True Confessions

I still check my ex's emails

Woman's Day reader
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Woman secretively checking emails
I soon became obsessed with secretly checking his emails daily, this craziness led to me sneaking a look at his mobile phone whenever he left the room...
Woman's Day reader
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Mick was my first love; we met when we were both 19 while taking a year off before attending university.

We were together for two years, he was my first boyfriend and I was his first girlfriend. We shared many firsts throughout those years; first kiss, first sexual encounter, first heartbreak and I was certain we would get married one day.

Our first year together was fast paced and turned quickly into crazy infatuation on my part. I wanted to know everything he did and everyone he talked to. I was young and quite insecure and couldn't help feeling a horrible pang of jealousy when I saw him chatting to other girls.

After being together for a while Mick needed me to go online and look up an email for him, he gave me his password not knowing that I have a knack for memorising passwords and important information.

This was a huge mistake on his part because, even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn't help myself from having a snoop at his emails. At that point I didn't suspect he was doing anything wrong or that I'd find anything I didn't want to see, but as crazy as it sounds now I was just desperate to know everything about him...

I soon became obsessed with secretly checking his emails daily, this craziness led to me sneaking a look at his mobile phone whenever he left the room. I never found anything, but I had a weird feeling that I couldn't trust him as he was always out with the boys and never answered his phone, unless he wanted a ride home at 4am.

This doubt and suspicion on my part grew more intensely when he stopped showing me affection and would refuse to have sex with me. At this point we had been together for nearly two years, I tried everything I could to reignite his interest in me but nothing worked, it just made me feel more humiliated. I was devastated and felt helpless to save our relationship.

I was slowly becoming depressed and one day I confronted him about our sexless relationship, I said it wasn't normal for a couple who are 21 years old not to have sex — ever. His reply was like a slap in the face: "I am just not physically attracted to you anymore," he said. "You have put on way too much weight and I don't go for fat girls."

So there I ended it on the spot, deep down I had known that our relationship had been doomed for a while but I was so obsessed with him that I had still carried hope that things would change.

However, my strange compulsion to check his emails remained. Through my daily updates (unbeknown to him) I discovered that one month later he was dating a girl that I had seen him talking to at a friend's party...

I was rapt, even though I was so hurt and bitter about our relationship breakdown I couldn't shake my addiction to his life. A couple of the emails referred to me and I was pained once again to learn all the things that he thought of me were being discussed freely with this new girl.

Two years on and I am with the most gorgeous man who I trust and never feel the urge to check his personal email or mobile.

Though shamefully every few days I do still check Mick's email just to see whether him and the "mistress" are still going good (which they seem to be), she somehow has him wrapped around her little finger.

I honestly don't know why I do it. I have a weird fascination with him and I am trying really hard to break my snooping addiction. All I can do is take it one day at a time.

Oh, how do I do this without him finding out? Once I read an email I highlight it and mark it as unread. It's so easy and so efficient that in four years he has never changed his password.

So, girls and guys, if your instincts are telling you that something is wrong and you are driven towards the path of spying, just listen to them because they are probably right.

Your say: Have you experienced a similar infatuation? Do you have advice for the writer? Share your thoughts below.

