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gordian_knot said:
The plan I put together after talking with a therapist is to do the following:[LIST][*]Finally, I’m going to let my family and close friends know exactly what’s going on, because God knows I’m going to need the support.
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Just a word of caution on this one. I agree - you will need the support. But in my experience, sharing the details of my problem with my real-life friends has caused me little but judgment and alienation, some of which I brought on myself. Most people who have never been through something like this do not have a clue how hard it is. And worse, I feel as though *I* am the one being judged as being a doormat. Some friends have gone so far to call me an abuse victim who puts up with unacceptable behavior. What they don't understand is that I'm NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT. Or rather, I guess I am in the sense that I'm still in my marriage, but I'm doing EVERYTHING in my power to address it - I'm not sweeping the problems under the rug. I've learned to be extremely careful about who I share my husband's mental health problems with. And I've had better luck getting support from HIS friends versus my own. I do believe I've lost some friendships due to me revealing the reality of what I live with. I want the support, but I don't want the inevitable judgment.
That's just my experience - take it for what it's worth.
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thatsallicantypewithonehand
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