Topic : Abuse

Number of Replies: 26778
New Messages This Week: 82
Last Reply On:
Created on : Friday, July 01, 2005, 04:59:59 pm
Author : dataimport

Whether it's physical, sexual, or verbal, abuse is unacceptable. Are you a survivor? Share your story.

 

If you believe you need immediate assistance, please call your local emergency number or crisis hotline listed in your local phone book's government pages. You can also find more help on our General and Mental Health Resources and Domestic Violence Resources pages.


Join the new Dr. Phil Community! Currently in BETA, the new Dr. Phil Community will allow you to personalize your message board experience. Start by creating your user profile here.

For help and FAQs on the new BETA Community, please click here.

User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 5:20 am PDT

Been away

Back again.  Abuse still going on & on as usual.  Hey, Wildwood, we are listening. 

 

Aubsers, in my opinion, DO have their day.  Just like the saying - what goes around comes around.  Giving them enough rope to hang themselves can be taken in so many different ways.  Victims are always trying to "keep peace".  It's a peace that can't be kept for very long.  EVENTUALLY, the people around the abuser will see the truth.  That's the rope that hangs them.  Abusers do what they do & people will only take so much of it.  They progress to the point that it becomes OBVIOUS to the people around them just how dysfunctional & "sick" they really are.  We all have an invisible "line" that, when crossed, we've had enough. 

 

I do agree that abusers can be VERY unpredictable & should NEVER be underestimated.  They are capable of much more than we think they are.  We are trustful people for the most part & choose to see the good in everyone.  Not a bad thing unless we don't pay attention to the potential for violence that is also there!  As long as the victims "play" out their role in the game of abuse, things may stay relatively calm(an UNCOMFORTABLE calm since there is always another shoe to drop) for a bit here & there but abusers are always changing the rules of the game - always pushing our limits (our invisible line).  Victims will make all kinds of excuses for an abuser's behavior.  Fear & denial take over.  Till the abuser crosses that line.  (We all have one.)  Then we KNOW what our decision needs to be. 

 

Splitting everything up is not easy.  But it can be amazing how little "things" can mean to us when pushed beyond our limits.  It's a choice.  How important is it?  Victims become very accustomed to living in their dysfunctional relationships.  They have learned just what to say/do to avoid unpleasantness (most of the time).  It's OK.  Hang in there.  That line WILL be crossed eventually.   

 

Sooner or later, a victim will realize that enough is enough.  This is no way to live. 

 

It really is a journey.  One that takes YEARS sometimes to turn things around.  Sometimes a victim never gets that far.  How about all the victims that didn't get out in time?  The woman that was shot in the middle of the night for not wanting to have sex for instance?!!!  It happens everyday! 

 

Abusers have their own limits.  When pushed to or beyond THEIR limits, who knows what they will do/how they will react!  I was lucky.  My X KNEW our relationship was lost forever & didn't fight me very much.  There are many abusers that would never give up so easily.  Even resorting to shooting their victim in a parking lot just to avoid losing them!   

 

As for abusers never suffering because of their own actions.  I have to disagree on that one.  I know that EVERY SINGLE DAY my X suffers. Sure he still blames me for everything but I still believe that he is living in his own hell. I could be wrong but I know he has many regrets that haunt him.  The good thing is that it's not my problem.  He made his own bed & now he is in it.  His abuse, lies, & cheating have put him right where he is now.  Don't worry, I'm not going soft or anything.  I pity him because I believe that he suffers at his own hand & through his own ignorance but I don't feel sorry for him.  He had the same resources I did to heal & recover his way to a better life.  He didn't use them.  He chose to blame others for his state but that doesn't mean he is happy in any way.  It's very sad that abusers are SO clueless & lost.  Just don't get caught up in feeling sorry for them.  I guarantee they don't feel sorry for their victims.  They are so lost in their own dysfunction that they don't even KNOW how lost they are! 

