While browsing through the forums I noticed a thread about a lady whose husband continuously puts her down and says mean things to her and then ends with “I love you”. In fact this one particular story occurred on her birthday.
This is not the only story of this kind that I have heard of happening. These stories area actually quiet common in some relationships.
I think that there was once a song with a line in it that said something to the effect of “love me or let me go.”
I think that that song greatly applies to situations such as these. The man does not truly love and care about his wife the way that he should yet is does not want her to find happiness in anyone else either.
The woman needs the man to give her true love or give her peace by not playing “mind games”.
Every time that he talks down to his wife she turns from him and gets stronger to walk away. However by tying a nice comment or “I love you” on the end he makes her rethink her position. She sees a glimpse of hope of how things might possibility could be. This brings her back to him and keeps her from straying too far.
This situation is exactly what some men want. They want the power over their female mate to control her self-esteem and emotions.
They do not want to put the time and effort into the relationship that she deserves. However, they give her just enough to keep her at bay.
I think that this situation can only go on for so long until the emotional stress and roller coaster becomes too much for her to handle and deal with. She finally breaks and hopefully leaves. In the worst scenario, she is in such as mental state that she turns to alcohol, drugs, or self-harm for an attempt at comfort.
Emotional and Physical Affairs