I have to say that I was quite surprised by the reaction I received from strangers concerning my appearance on Dr. Phil's show titled Love Junkies.
I went on the show, hoping to discover something about myself that was causing me to have so many failed marriages and relationships. As you must realize, this is a T.V. show, and things are edited, and also the complete story could not be told. Having the guts to come out on national television, to admit that I am, and have been concerned about my past relationships, and current relationship, was a venue to get some help.
Yes, I was bullied extensively as a child. No, my parents did not withhold love from me, even to this day. And no, I have not, nor am I trying to ruin anyone's life. You have to remember it does take two to make a relationship, and I have never tricked or lied to a man about my past, I mean come on, I even went on Dr. Phil!!! 3 of the 4 of my marriages were physically abusive, and not because I was cheating on them, it was their own emotional issues. All of these factors have contributed to my mistrust and hesitation to make a commitment, which I am learning thru therapy, that I have been responsible for, not provided by the show as promised. As for my partner, who was there to support me, shows that he does care for me, and knows about my past behaviors and patterns, henceforth the reason that we decided to do the show.
I really liked the comments from the women who stated that they can't find a decent man, and that it is women like me that are ruining them is a bunch of poppy-cock!! I have never taken advantage of them, and no, leaving the toilet seat was not ever a reason that I would have left a relationship, it was just a easy way to make an example other than name name's and go into another subject, aka abusive, financial issues, cheating, that would have taken the show into another direction, and off topic.
My partner and I are doing just fine, and even though we have received alot of flack, especially him, concerning our appearance on the show, we have become closer, and have gained a greater understanding of what each others needs, and faults are. Again, you have to remember that this is a TV show, and doesn't tell the full background of a story.
Final note. In this day and age, where children and young teens are committing suicide, taking guns to school, due to bullying and cruel teasing, and to say that I need to just get over it, was a cruel and obviously uneducated comment. Yes, I am over it, but I will never forget it. I do have a good life, I work, have a wonderfully supportive family, friends ( after my family moved me out of the area where the extreme bullying occurred), and the best son in the entire world. The point is, once a bully, always a bully, child or adult. It concerns me that those people take no responsibility for their actions, and are emotionally stunted themselves. Yes, I was born with a severe handicap, my parents were told that I would never be able to walk or do normal things like other children. Due to the fantastic work at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, they were able to make sure that I did succeed! My parents took extensive time and money to make sure I had the proper medical care, and walked with a full leg brace at an early age. Regardless, a handicap is a handicap, and I was one of the very lucky ones to receive a surgery that was successful and new. I run, walk, jump, and dance, and no one even notices or knows that I went thru extreme measures for 10 years to accomplish the above. Being different in grade school, in a small town, is impossible. This is the reason as to why when I started receiving attention and widening my social circle after our family moved, that threw me into a world where I had tons of friends, and began dating, an able to form true friend relationships. But if you have been attacked and had to fight your way thru grade school all the way up, on a weekly basis, I think you would have a hard time trusting people also, especially if this occurred during your formative years.
Thank those of you who have commented on experiencing the same thing, and for the understanding, and for being able to read between the lines. You either laugh or you cry, and I choose to laugh. Life is too short. ( Dr. Phil is a ok guy, however, ...I'm sure not going to try to take him away from that lovely wife Robin!!!!) I am happy where and who I am with ( 4 1/2 yrs now)!
Dawn
Are you in love with being in love? Do you jump from relationship to relationship because you can’t stand the thought of being single? Dr. Phil’s first guest, Dawn, says she definitely fits this description. The 42-year-old says she’s been hopping from guy to guy since she was 14, has been married and divorced four times and is now in a three-year relationship and feeling the itch. Dawn’s current boyfriend, Paul, feels like he's being used and says he’s not ready to be her fifth ex-husband! Kurtis, Dawn’s 22-year-old son, says it’s high time his mom settled down. Is Paul really Dawn's true love or should he pack his things and hit the road? Then, Joanne says her cousin, Theresa, is obsessed with her boyfriend, Ken. Joanne and Theresa’s sister, Christine, say Ken is mentally abusive, but no matter what he does, Theresa keeps going back for more. They say Ken threw Theresa, her kids and all their belongings out on the front yard for the entire neighborhood to see, and she still took him back. Joanne and Christine aren’t the only ones who dislike Ken. Theresa’s mom says she can’t stand him either -- to the point where she hasn’t spoken to her daughter in nearly two years! Theresa says she just can’t live without her man, and her relatives will have to deal with their relationship. Don’t miss Dr. Phil’s plan for mending this broken family and talk about the show here.
