Reading this brings up soo many bad memories... .
The control, the emotional abuse left me with many deep scars!
The pieces that we are left with. No reason, no logic... .
So back to the topic, this definitely left me with the feelings of "what's wrong with me?" As you all know, that plays HELL on your mind!
The jealousy, the games, the push/pull... . all I can do is shake my head and wonder WHY did I let another person treat me like this?
I allowed her to recycle me numerous times after the initial split, and even looking back on that, I can conclude she knew what she was doing. People say that it's the BPD, but I beg to differ on this one... . She knew what she held from me in the r/s, so when allowing her to recycle me, she wouldn't withhold. That would hook me, then once she had me hooked, she would slowly pull away... .
This was a malicious game that she played with me, with my mind, and with my emotions... . this is why that r/s was like no other that I have ever had. That is the damaging part, the part that stays with us for a very long time!
I experienced all this as well and looking back,realize that it was my co-dependence,the desire to 'mother' him and wishful thinking that 'If I loved him deeper/more,things would change' which made me stay.Also,when I look back now,I realize that I was stubborn and was insisting on 'living in a dream' because facing facts and accepting things the way they were was not easy.
The 'idealize-devalue' cycles affected my health,work and caused mild depression besides shattering my self esteem.Even though I know now that he is sick and din't act the way he did on purpose,the words 'I never felt anything for you' and ':)on't ever touch me' still prey upon my mind multiple times a day.
It hurts.Still.Even though we are NC and I don't exist for him anymore,it hurts.
I am on the path of growing emotionally indifferent to him now.Its a long journey but I have embanked upon it because there is no other way out of this pain.