When Will People Ever Understand That Abuse Destroys Others?

[Tippi]

They don't care what they do to others and they don't want to know the truth that they caused hurt to people who only wanted to love them.

@Ladyghosthunter, loved your post! Thank you.

I definitely understand the need to separate from family who will never acknowledge abuse and who continue to hurt us. I understand how you can have family who sits around thinking they have done nothing wrong while at the same time looking down their noses on you because you suffer depression or anxiety or PTSD (or any other problem), or have an abusive spouse, etc. I get that......and I'm sorry you've been there. I know what that feels like.

You're so right that they don't think they have any problems at all. Crazy, isn't it?

Your words about looking at myself in the mirror are incredibly profound to me. Believe it or not, today as I was putting on makeup, today, for the very first time in my life, I "saw" myself. I really saw myself. Isn't that odd? I have never connected before--not once--with that person who looked back at me in the mirror. She was a stranger. I was unable to "see" her.

But, today, I was putting on mascara, and I thought, "What a pretty woman.......look at her pretty brown eyes......she has virtually no wrinkles at all!.......she looks so young and innocent and trusting." And I thought, "Who ARE you???"

Isn't that something?

I have no idea why that occurred today. I would like to think it has something to do with finding this safe forum and being able to relax and just be myself, and just express myself. I don't know.......

I have always believed that I was THE PROBLEM, and not my family. It's hard to change that belief, isn't it? But I'm working on it.

Thank you so much for your post. Your words meant the world to me.