I just saw this, so sorry for the double post, but this is something that's really important to me. Although I'm happy that he doesn't smack you around anymore, it hurts me to read that "better" is emotional abuse. To me, that is devistating. Emotinoal abuse can be/is so twisting and damaging to the point where you feel guilty for making them abuse you, or guilty that they arn't abusing you so you start abusing yourself so they don't have to. I'm sorry, to me that is living hell. I've been in emotionaly abuisve relationships before. I would have rather walked away with the bruises than the feeling that the only job I can hold is to be a hooker. I can take bruises and broken bones, I can talk myself out of verbal abuse, but emotional abuse can twist you to places you didn't know you could get to, and you won't even realise it until it's over. EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS NOT BETTER

(sorry for the overly strong reactions... This is something that really hits home as I've been there before with boyfriends and girlfriends I've had and I don't want anyone to have to go through that)