our relationship faced a serious crisis. A woman repeatedly messaged my husband on TikTok, eventually going so far as to send him an intimate video. This unexpected and painful experience deeply affected both of us and put our partnership to a serious test—so much so that our relationship almost didn’t survive it. In this guide, I want to help you better understand and manage the impact of social media on relationships. We will discuss sensitive topics such as intimate content, unwanted messages, and the emotional challenges they can bring with them.

The Moment That Changed Everything

I’ll never forget that Wednesday evening, June 5, 2024. For days, I had sensed that something in our relationship had shifted, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. I sat down on the gray couch outside our bedroom, and only then did I notice Roli’s shorts lying there.

That’s when I spotted his phone, and from that moment on, nothing was the same. Long story short: I had just found confirmation of my suspicions. Dozens of love messages from a woman I’d never heard of. She’d even sent a video. I knew exactly what I was about to see, but I couldn’t stop myself from opening it. I knew I was about to hurt myself, yet I watched. Like a lightning bolt, the video struck me full force. In seconds, a wave of sadness washed over me, mixed with anger, confusion, and fear. My body felt hot and cold at the same time. I was sweating and shivering as tears filled my eyes and my legs shook in sync with my pounding heart. Roli, who was in the shower, yanked the curtain open as I stormed into the bathroom. He looked at me with wide, questioning eyes. Without letting him speak or step out, I shoved his phone in his face and demanded, “What is this?” He glanced at the screen, clearly overwhelmed, and shrugged his shoulders. In that moment, a thousand thoughts flashed through my mind, and I acted on one of them immediately: I tapped the screen to call her.

After a single ring, an older woman’s voice answered cheerfully, “Yes, hello?” My stomach clenched instantly. It was the voice of the woman who, only moments before, had been rubbing herself all over her body on that video. Fury consumed me, and without thinking, I heard myself say, “Hello, this is Roli’s wife. Do you know he’s married?”

Silence hung on the other end for a moment, and then I heard her reply, “Yes,” followed by a laugh—a laugh that sounded to me like an ugly hyena’s cackle. Then she hung up.

Fuming, I hit redial, and once again, that infuriating voice answered. As soon as her voice reached my ears, I yelled, “What kind of videos are you sending my husband, you…!” What followed was a string of curses and white-hot rage pouring out of me. After a few seconds, she hung up again without another word. I had no patience to continue with her, so I let it go, turning my attention to my husband instead. He stood there, dripping and wrapped in a towel, unable to meet my gaze.

I stormed up the stairs to the bedroom and waited for him to follow. With each passing second, my disappointment grew—disappointment in how I had completely misjudged him. Nervously, I sat on the bed, looking at Roli, who met my gaze with a pained expression. Despite my anger, I tried to keep my composure to talk things through with him. It was late, though, and the kids were asleep downstairs, so I had to hold myself back, as hard as it was. Still, we talked— or rather, I snapped at him while he tried to defend himself. After nearly an hour, we both realized that continuing the conversation wouldn’t help, so we decided to pick it up the next day. The thought of leaving things unresolved weighed heavily on my heart. I felt as if we were talking in circles without reaching any real solution. In the hours that followed, I reflected on Roli and what he truly meant to me.

To Better Understand Roli: A Few Words About the Man by My Side

Roli is a fantastic listener, a true problem solver, a loving father, and my personal dream man. He has a strong desire to help others, often making hasty decisions—which only makes him more human in my eyes. This mix of helpfulness and spontaneity allows him to form new connections incredibly quickly. Women see in him the empathetic man they have always sought, and for many men, he becomes the friend they can count on.

Usually, all of this isn’t a problem for me; I love his openness. However, difficulties arise when he fails to set clear boundaries, especially in situations that could spiral into a disaster, like the current one. He sometimes leaves it too open for too long that he isn’t looking for something new, and he reacts too late when others' feelings get out of control. This hurts me, even though I know it’s not his intention.

In our modern world, where many people lose themselves in social media and communicate less with each other, it’s understandable that women are attracted to him. He gives them the attention they crave. However, that in no way justifies what has happened—neither from their side nor from his. The video was a clear breach of trust, and it will take me a lot of time, strength, and tears to process it all. But I know deep down that he didn’t mean any harm.

What It Feels Like When the World Around You Crumbles

I can tell you how it feels. For me, it played out like this: The night stretches on endlessly, and sleep eludes me. Even though I lie in bed, I can’t shake off the thoughts. The images from the video keep replaying in my mind over and over. I toss and turn, unable to find peace, and the sadness that hangs over me is suffocating. Roli sleeps on the other side of the bed, and as I look at him, tears fill my eyes. How could he do this to me? What could have driven him to communicate with another woman, let alone share such intimate things with her? The questions torment me. I feel trapped in this nightmare with no way out.

As dawn breaks, I get up to avoid falling apart on the spot. The kids are still asleep, giving me a moment of silence. I prepare breakfast, but every bite seems to get stuck in my throat. My thoughts are a chaotic mess, and I can’t focus on anything.

When the kids finally come into the living room, I try to organize my thoughts. I smile as best as I can and do my best to keep up appearances. Yet inside me, a storm is raging. While I play and laugh with the children, I feel lonelier than ever. This inner turmoil becomes my undoing. I fight back tears as I read them stories.

Roli is in the background, lost in his own thoughts. He has apologized, and his remorse seems genuine, but I can’t forgive him. The distance between us is palpable, and the more I think about it, the more I know that nothing will ever be the same again.

What Lessons Have I Learned?

It’s important to prioritize yourself and your feelings. You need to understand that it’s okay to be vulnerable and to take time for yourself to heal from these wounds.

What Can You Do in This Situation?