View Full Version : How to change?


Luvudinky
03-16-2003, 04:13 PM
I want to thank all the people that contributed to these pages. It is taking a lot for me to share what I am going thru. I currently am in an abusive relationship. I have been with this man for over 8 years. I have an older daughter from a previous marriage, I was pregnant with twin daughters when I met him, and had another daughter with him. One of my twin daughters died in an accident at age 4 1/2 in the year 2000.
I am emotionally, verbally and physically abused. I am almost 31 years old now, I was 22 went I met him. I had a nice house, a harley, a Trans-Am, I owned a Resturant/Bar. I had so much self esteem. I was capable of doing anything.
He was nice (of course) when we met. He always seemed to be there for me when I needed someone or something. He started telling me how nobody else is trully there for me like he is. I then caught a case and was sentenced to six months. I avoided turning myself in, but on X-mas Eve 1996, I was caught. He never emotionally supported me while I did time, but I thought he was such a great guy because he cared for my two twin daughters who were only 16 months old. But later, he would always use that against me.
Everything seemed to happen so quickly in the beginning. I remember the first couple fights we had I was absolutely horrified by the things he said and did. I would cry and apologize. He was a drinker, I was a drug addict. I quit doing dope after I got out of jail. Our relationship was pretty o.k for a couple months. I started drinking with him, occasionaly and we had some good times. Well, to make a long story longer, it is about 5 years later and now I think I am just as bad as he is. Instead of crying and apologizing, I say terrible things back to him. It is like I have become hard and numb. I'm tore down emotionally I have become a shell of a person. I feel so numb. I was convincing myself that he cant hurt me anymore. So I started fighting back, which escalated our fights into a higher level. If he shoves me, I shove him back. Of course I always end up flat on my back with him choking me. He breaks all my stuff, throws my stuff into my swimming pool (phones, computer, purse, etc.). He tells me that I have a big fat ass, nobody would want to be with me, lazy, stupid, etc. I know these things aren't true but hearing them over & over for so long it starts to tear the spirit down.
To bring things up to date, an argument esculated three weeks ago. It was late and we had both been drinking. I decided to go to bed. He continued to verbally abuse me and antagonise me. I pulled the blanket over my head. He punched a glass clock and then smeared and dripped the blood all over my room and me. This went on for hours.
That night, I shot him. I wasn't sure if I meant to, but it happened. The .45 caliber bullet when thru his knee and out his leg. I need to say that from the time the bullet went off until I realized what had happened, I saw my whole life flash before my eyes. I saw my children's faces. It was like the world stood still. I was not charged, but from that moment I realized I had to change things, I have to leave.
As far as getting help from friends and family, for so many years I was so confused I would hang on anybodys ear that would listen. I'm sure people got sick of hearing it, I was sick of hearing myself. I cried wolf too many times. He is so sincere when I go to leave. I can't stop asking: How is he so much smarter than I? I believe myself to be a fairly intelligent person. How does he always get one over on me? I never dealt with a relationship like this before.

He never smiled at me anymore. If he looked at me at all, it is in disgust.

I have identified the situation. I believe I have the strength and confidence to leave - Here is the part I can't overcome.
I got myself a job recently. I feel that I am making a decent wage, enough to survive. My credit is ruined (I have been slowly fixing it). My brother tells me to come stay with him, but I don't want to burden anybody. I keep thinking I got myself in to this, I will get myself out. I tolerated it for all these years and allowed it, it's no bodies problem but mine. I can't seem to let anybody help me. I don't want to drag my children to some shelter, take them out of school. I know it seems that anything would be better than this. But I have made everything appear normal for so long with the 4 bedroom house, swimming pool, dinner on the table, etc. I can never seem to save money, he charges me for 1/2 the rent and utilities (but the amount changes monthly). My car is barely running, expired tags, no insurance. My fear is that I will leave and not be prepared and that he will be the only one there to help, rescue, save me again like in the beginning. I don't know why I feel like this. I left my parents home when I was 16, had my daughter at 17, and have always made it on my own. I don't want to latch on to another man and use him. I just want to do things right.

I am saddend that I cannot make this relationship work.
He has a lot of good things about him, but that does not make up fo all the bad.
I even tried understanding why he was like this - what made him this way. It was clearly his father. But he is an adult (19 years older than me) and needs to be accountable.
I fear that I am turning out just life him.
Anyhow, I write this for positive and constructive input.
I thank you for having a place for me to post this.

lulu
03-16-2003, 04:48 PM
i cant tell you how i am so lost for words at this very min. I can say that your not alone. There is so many of us that has been through what you have. we know what they can say to keep us there and make it look like it is all our fault. alot of us has heard the same words that you hear. These peope that do this to us needs some seroius help, and nothing will change untill they do. He cant be accountable untill he realizes that he needs help.as for you, it is important that you see this. I know for me that i could not getout untill i realized th is for myself, meaning that he would not change untill he got help and they first have to see they have a problem.
you seem to want to get out and trying to do what you can, you said that you do not want to burden any one, there comes a time where we have too. even if it is for just a short time, and that is what family is for. It is as well imprtant that you get your self into some help groups as well. that will help you more then you know.
if you ever need to talk, please feel free tpo PM me any time, i am aslo in chat most times, God bless you

Cindy Cogswell
03-16-2003, 05:04 PM
Lulu prt\etty much said what I was going to say. I was in an abusive situation for 24 years. I used up all my family support where they wouldn't help anymore. I went to a shelter twice and went back. They say that most women leave an average of 7 times before they are truly ready to go. You need to get into a counseling group at your local shelter and they will show you how to get out and stay out. The counseling sessions are not just for the residents there, they are for both women that are still in the situation, and women that have made it out on their own. i went for 4 years after I left, and it's the only thing that kept me from going back, besides my present sweetheart's love and support. I had 4 kids. I waited until the boys were saying, Mom yu have to get out before he kills you. It shouldn't have went that far, but it did. He was a wonderful father, he just hated me! And to this day, he still says he loves me. I've been gone now for 8 years. We get along now, but we live 200 miles apart. Please get into some counseling and get out of there before you do catch a charge over it. Or worse yet, he kills YOU!

