Feeling sad about my marriage

[snoringdog]

She knows that when she feels deregulated, she has the option to put me in a one down position with tremendous verbal and emotional abuse, and sometimes physical abuse.

Hello Manny,

Verbal, emotional and especially physical abuse (!) are unacceptable, and she should know that.
She does *not* have that option.

[manuel_moe_g]

Yeah, my newly found self-esteem is saying that to me in a very quiet voice

Thanks for seeing me, SnoringDog

[troebia]

I wish you all the best, Manny. You'll probably feel better the more you fill your time with activities that take you out from under the shadow of your wife. Building your own network of IRL friends or acquaintances is essential imo. It doesn't have to be people to be able to commiserate with, in fact it's better if not. A course in something, an interest club, a physical exercise group, anything to get you out of the house and into the company of new people for a couple of hours every week.