A concerned 35-year-old woman reached out to us with a distressing tale of heartbreak and betrayal. She shared how her once-loving husband started to make cruel comments about her body odor, which deeply affected her mental health. The reason behind his behavior, when she eventually uncovered it, left her absolutely fuming. We truly empathize with her situation.
The woman has always had a lovely marriage with her husband.
Our marriage had always been built on strong emotions, passionate affection, mutual respect, and trust. George and I shared what I thought was a blissful relationship. He was always a loving and caring husband, always making me feel cherished and valued.
However, my relationship with my mother-in-law (MIL) has always been tense. She’s quite forceful and entitled, believing her opinion is the ultimate in any circumstance. She often meddles in others’ private lives, which I’ve never appreciated.
Out of nowhere, George began making unpleasant remarks about my body odor. There were no changes in my health or lifestyle to justify this. Everything seemed normal until one day, he started doing it. At least once a day, he’d tell me how awful I smelled.
I became so concerned about my body odor that I began showering three times a day.
Trying to combat the supposed smell, I started using a strong deodorant every hour. My phone would ring with reminders. I wore more perfume and brushed my teeth five times a day, particularly after eating or drinking anything but water.
I felt like I was losing my mind. I never thought I smelled bad during our relationship, and certainly not now. But George had me doubting myself. I’m the type who would discreetly check my armpits for odors. I was so driven by this anxiety that I visited a doctor, who assured me there was nothing wrong medically.
One day, I informed George that I’d be gone for about three hours to visit my sister. I looked forward to a relaxing walk. However, I began to feel unwell and decided to return home earlier than planned, arriving about 30 minutes after leaving. George, of course, didn’t expect me to be back so soon.
Not wanting to worsen my headache, I entered the house quietly, avoiding any unnecessary noise. George was on a video call with his mother and didn’t hear me come in.
George hesitantly told his mother that he was tired of this ‘smelly game.’
He explained that his constant remarks about my body odor had driven us apart. We were no longer intimate, and I avoided kissing him. In response, his mother encouraged him to stay patient. She recounted how George’s father had done the same to her, claiming it was a foolproof way to ensure a woman’s loyalty. According to her, this would make a woman feel too low to leave, keep her devoted, and ensure she was always fresh and clean.
George has no clue that I overheard their entire conversation. I’m at a crossroads, contemplating divorce but also seeking a semblance of revenge before ending things. While some may not see George’s actions as a grave reason to divorce, I cannot imagine spending my life with someone who employs such manipulative ‘smelly methods’ on a woman who loves him wholeheartedly.