 

WE are the lucky ones.  WE are the blessed ones.  WE SEE the truth & can heal & recover our way to a better life filled with peace, love, & happiness.  I don't believe we were put here to heal everyone to the exclusion of ourselves!  SOME people only God can heal & all we can do is let go.  Victims are usually "fixers" but we need to fix ourselves first!  Then maybe we can help a few people along the way but always remembering not to get lost in the fixing!!!  God Bless - LS  >^.^<    

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 9:09 am PDT

Wildwood...I've been listening ... in fact ---

Quote From: wildwood

  Woe is me, I am feeling da ja vu and feeling abused by this board, I keep typing relies or adding to my own posts, only to have it "go in one ear" typing like my talking and never come out,  as motivation for changed actions (by spouse) .  Reminds me so of dealing with my husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

  There was a moral to that post.

 

  It was to illustrate how my husband STILL blames a everyone but himself for the current state (seperated) of things, and how He is still dishonest, irregardless of the consequences, even to go so far as to PAY someone to help us and for him to STILL withhold the relevant TRUTHFUL information that is required.  NOT HIS FAULT? He is the one LYING still, and still lying to self about his lies. DUH.  I forgot to add that to the story.

 Wildwood,

 

I've been listening, posting with appreciation and in fact --- continually overtime have applauded your posts and the details, the presentation of all the details posted...most especially those ....they are so, so, necessary! 

 

The chaos, the commotion needed to be put out there.  It is ongoing, even when the abuser is kissing up!

 

  Most especially because I don't believe a good number of the gals  even those that have posted over time realize, I mean really truly realize,  it never ends.  It only gets more, and more complex.  It spins, and spins its ugly threads into the entire fabric of daily life whether or not the abuse, the commotion is actively happening that day or not.  (I can't speak for others, but I can observe, and such is my observation here on the board overtime, over many many years)

 

Even when its quiet, it looks like there is no abuse that day, that hour, that minute.....ahhh, low and behold ......not true,...... its still happening.

 

 

 

Your life, is the life of a battered and abused woman.  The picture you paint is exhausting and never ending....and that is the way it is and becomes. THAT IS ABUSE, THAT IS THE WAY IT PLAYS OUT...RARELY ARE THERE OTHER OUTCOMES.   I'm not sure some others see it that way, meaning  that their life is your life....... Yet again, I can't speak for others however they are not at the same point in their abuse and hell as you are..you so have a handle, a true picture, detail by detail of the abusers actions, manipulations, tactics, antics, intense intentional hurtful, abuse.  And you call it as you see it.

 

I am glad to see you participating in here on more of a regular basis, and I believe others are following your story whether or not they post to that effect.  I remember when I used to sit and wait...patiently for a post to appear from you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Over the long holiday weekend,  I've been wondering how things were going for you....and wondering "what to hell he was up to now ."

 

Now I know.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 9:18 am PDT

Though this was posted recently....

Quote From: Pleasance

Your partner's reactions...

 

    Abusers/Batterers need to be in control at all cost, yet underneath the facade of power he is very dependent.

 

When the object of his dependency threatens to pull away from him, all his old baggage, tactics get stirred up.

 

    Your threats to leave, or attempts to leave him are liable to be met with significant resistance.

 

Feeling threatened he may exhibit behavior you have never seen before. (then again, maybe not, maybe you have)

 

    The more prepared you are for your abuser's reactions, the more likely you will be able to handle the 

 

guilty feelings and the fears that his reactions, behavior are liable to cause. 

 

 

HE MAY BECOME PATHETIC

 

HE MAY BECOME SELF-DESTRUCTIVE

 

HE MAY BECOME THREATENING

 

 

DO NOT PLAY VICTIM and leave important decisions to your abuser because you feel guilty about leaving him.  Remember he's a bully. You will be better prepared  if you know your legal rights.

 

If you feel threatened, or your partner threatens you  or your children with physical violence ...  Err on the side of caution and find a safe place to stay until the legal aspects of your separation are settled.

 

Separation is  an ultimate stress test for abusers.

 

I CANNOT STATE THIS STRONGLY ENOUGH... A MAN WHO HAS NEVER BEEN VIOLENT BEFORE MAY GET VIOLENT AT THIS POINT.

 

 

Though this was posted recently ....

 

Here it is again.

 

 

 

 

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:08 am PDT

Wildwood, he's banking alright !

