Long-Term Engagement Strain

The Dr. Laura Podcast

Dr. Laura Schlessinger & SiriusXM

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4.6 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2026

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Maria is in a long-term engagement with a partner of 18 years following her prior divorce. The relationship has become strained due to his control, intimacy breakdown, and emotional neglect. Got a dilemma? Call 1-800-DR-LAURA / 1-800-375-2872 or make an appointment at DrLaura.com - Listen to The Dr. Laura Program daily on SiriusXM Triumph 123.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thanks for listening to my call of the day brought to by my new sponsor, Chapter.
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0:10.6	Get your answer with one free call to Chapter.
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0:18.2	Remember, you can hear my radio program daily on Sirius XM Triumph and connect with me 24-7
0:25.6	at Dr. Laura.com. Maria, welcome to the program. Hello, how are you, Dr. Laura? Let me check.
0:35.4	Pretty good. Thank you. How can I help you?
0:40.7	Well, thank you for taking my calls today.
0:48.4	I was calling in regarding a small problem that I'm having.
0:53.2	Well, it's actually sort of big, but my fiancé of 18 years. Okay, you need to stop right there.
0:55.9	There is no such thing as a fiancé for 18 years.
0:59.6	Fiances are for two years, year and a half, something like that, because the wedding is planned.
1:05.4	18 years is a phony connection between two people that has no true profound meaning in the universe.
1:12.9	They just are neurotically attached to each other. Oh, she used the bad word. So just say,
1:20.3	I've been in a relationship with this guy for 18 years pretending I'm getting married.
1:27.3	Okay. So I've been in a relationship with this guy for 18 years pretending I'm getting married. Okay.
1:28.0	So I've been in a relationship with this guy for 18 years, pretending we're going to get
1:32.2	married we never have.
1:33.7	About three years ago, he stopped having sex with me.
1:40.4	Well, how old are you both now?
1:43.6	He's not required to have sex with you.
1:46.3	It's not a requirement.
	...

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