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I guess i will start here..

Jen37

New Here
I don't know if I am going to be doing this right. I am just trying to find a way to work through all of this. Trying to take it all in at once is too hard. There were just so many years of hell, hell there still here. So I have decided to pick one event or memory at a time. Something that keeps nagging at me or hurting. That way maybe if I work all the way through it and how I feel about it, I can finally get it to let go.

One of the really bad memories is when my ex smashed in my face. I was working the closing shift at the local fast food place. My ex and I lived in a small apartment building. By this time we had been fighting enough that I had moved to my own apartment in the same building since I needed him to watch the baby so I could work. He didn't work. Anyway I got home around 2 am and found him and my roommate ( a friend of ours who needed a place to stay ) Upstairs at the neighbors house drinking. My friend was not, he was designated baby watcher. When I got there my ex was being very rude and nasty to everyone so my neighbors asked if I could get him to leave. I was able to talk him into leaving, but we started arguing on the way down the stairs. My friend went ahead and into our apartment, but I had my baby in my arms and stayed in the hallway arguing with my ex. When I was done arguing with him I turned and went into my apartment. When I turned around to close the door he ran up and punched me in the face as hard as he could. I almost dropped our daughter but was able to hand her off to my friend before I fell down. If he had swung just an inch to the left he would have hit her! The next thing I knew my friend had forced him out of my apartment and locked the door. By this time I couldn't even see out of my left eye. My ex started pounding and kicking my front door hard enough to probably break it. I don't know what I was thinking except I wanted him to stop scaring my baby. So I answered the door. He immediately fell to his knees begging for forgiveness. I didn't want to hear it and then my friend said he was calling the police. That got my ex really mad and he started to threaten my friend. So I begged my friend to just take my baby and go back to the neighbors and let me handle it. Stupid, I was so stupid. But I thought the threat was over now. When my friend left he started to cry and beg me to forgive him again and brought me ice. Of all of the things that could have been running through my mind at that moment, for some reason I was just worrying about an important meeting with the Owner of my work I had in the morning, and the appointment with the social worker I had the next day too. So I just told him to leave me alone for now. I didn't call the cops, I didn't get any medical attention even though I obviously needed it. Then to make things worse he got angry again because I wouldn't let him "prove" how sorry he was. That since I was saying no to him I must be f*****g someone else. So he proceeded to pin me down and rape me in as painful a way as he could for over an hour I was in absolute hell. What made it so much worse was that the entire time, even though I was crying, and begging for him to stop hurting me he kept insisting he loved me. And after all of that he left, went to his apartment. I went and got my friend thanked the neighbors and put my daughter to bed. No one, not my neighbors, not even my friend said anything. The whole left side of my face was red and purple and swollen out of proportion. My ex is a very large man he is 6'4 and weighs about 310. I on the other hand am 5'6 and weighed about 140. The next day I had my meeting, and when the owner asked what happened my general manager just said not to worry about it. She spoke to me afterwards and said she knew what had happened as she was abused too and offered to talk. I was mortified and just said no thank you. She never mentioned it again. In fact for weeks on end no one could look me in the face, yet no one said anything. I think I am almost more angry about that feeling of abandonment than I am the pain and humiliation he caused me. He has done so much more and worse, but this instant stands out for me soo much, my jaw was actually permanently messed up due to that incident and I spent years as a pain patient and had to undergo countless surgeries to fix it. All was worse because I didn't get it looked at for years and for years it was wearing wrong and destroying the joint.

So there. There's one memory that still haunts me and pains me. I want to know why I didn't do something, I felt the cops would just piss him off, and I really didn't know what else to do. I felt I had nowhere to go because he had threatened to hurt anyone I went to, and I believed him, he liked to inflict pain. There is so much blame on him here, but I am still ashamed of myself for not being braver and fighting even though I was terrified. Everything that happened after this could have been changed or maybe never happened. Ugh now that I have written all of this I don't know how it will help me any. I am going to post it anyway and look at it from time to time, maybe I will get something from it. I also wouldn't mind any help anyone has to offer or insight? I'm new to all of this and I just want a life back.
 
Wow, I can definitely relate to this experience! I'm so sorry that happened to you!

I'm reminded of a book I read after my abusive relationship called "Why Does He Do That" by Lundy Bancroft. I highly recommend it. It helped me sort out all the nonsense and see things with a different lense and to make some sense of it all. One thing I took away from that book: A woman's perception of her abuser is usually always correct, so listen to your gut!

Don't put yourself down for the way you reacted in certain situations. I know all about regretting decisions made because we were just trying to do some "damage control" and protect others. (It's our fight and nobody else's right? However, I learned that people were willing to fight right alongside me and once they showed me they were prepared to suffer the consequences with me, I accepted their help.) You did the best you could with the information you had at the time! You are so strong and brave!

Congratulations on taking the first step in reclaiming your life! It's not about him anymore, it's about you and that's fabulous! Wishing you all the best in your new journey :)
 
It's our fight and nobody else's right?
Exactly! Unfortunately I still am unable to let myself allow anyone else to put themselves in harms way. I left him 5 years ago, put an OFP on him and have tried blocking him from bothering us every way I know how. Unfortunately we keep going back to family court with him "wanting to see his daughter" but the courts keep saying no due to the fact that she doesn't want to see him and his history of abuse. I wish he would just go away, but it seems like he never will. Even after all these years he won't let me go. He is very mentally unstable and capable of really anything. I couldn't live with myself if he hurt anyone else again because of me.
 
I feel for you and sympathize with you in so many ways. I understand your frustration and commend you for all the practical steps you have taken to push him out of your life.
DO NOT GIVE UP! KEEP ON FIGHTING!

