When I was with this person, I was just out of a 20 year unhappy marriage. This man lived (with his parents) in my neighborhood where I bought my house. I was so happy to have my own place, not thinking of relationships at all. Every time I went outside to work in the yard, get in my car, anything...he was there! He wanted to talk, talk , talk, and shared that he was recovering from alcohol poisoning, and was starting life anew...I, stupidly, naively, thought I could help him.! I've realized, looking back, that ANY single woman in that house would have been his target. His mother even told me that "alcoholic/addicts are very good at finding people to help them, places to live. When I realized, within a matter of months, that I was in over my head, could lose everything, I attempted to extricate myself from him. He was relentless. I actually felt somehow responsible, and thought I could commicate rationally to him...NOT! Anyway, after he was incarcerated, I was court-ordered to counseling by court counselors. I guess these counselors see a lot of battered women who blame themselves. Thru all of this, I've learned that an emotionally or physically battered woman is often not thinking straight for a substantial period of time, and needs help, time to regain her self-worth! Also, I had involved the police for months, and they weren't much help till the break-in.

Sorry to ramble. This all happened over ten years ago, but since that time, I've never felt safe.