Quote From: wildwood

  Woe is me, I am feeling da ja vu and feeling abused by this board, I keep typing relies or adding to my own posts, only to have it "go in one ear" typing like my talking and never come out,  as motivation for changed actions (by spouse) .  Reminds me so of dealing with my husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

  There was a moral to that post.

 

  It was to illustrate how my husband STILL blames a everyone but himself for the current state (seperated) of things, and how He is still dishonest, irregardless of the consequences, even to go so far as to PAY someone to help us and for him to STILL withhold the relevant TRUTHFUL information that is required.  NOT HIS FAULT? He is the one LYING still, and still lying to self about his lies. DUH.  I forgot to add that to the story.

Wildwood, he's banking alright! 

 

Banking on it! 

 

Banking on the fact that all this new and ongoing manipulation,  game playing,  his tactics & all will break you, $$ and otherwise into not going ahead with your intentions.

 

Man oh man, he's banking on it!

 

Yet again, the extremes and ongoing manipulations both at home and otherwise are all part of HIS  plan.

 

His survival...survival with his plan.  He doesn't want nor have a plan for a life, a functional decent life.

 

His actions are just that, survival.  He doesn't live, .... he just survives.  And he does what he has to in order to pull that off!

 

The money issue needs to be just that an ISSUE cause then he uses it for a way to get you, a way to stay in contact with you, though this is suppose to be a separation.    He's still using it to CONTROL.  A form of POWER.

 

The money will be used just as the leaves, the children, the outside lawn, the burning. Puts him back on the premises in a large way.

 

I know you know all this.

 

Its but another way to escalate further abuse and antics.

 

After all, you are not going to have the last word, not in his eyes anyway.  

 

I caution you to be careful, seek outside resources to document episodes.  I caution you to sincerely be careful.  Don't underestimate your situation with him.

 

You too, need to keep your actions in check.  Where is your local support?

 

 

He's gonna lie, and lie and lie...

 

He's gonna distort, and twist and turn to his hearts content.

 

He's gonna abuse, and disrespect both you and your boundaries.

 

He thinks he's gonna use the systems in place, also.

 

He's gonna do what he knows how to do best. 

 

He's gonna do what in his mind has worked for him all these years, out there.

 

He's gonna survive!

 

He's banking on it!

 

 

 

 

Please take good care of yourself.

I am worried and so

concerned.

 

Take care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:24 am PDT

Letting Go

As children bring their broken toys,

in tears, for us to mend -

I brought my broken life to God -

I thought He was my friend.

Instead of leaving God in peace

to work alone,

I hung around suggesting ways

that were my own,

And finally I screamed at God;

"How could you be so slow?"

"My child," God said, "what could I do?

You never would let go."

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:35 am PDT

Help7979 ... I hear your fears .... and about that hope you mention ....

Quote From: help7979

 

I don't remember for sure, but I may have said that I prefer to put the abuse out of my head....that is what I think I used to do before I realized that he was abusive....then I started trying to stay within myself, to see what he does, but sometimes observing and standing up for myself can be exausting, so at times it is easier to 'snap out of myself'.  I realize that this is not good, so I  try to observe  and post confusing situations here for feedback.

 

Your assesment of the 'fork in the road' seems pretty accurate.  Sometimes I think my unwillingness to move even baffles my counselor, although she says that it will just take time, and told me that it takes a woman in this situation an average of 5-7 years to leave. 

 

And really, over the last several months, he has improved in many many ways, which I realize may be just that he has learned how to 'act'.   The snaps back into his previous, controlling attitude  because of work stressover the last couple of weeks shows me that he still has the same core.   But because day to day living is much more bearable than it was before, and because I realize that he will become a beast if I were to try to leave, it is easier at this point to just remain in the situation, and hope, as Q often says, that "if I give him enough rope he will hang himself". 

 

I do appreciate your comments, P.  I need to hear them, though I worry that I infuriate you and others with my lack of reaction.  But I hear them, and I read many books on the subject and try to make honest and accurate comparisons and assesments with the information.

 

 

 

 

Help7979,

 

I hear your fears.

 

And ...... about that 'rope' you mention  .......

 

I have lots to say.

 

And something to say about hope .....

 

Today, I'm out of time....and I have put limits on myself  that I must abide by.

 

So..........I'll have to drop by another time to respond.