Trying to anticipate his moves becomes exhausting and that's why it's important to take a break from thinking about him when you can and work on yourself. (Like you're doing in this diary!) Doing this was integral to my healing as I slowly broke free from my abusers tight grip.

I couldn't live with myself if he hurt anyone else again because of me.

I would like to cast the blame where it truly belongs. If others were to get hurt, it would NOT be "because of you." It would most certainly be because of HIS ABUSE. You do not cause his abuse, only he can answer for his behaviour. Please remember that! Try not to unintentionally cast the blame of his abuse onto yourself.

Remember that everyone has free will. If they have offered to help (or you ask for their help) and they are aware of the potential "consequences" and yet still volunteer to be in your corner, please let them! Whether that person be a friend, family member, therapist, or government social service worker of some sort, it doesn't matter. You cannot fight him alone! Not allowing others to help in an effort to protect them from his abuse only helps your abuser. And, if he goes after them because he knows it will hurt you, remember that HE caused it, not you. You are not responsible for what he does, even if you can anticipate his moves.

The only reason I broke free from my abuser was because I had help. They may not have known the full extent of the abuse I was suffering, (they may not have even realized it was abuse) but they knew he was trouble and that I wanted nothing to do with it. So in small ways they helped to form a "wall of protection" that made it harder for him to penetrate.

I'm sorry to have riddled your diary with this long reply. I wish you all the best in your fight and recovery. Seeing you move on with your life can sometimes be the best way to help your abuser "let go." Be patient, it can happen for you!
 
This is one of the hardest parts for me... I know I am not to blame for his behavior, or if he hurts someone else. But in a way I am to blame for bringing him into their lives. It just seems so unfair that people I love have to be put in harms way because I as with someone who turned out to be crazy. I hurt so much every day thinking about how much pain my daughter is in daily due to the trauma and memories she is haunted with because of him. I know it wasn't me who hurt her, but I also didn't keep it from happening. I only have a few people left in my life, he scared most away. I can't stand the thought of him hurting them. And he does know thats the best way to hurt me, by hurting them. He knows me too well and knows that terrifies me more than direct threats ever will. I have no wall. Just a few people who love me and are willing to do anything to help. But it will destroy me if he harms them. They didn't ask for him in their lives, it was my mistake. No one else should have to pay for it. I so wish there was a better way or an easier way to do all of this. I am so tired...
 
I can't remember X-mas for years.... I was trying to remember what X-mas was like the years I was with him, and I honestly can't even remember one year. This is freaking me out!! I mean all of those years are a little hazy, my therapist told me thats normal, but I really am trying and I can't remember. This is so scary. It makes me wonder if I want to... Maybe it is my brains way of telling me I don't want to remember, but what if my kids do? What don't I know? And how on earth can you forget things like this? This is all so terrifying. How does anyone else deal with this?
 
I wish I could give you a big hug! I will send a virtual one if you accept :hug:
You have a beautiful heart full of empathy. It sickens me that men will prey on these qualities and use them to their advantage.


I have no wall. Just a few people who love me and are willing to do anything to help.
Goods news is, you can build a wall. Sounds like you already have people in your corner and that's wonderful!

This is all so terrifying. How does anyone else deal with this?

I know it's scary but you will work through it and slowly make sense of what happened to you. Your therapist is right, it's perfectly normal for everything to be hazy and fuzzy. Don't force it. There were some scary memories I recovered over time as my brain started healing. (Although most of it I did actually remember, it was more like piecing memories together to get a full picture since some parts were foggy.) If there is anything you've repressed your brain will reveal it when its ready.

For now, focus on what you DO remember and work with that. Writing about your traumas will help sort things out.
Also keep in mind, sometimes we don't remember certain periods of time because there's nothing significant to remember. They could have been periods of peace where nothing happened, so try not to freak out about it. (Easier said than done I know)

You are off to a great start! I'm rooting for you! Keep writing!
 
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He keeps calling me. I don't know how to make him stop. Usually if I tell him to quit calling and that I don't care what he has to say he will give up after a few days and go away for a little while... But until he decides to get the point again, I have to deal with him and all of the crap it dregs up. The OFP is useless, the police do nothing. Some days my darker half wins and wishes for his death. I hate that I think such a thing. Then again, I see no other way for me to be free of him. I suppose it may happen to him someday, hey certainly pisses a lot of people off. But the other part of me also wished he would get help and live a better life eventually. Even now I pity him. But I can also never forget the things he has done. Can you hate someone and still wish good for them? My head is so messed up. I guess I will just keep praying he goes away again quickly and stop trying to get me to talk to him. I fear someday he will lose his restraint and push his luck with the OFP and show up. Actually I am certain it will happen eventually. What do I do then? I just hope I can keep him away from us long enough for the cops to get him. Fat chance with the cops in my city. I know now why so many women end up killed. The system is very flawed. I just need strength to keep fighting, but I am so very very tired.
 
He keeps calling me

I own a very good book about how to deal with people like him. It is called the The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker and has a section on how best to deal with people that refuse to let go. I highly recomend it because it sure taught me so many wonderful things to do to improve the quality of my life with a persistant person who is dangerous. I wish you the best.
 
Hi @Jen37... I'm so sorry that happened to you.... The reason you didn't do anything was because as you said you were scared. Fear stops us. Don't beat yourself up about that... I think you have already had enough beatings.

You saved your kid and that's why you left.. Can you put in place a court order to stop him coming near you or ur daughter?.. If he does he can be arrested...
And can you leave and get far away from him so he doesn't know where you are?. I think your brave..so many people stay... I'm. an ex police officer.. And too many times the women stayed.... Take care....
 

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