Home page of BPDFamily.com, online relationship supportMember registration here
April 24, 2024, 06:23:30 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Board Admins: Kells76, Once Removed, Turkish
Senior Ambassadors: Cat Familiar, EyesUp, SinisterComplex
  Help!   Boards   Please Donate Login to Post New?--Click here to register  
bing
Experts share their discoveries [video]
100
Caretaking - What is it all about?
Margalis Fjelstad, PhD
Blame - why we do it?
Brené Brown, PhD
Family dynamics matter.
Alan Fruzzetti, PhD
A perspective on BPD
Ivan Spielberg, PhD
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Coming out of the Fog  (Read 375 times)
elizabeth716

*
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Posts: 15



« on: April 06, 2014, 09:34:36 PM »

Upon implementing a firm, yet necessary, boundary, my undiagnosed BPD husband lost his mind... . The man who I once knew, loved, and shared everything with (likely too much, in retrospect) has transformed into a monster. After various near-suicidal episodes and continued verbal, emotional, mental and psychological abuse towards my young son and me, I made him leave our home and secure a 6-month lease in an apartment nearby. My mind was certain that this would make it better... . he would realize what he was missing... . he would stop binge drinking, he would stop the nuclear episodes against me... . he would find peace and love... . It was the answer. I could not have been MORE wrong. He deplores me, to the point that I have had to institute even more extreme boundaries and a minimal/no contact communication environment with him.

The process of detaching myself from him was so incredibly difficult initially... . It is still very hard, but now I see it from a different perspective. Much of the time, I am in a confused state, wondering if I am crazy, did I confabulate this, what could I have done differently, how could I not see this happening, why did I stay so long, why am I not staying longer... . my mind goes and goes and goes. His grandmother was schizophrenic, his mother narcissistic, and he's abused alcohol for the last 19 years that I've known him. The signs were there, but I never in a million years imagined that he wouldn't, we couldn't, get through anything. But I refuse to live on a hope and dream any longer... . allowing someone to control and manipulate me with hatred, rage and abuse. Slowly but surely, I am seeing a light in the distance. My heart feels like it is crumbling... . But at least I am working now on getting better myself... . and protecting my son. I'm not sure what the future holds, but each day is an opportunity for me to parent my son in a stable, healthy environment without the craziness that he has experienced. I love watching him be a kid... . and not interwoven into adult issues which causes a great deal of stress and confusion.

I'm going to therapy and Al-Anon every week... . I'm reading Codependent No More... . constantly researching on my phone... . and I cry every night in the bathtub when my son sleeps. Then I wake up, wash, rinse... . repeat. The irony is that I am happy, happy with my life, my family, friends, lucky to have a great job, wonderful son... . And as excruciating as this is, I've resigned myself to making each moment as positive as possible, knowing how precious time is... . we never get it back.

Not sure what each day holds... . But I refuse to let him hold me down, hold me back, strangle me with his anger, and most importantly, continue this cycle with my young, impressionable, amazing, sweet five-year old son. I'm an adult, so I can put it into a framework of understanding. Kids cannot.

I'd appreciate and welcome any input or suggestions on what else I could do at this time... . or anything else that will help me to completely emerge from this fog... . Thank you for reading.

Logged
LettingGo14
******
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Who in your life has "personality" issues: Ex-romantic partner
Posts: 751



« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2014, 10:59:35 PM »

I'd appreciate and welcome any input or suggestions on what else I could do at this time... . or anything else that will help me to completely emerge from this fog... . Thank you for reading.

Elizabeth -- thank you sharing your story.  I'm sorry you are in this situation, but I want to affirm the hard work you have done (setting boundaries, detaching, reading, learning).  You have faced a lot, and done so much to protect yourself and your son. 

One thing that stands out is your ability to acknowledge and have gratitude for the positive things in your life ("I am happy, happy with my life, my family, friends, lucky to have a great job, wonderful son".

Detaching from our relationships is extraordinarily difficult.  In fact, for me, it might be the most difficult thing I've ever done.  I feel like I have disassembled myself completely, and that I'm trying to put the parts back together again (albeit in a more healthy way).

A couple things that have helped me on this journey:  (1) mindfulness meditation (guided, via podcasts and audiobooks -- Tara Brach, is one), and (2) working the steps of detachment (see right column).   

I'm glad you are part of this community.   

Logged
Can You Help Us Stay on the Air in 2024?

Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Our 2023 Financial Sponsors
We are all appreciative of the members who provide the funding to keep BPDFamily on the air.
12years
alterK
AskingWhy
At Bay
Cat Familiar
CoherentMoose
drained1996
EZEarache
Flora and Fauna
ForeverDad
Gemsforeyes
Goldcrest
Harri
healthfreedom4s
hope2727
khibomsis
Lemon Squeezy
Memorial Donation (4)
Methos
Methuen
Mommydoc
Mutt
P.F.Change
Penumbra66
Red22
Rev
SamwizeGamgee
Skip
Swimmy55
Tartan Pants
Turkish
whirlpoollife



Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2006-2020, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!