 

 

Take care of yourself.

 

Could you list some of the resources given you by your counselor, & those you've sought on your own.

 

Take care.

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:41 am PDT

hello, glad you're back...

Quote From: lsforls

Back again.  Abuse still going on & on as usual.  Hey, Wildwood, we are listening. 

 

Aubsers, in my opinion, DO have their day.  Just like the saying - what goes around comes around.  Giving them enough rope to hang themselves can be taken in so many different ways.  Victims are always trying to "keep peace".  It's a peace that can't be kept for very long.  EVENTUALLY, the people around the abuser will see the truth.  That's the rope that hangs them.  Abusers do what they do & people will only take so much of it.  They progress to the point that it becomes OBVIOUS to the people around them just how dysfunctional & "sick" they really are.  We all have an invisible "line" that, when crossed, we've had enough. 

 

I do agree that abusers can be VERY unpredictable & should NEVER be underestimated.  They are capable of much more than we think they are.  We are trustful people for the most part & choose to see the good in everyone.  Not a bad thing unless we don't pay attention to the potential for violence that is also there!  As long as the victims "play" out their role in the game of abuse, things may stay relatively calm(an UNCOMFORTABLE calm since there is always another shoe to drop) for a bit here & there but abusers are always changing the rules of the game - always pushing our limits (our invisible line).  Victims will make all kinds of excuses for an abuser's behavior.  Fear & denial take over.  Till the abuser crosses that line.  (We all have one.)  Then we KNOW what our decision needs to be. 

 

Splitting everything up is not easy.  But it can be amazing how little "things" can mean to us when pushed beyond our limits.  It's a choice.  How important is it?  Victims become very accustomed to living in their dysfunctional relationships.  They have learned just what to say/do to avoid unpleasantness (most of the time).  It's OK.  Hang in there.  That line WILL be crossed eventually.   

 

Sooner or later, a victim will realize that enough is enough.  This is no way to live. 

 

It really is a journey.  One that takes YEARS sometimes to turn things around.  Sometimes a victim never gets that far.  How about all the victims that didn't get out in time?  The woman that was shot in the middle of the night for not wanting to have sex for instance?!!!  It happens everyday! 

 

Abusers have their own limits.  When pushed to or beyond THEIR limits, who knows what they will do/how they will react!  I was lucky.  My X KNEW our relationship was lost forever & didn't fight me very much.  There are many abusers that would never give up so easily.  Even resorting to shooting their victim in a parking lot just to avoid losing them!   

 

As for abusers never suffering because of their own actions.  I have to disagree on that one.  I know that EVERY SINGLE DAY my X suffers. Sure he still blames me for everything but I still believe that he is living in his own hell. I could be wrong but I know he has many regrets that haunt him.  The good thing is that it's not my problem.  He made his own bed & now he is in it.  His abuse, lies, & cheating have put him right where he is now.  Don't worry, I'm not going soft or anything.  I pity him because I believe that he suffers at his own hand & through his own ignorance but I don't feel sorry for him.  He had the same resources I did to heal & recover his way to a better life.  He didn't use them.  He chose to blame others for his state but that doesn't mean he is happy in any way.  It's very sad that abusers are SO clueless & lost.  Just don't get caught up in feeling sorry for them.  I guarantee they don't feel sorry for their victims.  They are so lost in their own dysfunction that they don't even KNOW how lost they are! 

 

WE are the lucky ones.  WE are the blessed ones.  WE SEE the truth & can heal & recover our way to a better life filled with peace, love, & happiness.  I don't believe we were put here to heal everyone to the exclusion of ourselves!  SOME people only God can heal & all we can do is let go.  Victims are usually "fixers" but we need to fix ourselves first!  Then maybe we can help a few people along the way but always remembering not to get lost in the fixing!!!  God Bless - LS  >.<    

Hello, glad you're back...

 

Would like to post to somethings you mention here in your post...but as you probably notice, I must leave for now and come back in another time.

 

We'll talk , soon.

 

I'm out of time for this today.

 

Take care.

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:47 am PDT

Abuse

Now we can hang around till the end of time complaining "he does this/he does that" or WE CAN DO SOMETHING.  Complaining gives us something to do but gets us NOWHERE. 

