Couch Potato Wife
Dear Dyke Whisperer, My wife was laid off from her job six months ago. I have been supportive, but I’m starting to lose patience. All she does is watch TV and drink beer until she passes out. When I try to mention looking for a new job, she gets very upset and angry. What do I do?
Tired in Tampa
Dear Tired,
Six months is a long time to watch TV and drink beer. Your wife is understandably distraught, but it’s time for her to either seek professional counseling or get a new job. She may be suffering from depression. If that is the case you need to get her to a professional who might be able to help her with medication and/or behavior therapy.
She might have lost a measure of her self-identity and a great deal of her self-esteem. You, however, did not enter into a marriage with someone who simply watches TV and drinks beer. Her reaction to being laid off — if she is not clinically depressed — is inappropriate, immature, and pathetic. Unfortunately, it might take you giving her an ultimatum before she abandons this destructive pattern that she has adopted.
Tell her that you will support her 100% in her job search but that the self-pitying act must stop. She will likely not react well. At that point, you need to be prepared to tell her that you’re moving out or that she needs to move out (whatever your particular situation demands) unless she seeks counseling or gets her act together. Tell her that you love her too much to watch your wallow in this pathetic state.
