[Phoenix_1]

Hi. I'm a member of the Bipolar forum and a survivor of abuse. I'm ok now and someone else needs my help. The trouble is that sometimes her situation is so much like what I went through that my PTSD is triggered. I spent 26 years in an abusive marriage, and got out. But since I had no one to help me in 1981, and no therapy for what I was going through, in 2009, 10 years after my divorce, I married another abuser. I had no clue what red flags were because after 26 years of marriage, I thought that kind of behaviour was normal. I was so very ignorant then. I knew nothing. That lasted 9 months before I got out and was able to receive intensive therapy. So I'm ok now. My friend has been in her relationship 7 years. She's only 33 years old. I do not want her to end up like I did in 2009: 59 years old and totally broken. I want to help her avoid any more years of abuse. I want her to be smarter than me and help her stay away from abusers. How can I overcome my PTSD so I can help her better?
P.S. I'm also posting this in the PTSD forum.