 

When nothing changes, NOTHING CHANGES. 

 

Choosing to stay with the abuser is a hard road that can potentially end in disaster. 

 

An abuser IS WHAT HE IS & don't EVER expect HIM to change.  You can only change what you acknowledge & since nothing is ever their fault............. 

 

Are you ready to simply accept your life as it is?  It may not be so easy to leave but is it better now?  What do you have to lose? 

 

Sure there will be some things that you won't like about leaving, getting a divorce, & living on your own.  But the rewards FAR outweigh what is lost & are FAR better than "putting up & shutting up"!!!  Stuffing your anger, frustration, misery,, etc. will eat you up inside till there is nothing left but an empty shell of who you once were. 

 

So instead of worrying about what you will lose if you leave, look at what you will be gaining - YOURSELF!!! 

 

I care - I don't want to see anyone lose themselves like I did.  I wasted way too much time in my misery.  God knows it took me too many years to finally find myself again - find my healing.  Even though they say it's never too late, my biggest regret is the time I lost beating a dead horse - whining instead of doing something.  Once I learned what abuse was all about, how could I possibly waste any more time whining?!!!  So I VERY tearfully picked myself up & did what needed to be done.  I SO didn't want to face it all but I was up against the wall & I knew it.  It wasn't easy but it was worth it! 

 

God Bless - LS  >^.^<      

 

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 10:49 am PDT

would like to address some of your points here

Quote From: wildwood

  Camel, I don't think it was your post, to be honest I have had a terrible time getting anything to post, it keeps taking me to every page but the one you type a reply on and over and over I have to put in my user name and password, so I just posted a message to address this that I had read, and did not use reply with a quote.  I don't think it was you either, and I addressed this out of concern, cause I remember "hoping" that something would be a lightbulb moment for my spouse to change.  You know, like we all have, but abusers don't.  It is dangerous to get stuck in hope that they will entrap themselves and SEE what THEY are doing.  That was the point of my post.  I did that for years, only to be irreparibly hurt by the turning of my own adult children against me. ( I finally resorted to utter and complete non compliance with the abuse or lies to do so, and so I looked "guilty" when in reality I was reacting to the injury, lies, hurt and manipulations.  The moral  I hung myself with the rope provided by him.  I saw it too late, and waited too late to call a spade a spade and ACT in my own best interest. 

 

  Happy to say some things (damaged relationships with my girls in healing, but I would have preferred to not have had to go there, misguided "hope" for change HUNG me, or durn near.  That was my point.

Wildwood,

 

I would like to address some of your points here but am out of time today.

 

Hopefully tomorrow I will be better able to do so.

 

These posts of yours here, are meant to be seen.

 

 

I surely hope folks are listening and reading....taking it all in.

 

Take care.

 

 

 

 

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
May 28, 2008, 11:00 am PDT

Hi Pleasance

Just finished mowing the lawn - 1/2 acre!  I'm bushed.  Had a bad dream last night.  I was being chased by my X - he was trying to kill me!!! 

 

Can you imagine how relieved I was to be woke up by my wonderful sweetheart (not to mention my cat who always knows I am having a bad dream & wakes me up too!!!  lol)  He held me & said "it's alright".  I was screaming NO in my sleep. 

 

I am at peace in my life now.  Still, somewhat like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), I have some bad dreams now & then.  I am sure they will fade over time.  I was lost for many years - abused for many years.  The important thing is that my life is wonderful now.  I am living my "dream".  I thank God everyday for the 2nd chance at life I was given.  I thank God that I found the strength (God given I'm sure!) to leave my situation behind me.  It's been 3 years this past March that I am divorced - seems like it should be longer really - but it still amazes me this wonderful life I have now & how VERY grateful & blessed I am to have it! 

 

It pains me to see so much suffering still in the world.  It's senseless.  It frustrates me too.  I just want everyone to be as happy as I am I guess.  I can only hope that my little posts will help someone to heal & find themselves as I did. 

 

OK - gotta go.  A long shower is waiting!!!  God Bless - LS  >^.^< 

 

First | Prev | 2581 | 2582 | 2583 | 2584 | 2585 | 2586 | 2587 | 2588 | 2589 | 2590 | Next | Last