emme
03-16-2003, 05:51 PM
please take advantage of any help which is offered to you. if your brother is offering help, in my opinion, this is the time to use it. you are doing more for yourself and your children by doing everything you can right now...not at some "future" time. the way things sound...you are in the middle of an emergency...you need help from "911..." don't wait until the "right" ambulance comes along, or the right "driver..." i hope i'm making sense. i wish you all the best.

emme

Luvudinky
03-16-2003, 06:20 PM
Thanks to all of you for replying so quickly. I just need to know that I am not alone, and that I'm not loosing my mind.
I am looking up domestic abuse counseling right now.
Thanks

lulu
03-16-2003, 06:27 PM
your more then welcome. your NOT alone, even when you feel like you are. My offer is alwasy opened for you. I am going to leave you my number in my PM. please feel free to call any time.

i am proud of you, that is the first step

KRIS_NC
03-16-2003, 06:44 PM
I CAN RELATE TO YOUR SITUATION. MY EXHUSBAND MY CHILDRENS FATHER,ABUSED ME FOR YEARS I JUST FINALLY GOT FED UP AND WE WENT TO LIVE WITH MY PARENTS UNTIL I GOT ON MY FEET. TAKE THE HELP YOUR BROTHER IS OFFERING....JUST UNTIL YOU CAN GET ON YOUR OWN.

deb
03-16-2003, 08:09 PM
Welcome to PTO and I hope you follow up with your brother and get yourself and the kids out of this situation......You can do it. Like you said you took care of yourself from age 16 on.....

Deb

Teardrop
03-18-2003, 05:24 PM
Please take your brothers help! You are not a burden, you are family. You said that you are cleaning up your credit; you can stay at your brothers until you are back on your feet. I know exactly how you feel. I have been there, I have heard everything you have heard. I have even had my stuff thrown in the pool too! And then when I went to see where my keys were, he threw me in the pool after them. I finally left, put my stuff in storage and moved in with my parents. It does feel like you are a burden at times but that is what family is for, to help you. Please PM me anytime you need to talk and welcome to PTO!!

PixieQueen
03-18-2003, 05:47 PM
I agree with everyone here. Take your brother's help. You are luck to have such a supportive brother in my opinion. Take advantage of the opportunity to start over sooner than later. Love-Helen

cember
03-18-2003, 06:19 PM
i feel for you so much, my soon to be ex husband was exactly the same way. i finally had to leave because i knew if i stayed i would end up killing him somehow, and our daughter needed at least one parent around! it's still a struggle, im a single mom and my closest family member lives 3500 miles away.

i would definitely take your brother's help! he wouldnt have offered it if he felt like youd be using him. dont let your pride get in the way of your judgement. best of luck to you!!

Luvudinky
03-18-2003, 08:41 PM
TO EVERYONE THAT HAS REPLIED:
Thank you - I don't even know you people and you have given me so much strength and support. I look forward everyday to hearing your advice. I got myself into counseling today, left a message for my brother, and got myself a storage. I cry as I type this not because I am alone, but because I am not alone.

emme
03-18-2003, 08:46 PM
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. you can do this, you can, i just know it...thank you for doing this for yourself. thank you.

emme

Luvudinky
03-18-2003, 08:52 PM
We confuse attachment with love. Attachment is concerned with my needs, my happiness, while love is an unselfish attitude, concerned with the needs and happiness of others....

A relationship free of unrealistic grasping is free of disappointment, conflict, jealousy, and other problems, and is fertile ground for the growth of love and wisdom.

-Kathleen McDonald, "How to Meditate"

MyLife1020592
03-18-2003, 10:01 PM
You will find the strength to up and leave and give your kids and yourself the life you deserve...You are in my thoughts and prayers...

mrsdragoness
03-20-2003, 09:06 PM
Luv....please do it....follow thru with it.....

My first husband was physically abusive. The last time he beat me I was 8 months pregnant. He beat me so bad that I was in a coma for 50 hours. I had kept the beatings all a secret from my family because I thought it was all my fault. and I continued to blame myself. That was the LAST beating, however I continued to get caught up into emotionally abusive relationships.

This continued for over 25 YEARS until I met my Dragon and learned to like myself.

PLEASE DON'T BE LIKE I WAS......There are resources out there to help you that weren't available when I went thru this...and don't back down ...FOLLOW THRU

Mrs. D

Lucrisid
03-21-2003, 01:01 PM
Don't put yourself through this anymore, please! Life can be so wonderful- even if you are poor, alone or else what- as long as you learn to love yourself and don't have someone constantly making your life a living nightmare.

Best of luck,

Tanya

lulu
03-21-2003, 01:29 PM
How are you? I been wondering how you been

Luvudinky
03-21-2003, 07:46 PM
Hi,
I have been o.k. I had a long talk with my brother - he is so cool. Very supportive. Actually, I am spending my first night at his house tonight. He said he misses me and worries about me. I love him so much. He just did 3 years in Federal prison, I think there is a lot of bonding that needs to be done.
Anyhow, I have enough money to get a storage. I am gonna give my brother that money to hold for now.
I am o.k., so are my children. Thanks for asking,
Michelle

lulu
03-22-2003, 08:05 AM
that is great news. :) i am very happy for you. That is what family is all about.

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