Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tim, aka "Wild Monkey", writes in with one of the most painful and honest stories we’ve received.
He’s 40. He just had a heart transplant. And despite surviving the unimaginable, he’s left wondering why the woman he married treats him like he doesn’t exist.
In this special Dear DSO episode, I break down Tim’s story — from his early courtship with a deeply inexperienced wife, to years of emotional neglect, a sexless marriage, and finally a complete abandonment during the most vulnerable time of his life.
This isn't just about a broken marriage. It’s about the deadly cost of passivity, the damage of unspoken expectations, and the power of taking back control of your own life — even when your health, your heart, and your home are all on the line.
⚠️ If you're a man who feels like you're slowly disappearing in your own relationship — watch this.
📢 Drop a Comment:
Have you been in a similar situation? Have advice for Tim? Share it below — let’s help each other out.
0:00 - Intro and How to Submit to DearDSO
0:35 - Viewer Story Begins: “Feeling Invisible”
1:07 - Tim’s Background and Struggles Begin
2:15 - The Relationship Before and After the Baby
3:30 - Controlling Parenting and Loss of Connection
4:07 - Open Heart Surgery and Wife’s Lack of Support
5:00 - Heart Transplant & Total Abandonment
6:01 - Secret Bank Accounts & Accusations of Cheating
7:11 - Emotionally Absent Wife and Feeling Stuck
8:28 - Ralph Reacts: “You’ve Been Too Passive”
9:29 - Diagnosing the Wife’s Mental Health Concerns
11:00 - A Call to Action: No More Passivity
12:26 - Legal and Custody Considerations
13:50 - Why the Marriage is Over
15:00 - The Cost of Staying vs. the Risk of Leaving
16:40 - A Fork in the Road: Reclaiming Your Life
17:42 - The Myth of "Things Will Improve"
18:36 - Join the Brotherhood – Don’t Go It Alone
19:26 - Final Encouragement to Tim
Dad Starting Over is part of the Help For Men network! Learn more at helpformen.com
🌐The HFM Brotherhood (private group for men only): helpformen.com/join
FOLLOW ME ON
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💥 TikTok: tiktok.com/@dad.starting.over
💥 Instagram: instagram.com/dadstartingover
💥 X: twitter.com/dadstartingover
Our Books:
🌐The Dead Bedroom Fix: deadbedroomfix.com
🌐Divorce Panic: divorcepanic.com
🌐Real Talk: helpformen.com/real-talk
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Tim, aka "Wild Monkey", writes in with one of the most painful and honest stories we’ve received.
He’s 40. He just had a heart transplant. And despite surviving the unimaginable, he’s left wondering why the woman he married treats him like he doesn’t exist.
In this special Dear DSO episode, I break down Tim’s story — from his early courtship with a deeply inexperienced wife, to years of emotional neglect, a sexless marriage, and finally a complete abandonment during the most vulnerable time of his life.
This isn't just about a broken marriage. It’s about the deadly cost of passivity, the damage of unspoken expectations, and the power of taking back control of your own life — even when your health, your heart, and your home are all on the line.
⚠️ If you're a man who feels like you're slowly disappearing in your own relationship — watch this.
📢 Drop a Comment:
Have you been in a similar situation? Have advice for Tim? Share it below — let’s help each other out.
0:00 - Intro and How to Submit to DearDSO
0:35 - Viewer Story Begins: “Feeling Invisible”
1:07 - Tim’s Background and Struggles Begin
2:15 - The Relationship Before and After the Baby
3:30 - Controlling Parenting and Loss of Connection
4:07 - Open Heart Surgery and Wife’s Lack of Support
5:00 - Heart Transplant & Total Abandonment
6:01 - Secret Bank Accounts & Accusations of Cheating
7:11 - Emotionally Absent Wife and Feeling Stuck
8:28 - Ralph Reacts: “You’ve Been Too Passive”
9:29 - Diagnosing the Wife’s Mental Health Concerns
11:00 - A Call to Action: No More Passivity
12:26 - Legal and Custody Considerations
13:50 - Why the Marriage is Over
15:00 - The Cost of Staying vs. the Risk of Leaving
16:40 - A Fork in the Road: Reclaiming Your Life
17:42 - The Myth of "Things Will Improve"
18:36 - Join the Brotherhood – Don’t Go It Alone
19:26 - Final Encouragement to Tim
Dad Starting Over is part of the Help For Men network! Learn more at helpformen.com
🌐The HFM Brotherhood (private group for men only): helpformen.com/join
FOLLOW ME ON
💥 Facebook facebook.com/dadstartingover
💥 TikTok: tiktok.com/@dad.starting.over
💥 Instagram: instagram.com/dadstartingover
💥 X: twitter.com/dadstartingover
Our Books:
🌐The Dead Bedroom Fix: deadbedroomfix.com
🌐Divorce Panic: divorcepanic.com
🌐Real Talk: helpformen.com/real-talk
Support Our Sponsors!
BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month! betterhelp.com/helpformen
