[Angel_of_the_Past]

I really need the support and interaction of other women that have been where I am. Either I'm not looking in the right places or it's not here. Please, any women with DV and or IPA in their past, I could use a friend to bounce ideas off of.
Sorry men, you're a trigger for me please don't be offended.

[MyBestKids2]

Hi Angel_of_the_Past

Sorry but I am ignorant regarding the acronyms you provided. Would you please tell us what they stand for?

Take care,
Dee

[Angel_of_the_Past]

Sorry, just typing these words makes my anxiety get worse. But here goes: DV=domestic violence; IPA=Intimate partner abuse.

OMG,OMG,OMG, now I need to breath in and out....

[selfy]

Angel,i am a victim of neither thankfully but i know its a hard thing to go through. you know ill always be around for you, feel free to PM me. and i will try to understand as much as i can. take care friend.
dot

[nonightowl]

I need that also, which is why I joined this site. Although I haven't experienced quite the same thing, I still welcome the interaction. Being an introvert, I don't make friends easily or quickly.

My so-called friends have turned out not to be real friends, so it seems my only friend is my boyfriend. But I need more than that.

Also going through perimenopausal symptoms which include anxiety, insomnia, and mood changes.

I can somewhat relate to the men things. Took me 45 years to find a decent one, and I met him ONLINE.

[Karissa258]

Angel,

I barely know you, but you seem like a very intelligent, sensitive, all-around nifty chick. I'd be happy to listen to you whenever you want. I had an experience once that seemed like rape, and really screwed me up for a long time, but it probably doesn't hold a candle to what most have been through. I can listen, and you can bounce ideas off me as much as you like. I'll do my best to help.

Violet

[Kiya]

My experience is that I am a kid from those situations, so i don't have quite the same... what's the word... need? but have also looked for something similar... i'm not married so that I don't get back into IPA like my boyfriends have provided. I have been single for 12 years or something just for that reason.
Hope you find what you need - here or somewhere. And if you do find resources, can you post them?
Kiya

[SpottedOwl]

Trigger icon applied for discussion of abusive behavior.

((Angel))

I went through a very bad period with my partner, where he started drinking and seeing another woman in secret. After many years together, I was totally surprised to find myself in the middle of a situation that made absolutely no sense.

I've always thought I was a strong woman, but that whole experience really shook my faith in myself.

I don't know if it is applicable or not for you -- but one of the things that really helped me was learning about 'crazy-making'. I learned that abusive people will often create such an atmosphere of chaos that the other person literally feels like they are going crazy.

One moment they pull you in, the next push you away with anger. When you really care for that person, it can make you think it is your fault, or that you did something wrong. It can also make you feel like you are going crazy.

It is a control mechanism, because as long as you don't feel strong in yourself, you won't leave.

It really helped me to understand that I was not going crazy, and that it is totally normal to feel like I was.

I don't know if this helps. If you want to PM me or chat -- please feel free.
Anyway I can help you through this difficult time...just holler.

My heart goes out to you!