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Life After Betrayal

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thank you and update

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  5786.1
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  Oct-29 11:04 pm

Thank you to everyone who responded to my post (perspective from 22 OCT).  I truly appreciate that you did not immediately judge me and offered kind, compassionate advice. It makes me believe that I don’t have to hate myself forever because of what I did... If I learn from it, truly accept responsibility and grow then I can let go of the non productive guilt, but remember to always cherish the productive guilt. It shows I am not a callous, disgusting wh()re that my husband sometimes calls me. And I have to try and believe this more often than I honestly do. And thank you for the perspective on my husband peeing on me and pouring gasoline on me and threatening to set the place ablaze as being anything but normal or acceptable even given what I’ve done. I began to think I was crazy. I live overseas and moved recently due to a promotion so I don’t have any friends here, only my husband who is currently not working so has plenty of time on his hands to convince me of things. He honestly made me doubt myself and believe that the escalation was not “all that out of line of how people fight”. What finally made me post to this board was that he started not just minimizing what happened, but making light of and sort of joking about him peeing on me in disgust. Yes, I did a disgusting and horrible thing, and I betrayed him deeply and realize that its only been a year since this came out and he still hurts deeply, but that doesn’t mean he can threaten my life, whether or not he ever intended to actually set the gasoline on fire. He actually said to me that he just wanted to make me angry by pouring the gas on me and yelling that he was serious about burning the place down, that it wasn’t really that big a deal because and I quote “it wasn’t as if he poured a lot gasoline on me” , and that if it happened between him and a buddy fighting they’d joke about it later. I almost bought this. But I am not a male who can fight him physically, he pours gasoline on me, with a lighter threatening to burn the place down--he’s a big guy--all I can do and did is cower until he goes away. He said he wanted me to get angry. But you’re not going to get angry if you’re afraid and shaking inside. He said that it made him more frustrated that I didn’t get angry and yell when he peed on me or with the gas (but I was shocked, felt not human anger was no where in my thoughts) and that’s maybe why he took it further yelling that he meant it, he’d do it. But again fear trumps anger.  So thank you. I am starting to actually give some validation to my opinions and realize that one day if I work hard at growing I can forgive myself and even see myself as a good person, and that in the meantime I do not have to accept fights that escalate to threats.
discussion title:
 

thank you and update

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  5786.2 in response to 5786.1
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  Nov-2 5:46 pm

As I read this message, my heart broke. And then I felt so angry that someone would do these horrible things to their spouse--the person they are supposed to love and cherish. This is not healthy, it is not typical, and it should be acceptable. Obviously, you are very smart and you know that this is not okay.

My first recommendation is to get out, but that is easy to say to someone, but it is not so easy to do. It sounds like you are in an isolated situation, but if you can change that--start there. It is so important not to be isolated when in a relationship with a partner who is reeling out of control.Try to get friends around you--and family around you. You need support and he needs to see and know you are not alone and that there are people who are watching and who care about you.

Once you reconnect and put yourself in a non-isolating environment (and if this means changing jobs do it), begin to think about what you want the rest of your life to look like.
Do you eventually want a child? If a spouse is abusing a partner, the spouse could potentially abuse a child. So although the abortion was so very painful for you, one day you will be in a better situation and will be able to welcome a child into your life. It would be awful to expose your child to seeing you abused, and awful if that child was abused, right? Do you want to be healthy and in a healthy relationship someday? If so, please, find a good therapist and begin exploring your pain and why you are drawn to this man who thinks urinating on his partner is acceptable... Look around and actually interview potential therapists, though. There are good ones out there, but there are also bads ones--but this is so important for your future and future family. Do you want a circle of loving friends and family in your life? Abusive partners often try to isolate their partners and remove them from friends and family so they can get a way with their cruelty and abuse. So many things to ask yourself--but the biggest one is--- do you value your life? Do you want to live without mental abuse and the threat of physical abuse? If so, you will eventually need to leave this spouse. However, if you do not explore your pain and work through the memories of abuse, you may fall for another man who is looking for someone he can abuse.

So....
1. Remove yourself from the isolating environment. Please...
2. Share what is happening with a friend, a loved one, a family member.
3. Find a good therapist and make an appointment and show up.
4. Always know that there is someone for you to talk to and share your situation with.
5. Above all---you must know you deserve better.

Please, keep us informed on your situation. You are cared about--

discussion title:
 

thank you and update

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  5786.3 in response to 5786.1
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  Nov-6 4:57 pm

Jan, I read the first thread and your update.

Seek out some help where you are and talk to your family.  It is not uncommon to have a plan formulated and in place first before a woman feels like she can leave.  Make no misteak, this is abuse and the sooner you recognize it the easier it will be to make an exit plan and follow through.

Society in general sees abused woman as the lady in the grocery store wearing sunglasses, and it that is often not the case.  My first H did hit me, however the degrating abuse was in some ways worse.  Physical abuse does not always leave a bruise or draw blood. 

The fact that you slept with a guy when the two of you were not comitted yet and on and off again has nothing, and I mean nothing to do with your H's behavior. 

People (not only men) who behave this way will beat you down, isolate you from friends and family until you really think you are a piece of sh*t and no person will ever love us.  When I finally left my fist H I had  no self worth and had become a cold shell of a person. 

I could go on and on, Jan.  Please get some help and make an exit plan.  I had to leave with two babies, a diaper bag and what ever clean laundry was in the basket at the ripe old age of 22.  I had to leave while he was asleep and left him a note I was going to the store to get milk. 

Please take action before you end up in the hospital.  Love and prayers your way.....

Serenity
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