Thank you StrongerMan for your posts. I appreciate everyones responses - it brings some relief being able to vent. The mistake I made when I was younger is, not finishing my university education - he assured me he would be there for me and I believed it. There were also red flags when we were dating but I didn't see them - I was shy and naive. Rose is right, in that he probably picked me for that reason - easily pliable. My message to young women now, is make sure you can be self sufficient so you can take care of yourself and pay attention to the red flags.

The way I've kept myself mentally strong is similar(smaller scale of course) to the way a prisoner of war survives. He/she develops an inner strength and determination that, nothing will weaken them. I take care of myself with eating healthy and exercising so I can live long and be there for my girls. I won't let him or anyone ruin me.