Thanks for your replies everyone!

It's incredible how she effected me. I have taken a very big look at myself and at why I stuck around for so long. I think the fact is I was very confident and self assured when I met her, which is why I think she wanted me so badly, i was the opposite of her. But as time went on, the more I tried to help her, the more I got broken down. And I interpreted what I can now see as blatant manipulation, as love. I'd never experienced anyone like this before, I thought people were inherently nice. Slowly my self esteem diminished as nothing I could do would avoid the push/pull for long before the next problem arose. And she would make up with me as if nothing had happened and I was the greatest guy in the world again.

Also, I had ended things with my previous girlfriend and I really regretted doing it so much, and I didn't want to mess things up again. Also as I got closer to 30, which I became in March, I became more committed to trying to make it work. More fool me!

I can't believe how mad it all was, or that I stuck around. But yes, I am realising that I am not crazy (but I am for sticking around) and I need to figure out why I did. I was definitely addicted to her.