43F married to 49M for five years. We haven’t slept together since before our toddler was born (he refused to whilst I was pregnant and makes excuses even now our little one is 3). Emotional intimacy is dead too, the only thing we have in common to talk about is our child. Most of the child rearing falls to me.
Life with a toddler has been challenging and I feel like we are just roommates rather than a married couple. Recently I’ve created an imaginary husband in my head to fulfil the emotional support need. So whenever I’m feeling low, my imaginary husband will tell me all will be ok and comfort me, because I know my real husband won’t. If I’m feeling insecure or tired or overwhelmed he calms me down and helps me push through. I know he’s not real but I talk with him in my mind everyday to give me some comfort. Does anybody else have this as a coping mechanism and do I have to give it up in order to salvage my marriage?