I watched a movie two days ago which was meant to be kind of funny on the surface but one that makes you think after you watched it. However, I really enjoyed watching it together with my new partner. I am in a fairly good condition after my final break up with my exgf 1.5 years ago even if I am still thinking about the dynamics (mostly in a really rational and healthy way).
In the midst of the movie a scene showed a father whipping his daughter with a belt really badly. While he did that, he said something like 'see what YOU make me do'.
I was never hit with a belt by my exgf, but in that moment, like out of nowhere, the whole relationship started racing through my head. My new girlfriend even realized it and asked me about it on the next day. How goddamn sad is it when such a terrible scene recalls the memory of a person you had been loving (I know that it wasn´t healthy love but that´s not the point). After a long time I was crying about all that mess again. Nonetheless, I am glad that nobody will ever connect me with such an image... .and you should be too.
I can actually relate I remember the first time me and my ex got in a huge fight. At first she apologized and said she'd work on it then a couple days later she told me something along the lines of YOU made me hate myself. So yeah I know what you mean