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User comments
I understand the need to check-up on your partner by e-mails and sms. I did it myself, however, found that small little things would become exaggerated in my mind and distrust actually grew. I couldn't stop myself and would feel worse afterwards. I was eventually proven right, (and guess there really was a reason why I felt that way) but I would never ever do it again. I learnt that I couldn't just be happy in the relationship and checking the sms's did not stop the unease I felt - It only made it worse. I understand that once off check, but if you always feel like you can not trust your partner, and you're secretly checking on your partner all the time, then it'll only get worse - not better - by going behind there back. And if you do break up, while it may be very hard, let it go and move on.
I'm very insecure person. i don't trust my boyfriend but i don't know if its just me making things up in my own head. i check his mobile and anything i can get my hands on. i have never found anything to really worry about but i still do it.
I have done this very same act too. It started in exactly the same way with suspicions and unfortunately I found out that the man I loved so much was cheating on me repeatedly while we were together and then when we were apart being intimate with women by email whilst telling me something else to get back together. It's not something I'd do again and hope I'd never feel the need to, but in that first instance it was justified and I found out more than I was ready for with both email and sms. Thankfully, I'm now in a relationship where I feel complete trust.
STOP right now, what you are doing is illegal and you could go to jail. He just outgrew you, both of you were very young and first love, he needed to test the waters and you didnt. Let go and get on with your new life, dont let this old tired soap opera ruin what you have now.
Sounds very unhealthy, shes just torturing herself.....what does she gain out of it? Id like to mention a few things.... 1. 'a friend i know' may have possibly snooped on 'his' exs emails and phone when 'he' suspected she was cheating, and came upon evidence that ended the relationship. She was sleeping with two other guys at least. So i condone it as a way of finding out the truth....sometimes its better to know than to live a lie. but once youve broken up whats the point...if theyre your ex...Just move on! 2. Some guy in the US got sent to jail for snooping on his ex's email. apparently its a crime. which is why only 'my friend did it' and 'i didnt' lol. Apparently there are laws against it, which I think is ludicrous in itself. IMO its a moral issue not a legal one. 3. I think sometimes women are too suspicious of men cheating or finding someone new because they dont realise that its HARDER For the MAJORITY of men to pick up than women, unless theyre players.
By going through his emails you are just causing yourself unnecessary pain and anxiety. I think that it might be your way of seeking closure on a distressing part of your life, i don't know for sure but are you seem to be going through his emails to see if he is still with that girl and you hope that one day he might do the same to her as he did to you. Please, you are in a loving relationship now and the other guy was a complete and utter superficial loser and you need to focus on your life now, and stop dwelling on the other guy he is seriously not worth it (even if he was your first love). I have been in a similar situation, but my partner actually did technically cheat, and she is still friends with this guy...Even last year he sent her inappropriate text messages but i let her know how i feel and i requested that she send him a message back letting him know that it was inappropriate as she was in a serious relationship now and he needs to stop! hasn't sent bad sms since.
This has happened to me. I felt utterly violated! So you steal peoples private communication. Do you also steal material goods from people? Perhaps bank account information and money? Or are you choosey about how you violate your victims? My ex did all of this to me and more! Morally, how does this differ from the actions of a thief, a rapist or a muderer? In my view, It is only a matter of degree. However, it is symptomatic of the same disease! Get Help!!!!!!!
Insecure, jealous and desperate (your words). Pretty good description. Clingy, pathetic and stalking also spring to mind. In 30 years of marriage have never checked my hubby's phone messages, emails or personal mail, nor he mine. Not hard to achieve when you have honesty, trust and integrity in a marriage or relationship. Friend's hubby left after cheating on him several times during the marriage. She kept checking his facebook page daily. He'd moved on, she hadn't. Would tell me he's travelled, done this and that, changed jobs etc. Asked me to be honest as to why she can't move on like he has? Told her she revelled in the misery, sympathy and pity. Needless to say friendship is strained. Wasn't what she wanted to hear. Did warn her if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question. It may sound heartless but I won't lie so someone can justify their actions. PRIVACY is just that, PRIVACY. If a guy did this to his ex, all hell would break loose. Get over it and move on.
Yes a persons e-mail and phone are private and no there is something wrong with reeading other peoples info with out there permission. No matter what u suspect doesn't give u the right too go through ppls stuff. Now that the poerson is ur ex u have even less right too be going through his stuff. He maybe negligent for not changing his password but just because ur able too do something doesn't mean u should I suspect most of these ppl saying it is ok wouldn't be so happy bout it if the tables were turned.
How could one possibly check emails if one doesn't have the password? Isn't the requirement of setting up an email that one agrees to T&C of keeping the password to themselves???Being curious is one thing and in human nature but being negligent is another. There's a reason why emails are password protected - if they were supposed to be open source and read by everyone - they would be!! At the end of the day, my emails are my emails, my phone records are my phone records and what I do is my business. You won't give out your PIN, your bank account code etc....so why are emails any different?

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