AJ is correct, what your boss and coworker advised is pure ego driven. Any satisfaction gained would be short lived. You are better than that. I also know you would never knowingly do anything to hurt your girls.

So now that you've spilled the beans with them, here's what you need to do. When they ask you questions about your sitch, you put your best possible spin on it. Leave out or down play any negative stuff.

It goes without saying that you do not initiate any more relationship talks with them.

Keep working on your PMA. If they see you doing well they'll not worry about you... and will not push you to do something stupid.

I hope you have at least one trusted person to confide in.

M: A really long time.
Crisis: 5 years.
She's still worth it.

Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose. -Viktor Frankl