Hey Swell....
There's not a soul on this board, or anywhere else for that matter, that doesn't have issues. I used to feel very selfish and guilty about my "issues" b/c I thought it would be such an intrusion into my family's time and resources, not to mention my husband, haha! Foolish me....I worried so much for them and neglected my self and here we are! My family now avoids me like the plague. My husband and I go through 2-3 day cycles of crazy fighting/getting along. My Mom is the only exception, and that's b/c she thinks she can "fix" me. I am a social idiot and am just simply unable to meet new peope or make friends. My career was in an environment that should've made it impossible NOT to be social and make friends. Not me!! I was always the "fluffy" girl in the group, the girl that other girls took on dates to make sure their hot boyfriends wouldn't be tempted to stray. That trend started in kindergarten (not the dating part of course) and continued through middle &high school. And being one not to break a good ole tradition, at 37 I'm still stuck in the cycle. I'm sorry I'm rambling on so much, my point is to say that I FEEL YOUR PAIN. I did find someone to date online and we got married in 2009. Now I get to live this nightmare with someone right up in my face asking me questions all the time. We always want what we don't have, right?
Oh, and I had a bully boss too, for almost ten years! I wound up quitting that job in October b/c of those aforementioned issues, the damn ***** finally succeeded in driving me crazy!

One last thing....what's up with "the woman or friends at his feet"? Not a very sensitive way to express that thought maybe?

Good Luck....chatting online wherever is better than stewing in your own sauce in a quiet,dark house!