Hello,

I have been to this forum many times, but this is my first post. I need the advice or opinions of others because I no longer have anyone to confide in. Please forgive me if this post is too long and rambling...

I have been in a relationship since 2004. I have come to the realization that this relationship may be toxic to me. Although my fiance doesn't criticize me personally a lot, he constantly criticizes my opinions, my family and friends, my hobbies, my cooking, even down to the radio show that I listen to everyday. I have stopped giving him ideas on where to eat because we never go where I want to go and he will say how gross and terrible my restaurant idea is anyway. Because of the negative criticism, I have isolated myself from the people that love me to try to make my relationship hassle-free.

He is very disrespectful at times. Example: I get awful migraines some times and felt one coming on while we were in the car. I asked him to turn the radio down or off and instead, he turns it up really loud on a country station (I hate country music and he knows it). Whenever we go into a building, he never opens or holds the door open for me. He always walks in first. These may be trivial things but I am a southern girl and like someone to have manners and be sensitive when my head is pounding.

I have become a person that I don't even recognize. I have stopped doing all of the things that I use to love to do. I now get anxiety when I am in public places because I feel inferior to others. I don't talk much anymore and I am finding it hard to look people in the eyes. (My fiance has gotten mad if I talk to much to a random person...he has accused me of flirting when it is just idle chatter)

My siblings are happy that we are engaged even though I never see them anymore. Because my fiance is graduating with a law degree in May, he will be able to take care of a lot of family land dispute issues that we have with my aunt. I just don't think I can last any longer.