I lost myself. I married someone who slowly whittled me down to nothing over ten years.
I am divorcing him. It’s been five months since I just didn’t go home. It’s been really hard, hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m coming back to life slowly.
I can’t wait to see who I become.
Badass.
Same, but I didn’t marry them. I became nearly completely useless. Lost almost all friends, hobbies, work, goals, dreams, and even desire. I couldn’t recognize myself in the mirror. Coming back has been incredibly difficult since I didn’t trust anyone to guide me nor myself. How do you get somewhere without direction? Lately, I think I’m on the right track, but I will never be my old self and that’s okay. My old self got me in that situation, so the new one will be better.
Below are three songs that I found validating during these times. Two are in English and one is in Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish, I would happily translate the lyrics for you; just let me know.
Ren and Chinchilla
The Big Push
Residente
The ability to relax. I have a special needs child who constantly screams at us. We have no respite because none of our relatives are willing to deal with him anymore. All of his therapies and medical bills have nearly bankrupt me. My wife is suffering from PTSD because of it. We are on every waiting list for state resources but so far nothing.
Even as I tried to write this comment, I had to stop what I was doing because my wife went to the bathroom, and my son decided to yell at her because she left a pot on the stove.
I am completely incapable of relaxing anymore. If I do get a chance I’ll just be racked with intrusive thoughts. Like last night I was watching Stranger Things and when I saw a kid on there with braces, all I could think was, “I need to get my son braces. But since he can’t handle someone touching his face, it is going to be a nightmare. He’s 13 and I still have to monitor his teethbrushing, who knows how much it will suck with braces. It will also be way more expensive because we’ll have to sedate him, for every appointment” Then I spiral down from there. This is just one small example.
I’m in therapy and on meds for it. And so is my wife. I wish I lived in a state with legal marijuana because it’s the only thing I’ve found that will actually help me relax. At this point we are actually considering selling our house, so we can afford to send him to a boarding school that is designed for kids like him. And maybe then we can get some respite.
Man that’s rough, I feel for you. I’m also on a waiting list for support for my kid. Some days are better than others but it can be really tough. Sorry to hear you’re going through that.
Thanks and same to you.
In a similar situation, and about to lose my wife for a week or more so she can come back from the edge out son has pushed her to.
I’m so tired.
I feel your pain. Hopefully when she gets back she’ll be better able to help with things. My wife and I have had to do similar things where one of us takes a vacation, just so we can better help afterwards. You got this!
I haven’t genuinely enjoyed myself in so long, that’s something I think I may have lost. I have no idea how I’ll get it back.
Are you open to people making binding suggestions? Like committo try random stuff people offer and try everything out so you have an opportunity to recalibrate or reorient?
If so may I submit the following: mushrooms
Supposing I were into drugs (not saying I’m not), my options feel limited since there are doubts that my medically challenged body would take it well.
Does the fish give you a good high? They’re easily accessible in Canada but even outside the spores are often legal if you’re down for a project.
It may vary in strength based on the particular fish individual, but the average experience is very fulfilling.
Yes, and I’ve done a variant of this. I do a lot of art and lately have been trying a little of every art medium. Sketches, digital art, chalk art, tattooing, baking cakes, crop circles, etc. When I stop doing something, it’s like my emotional focus turns off though.
Inclination to trust people after an abuse of loyalty.
I saw a classmate who didn’t appear to have any friends, and I felt bad for them, so I started sitting next to them at the dinner tables and we quickly became friends. I’d only known them for maybe two weeks at most, when they suddenly demanded a large sum of money from me, money which I neither had at the time, and a transaction that my family would not have approved of. I politely declined their request, and their whole personality changed after that.
They got jealous whenever I was talking with my other friends. They started to send me aggressive messages, and started to spread rumours about me, rumours which were not believed due to my good standing with everyone, lack of evidence, and also because of how bizarre they were. I even had people come up to me and tell me, "Elaine, they’re making up stuff about you, what’s going on?"I believe they may have gotten expelled because a few days later they stopped showing up to school.
I think with time it’ll get better, but I’m going to be at least a little suspicious of people. Time will tell.
I’m sorry for your encounter. They were an asshole and it’s not your fault. Such encounters exist, but are rare. I hope you will be able to see that these cases aren’t the “normal scenario”, and not something that you will always have to expect. Hope that helps you :)
My motivation. I’m not sure yet
Something that helped me was to “just do it for 2 mins” - then decide if you want to keep doing it or not. I found a lot of times since I was already doing it, I would keep going.
This really helped me get back on track.
This question hurts so much because I’ve lost so much and I have absolutely no way of fixing any of it. I try so hard and I’m so tired of working so much for a total ingrate and having zero to show for it. Things are really, really bad. I see no way to fix anything.
Ingrate
Whats up with that (if you feel safe sharing)
My SO. I work two jobs to keep us barely afloat due to cost of living and the financial wreck he’s landed us in. He’s basically a sociopath and I have no money to leave, despite me working night and day while he watches TV all night, and he does a zillion petty things in exchange for that, including for the last month giving me the silent treatment beyond administrative stuff, throwing potholders at me, shaking his fist in my face for not setting the temperature in the car the way he wants it and threatening to not pay the credit cards in my name, and basically starving my life. There’s a million other things but I’m so numb to it it’s hard to verbalize.
If you’re the one working then why would your SO be able to threaten to not pay bills? Maybe it’s time to change which account your paychecks are going to. Have you considered opening a separate account just for you? Or try taking your name (or theirs) off as many joint accounts as possible. Maybe freezing your credit so nothing else can be opened in your name (assuming you’re in the us)? Are you are legally married to them? If so filing for divorce might be another avenue to talk to a lawyer about. (Most lawyers don’t charge for the initial consultation).
Are there any domestic violence shelters in your vicinity? It truely sounds like you’re in an abusive relationship and being held hostage in your own home. It’s only a matter of time before the violence gradually increases, because nothing you will ever do will appease them long enough to change their minds on how to treat you. Can you record people in your state/country? The us has some states where only one party needs permission to record so giving yourself permission is fully acceptable to begin recording. There are also some apps that can record audio/video when the phone appears off and uploads the video onto the internet.
You do not have to answer any of these questions. This internet stranger is just worried for you and truly hopes you find a safe haven. Regardless of anything else, I’m proud of you for working so hard to better yourself and your circumstances!
I don’t have access to money really. And I can’t leave my dogs. It’s absolutely terrible but I’m well and truly stuck, he’s wrecked my finances.
How do you honestly see things playing out/ending?
I see nothing changing and everything getting gradually worse until I crack.
Ok, then what happens? Theres a point to this, lets take it a bit further
My weight. Ive already lost 40 lbs after i started working again. But i still have another 80 to lose. I want to get back to what i had 7 years ago.
With or without a cocaine habit.
Faith in humanity
Die
I lost my health along the way. Two days ago,I fell ill with a cold. I can only hope that resting in bed right now will allow me to regain what I once had…
Life is like a dramatic river flowing through the rapids.
I have gained so many things in life, and lost them again, and gained others, and lost them again.
I do not predict the future. Let’s wait and see.
