*This might be somewhat triggering for you too, if you're an animal lover.

I hope this post doesn't start a debate....my point is basically to share how something really affected me that happened out of nowhere, and I am in need of support and perhaps a direction to go in, as far as getting back on track with coping.

Someone I've been intimate with revealed out of nowhere that he used to hunt small animals "for fun" when he was young. When he saw I was upset, he said he no longer does it and cares about animals. This is an issue I feel VERY strongly about. It really upset me though, especially when he mentioned doing this to poor, innocent birds, and I am a big bird lover and actually donate money to various charities. Luckily, I had a mother and father who taught me to be kind to animals since being young, and this is just so far against my values. I just can't see him the same way. He has anger problems, so this makes the equation worse.

This may sound over the top to some people, but I kept getting visions that seem real of small animals being hurt and killed. I even cried at work, although I wasn't around anyone. My heart beats fast when this happens. I went as far as ranting on webpages about my extreme anger towards people who hunt innocent animals, and my mood has been "all over the place."

I know I need to get a grip, and this isn't good for me. Most would just let it go, but the thoughts are intrusive. The shock of my friend doing something like this is also throwing me off, when you think you know someone's character. Maybe I'm crazy?
.... I don't know how to deal with the intrusive thoughts and ways of dealing with all these emotions, so they don't get the best of me??