Ned is a Special Ops vet whose marriage has seen it all — deployment, infidelity, gaslighting, emotional chaos… and now his wife wants to “separate, date around, and reevaluate in 6 months.” What should he do? This episode dives deep into how trauma, emotional abuse, and codependency show up in military marriages — and what men need to reclaim clarity and strength.

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In this powerful Dear DSO entry, I read a message from a man whose wife left him after 20 years of marriage. He gave everything to his family—his time, energy, identity—and now he's completely lost. No friends. No hobbies. No direction.

This story is not uncommon, and it shines a light on what happens when men sacrifice themselves entirely for the sake of family and end up with nothing when it all falls apart.

In this video, I break down his story and share what men in similar situations can do to rebuild and come back stronger than ever.

👉 Need help rebuilding your life after divorce?
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A husband writes in with a heartbreaking and outrageous story: after 16 years of marriage and raising six boys together, his wife gave him an ultimatum — “Open marriage or no marriage.” She claims to be polyamorous and bisexual… and already has a boyfriend she’s in love with. Now she expects her husband to accept it — even while the boyfriend sleeps with her in their own marital bed.

In this episode of Dear DSO, Ralph (Dad Starting Over) breaks down the emotional chaos, what’s really happening behind the scenes, and what this man — and others in similar situations — need to do next.

🧠 Topics Covered:

Open marriages and polyamory

Betrayal trauma and denial

Emotional manipulation in relationships

What healthy boundaries actually look like

Why men must take back control of their life

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