Marla Everly2 months agoI've been married for 4 years and have known my husband for 10 years. Due to housing issues, I stayed with his family for 8 years before marriage, which has strained relationships on both sides—between his family and mine. From the start, I’ve been helping with housework and essentially became a maid and a helping hand in their home. His family pressured us to marry faster, often through fights and threats. We eventually did, but my relationship with my own family became rocky, and my bond with his family didn’t improve. Even our honeymoon was spent with his parents, which reflects how much space and independence we’ve lacked in this relationship. The marriage is sexless—he claims he doesn’t feel the need for physical intimacy and only seeks emotional love from me. However, he’s been unsupportive emotionally as well. Financially, I’m struggling to manage my job and house chores. Mentally, I’ve been deteriorating, with feelings of depression, anxiety, and occasional suicidal thoughts. I haven’t sought help because I fear judgment from others. Adding to the pain, his relatives, who used to be close to me, have started excluding me from birthdays and family celebrations. We had an Islamic marriage, and while he’s a good person, he hasn’t stood up for me or supported me in the face of his family’s treatment over the past 8 years. I’m overwhelmed and desperate for advice on how to leave this marriage and start rebuilding my life. I rarely share personal struggles like this, but I’m hoping for guidance or help.350
Marla EverlyMarla Everly