Azure, Opt, Shiney - thanks for responding - yeah, I'm feeling a little out-there still. I appreciate you helping me dig - Opt, yeah, that's an issue. Another big one is her father abondoning her when she was 15 or so, she is still dealing with that in a big way and I know it's part of her fear with abandonment and vunerability. The counciling is really helping with a number of issues.
My W's childhood and early adulthood has been filled with pain and hurt of many kinds. There are deep issues there, some of which I am only vaguely aware, some of which I probably couldn't even fully comprehend. She is a brave, strong, intelligent, sensitive, responsible, special woman. I have so much respect and love for her - she has done so much with her life, and herself. I don't know anyone else like her. I know that under the surface there are still raw, broken things that hurt her every day, and maybe it's been easy for me to forget how much care she needs - how tender she is inside.
Of course intimacy is going to be an issue with her - and I don't mean sex, I mean vunerability. These are the hard, hard issues that she's addressing in therapy - and I'm happy for her. She's right - it would be so much easier for her to run away. It is what she's always done in her prior relationships. I am so, so grateful for her.
We have looked into and have interested in Married Encounter - Retrouvaille appears to be be associated with this - I guess aimed at more troubled married couples? This might be a good thing for us to do.
