Reading about the love life experiences of fellow mental health survivors, I can't help but notice a few patterns in our shared experiences.

Living with depression, my mind doesn't always make "correct" emotional connections in relationships. My last relationship devolved into possession/loss of control on my part, where I felt like I was constantly being emotionally manipulated by my partner. Outsiders noticed it, too.

What is it about us that makes us susceptible to others' machinations? Why do we seem to attract those who are able to see our real selves, but take advantage of that?