Putting A Face To A Name

[anthony]

Well done Jen...

My lovely wife in the pink hat with a friend of hers at the Melbourne Cup, from her album:

View attachment 3025

 

[Nicolette]

Here are a couple of photos of Anthony and I at our wedding last year. My hair is now longer and is normally straight (had it in ringlets for the wedding).

 

[Deleted member 5760]

~lovely photos~

Thank you for sharing anthony and Nicolette... :)

 

[Cin]

You guys looks so beautiful:smile:

 

[winterose]

I added my photo and Ginger's yesterday.
Also added a pic of the horses on the ranch in NM as my avatar.

 

[gdf]

I find the sharing of pictures, photographs and descriptions all reassuring that, despite PTSD, life has it's lovely and normal parts.

 

[anni]

It's a REALLY good thread. I know it's completely, flatly impossible for some, at some stages of healing. I freaked out so much at the thought of posting a pic yesterday that I logged off, which told me it's actually a good idea. That would be for ME, after 20 years, with a stalker who is irrefutably, undeniably dead and well and truly buried. I'm working up to it, however, and am ( seriously) going to go dig something out. I hate having my pic taken so there are few- have to find something from my son's wedding a couple of years ago, maybe. If the thread is still alive later maybe I'll take the plunge.

Oh, and I LOVE the hats! So pretty!!

 

[winterose]

anni,

I can relate to the stalking issue. Mine is still out there somewhere convincing himself he did nothing wrong to me as a kid. I did it for one reason. Predators only grow in darkness. Here I am safe. If he were to come here, I am trusting it won't be tolerated at all. Secondly, if he didn't do anything and then used this forum in this side of the real world, then he crossed another line of stalking. He can't pleade the fifth to it since he already got charged.

I did this to empower myself and to not live in his definition of life. A world of pain, hurt, secrecy, manipulation, invalidation, and twisted filth. Throughout my life I allowed this to dictate over my own healing by hiding it. It only made me worse. In the process of trying to stop him, my own issues got in the way. It only ended up "validating" his reasons a bit more.

This was where PTSD and people in my own life failed me when I couldn't speak for myself. I was partially responsible of choking at a time when the stakes were high. I have one choice now and that is to heal. It is no longer a choice for me.

Was it scary for me. You bet. But it is time to walk the walk for me not talk the talk. I have to get my life back or I will never know enjoyment, only sorrows. Hugs if you want them anni. No matter your decision, it's important that you are here.

 

[anni]

Winterrose,

That was so kind of you. Everyone here has their own horrors that follow them through the night, and their own manifestations of this stupid thing that bring them here to the forum. Mine got driven inwards after too long neglect, and tend to pop out in some ugly way because they've been festering underneath for far too long, if you know what I mean.

It's funny- noone here minds a bit if one posts a photo beyond probably some mild curiosity but to us there's this HUGE 'thing' and a sort of milestone. I really have set myself a deadline I'm going to try to make, of tomorrow, My T had me do this with the avoidance issue and it works sometimes.

You're completely, absolutely correct. It's time to walk the proverbial walk with this, if it's SO important. It was very, very sweet of you to answer like you did, in such depth and with such insight. Thank you so much!!

I'l going to go log off now, and go back to getting some containment back. Just the thought of doing this little, teeny 'thing' is shattering. Thanks for the hug, too. Totally needed! :)

Hugs to you also, since I'm sure you need them after just 'going there', talking about that scumbucket.

Annie

 

[anni]

View attachment 3036There you go. 3 years ago, one of the ONLY pics there is, actually-which is prob, typical around here. It feels horrible, but probably should. I'm actually light headed and can't breathe, but keep telling myself that the stalker/abuser has been dead for years and in all probabilty will remain so. Oh my this feels dreadful. people.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

Congratulations on taking that BRAVE step Anni (and I know what you mean about how brave it is to post a pic and lose that safety of 'anonymity')

P.S - 52?? ...Have you had botox? ...(take that as a COMPLIMENT and not an actual question)

:)

 

[amethist]

Beautiful pic annie, same age as me yet you look at least 10 years younger.

Pleeeeaaaase let me know your secret.

Amethist