How do you help someone get over being abused

[sweet_marie]

I'm not sure anyone will even remember, but I posted just a day or two before Katrina hit.

I have sporadic net access at work but can't get to this site there.

I will read through and update on progress as I can.

I Lyrical, I didn't see your post, but hello and I'll look for ya!
Marie

 

[Gil_T2]

I'm not sure anyone will even remember, but I posted just a day or two before Katrina hit.

I have sporadic net access at work but can't get to this site there.

I will read through and update on progress as I can.

We did get told by someone that you had a post after Katrina so we were in hope that things hadn't been to bad for you & it will be great to get an update. We can only imagine what you have been through.

 

[sexyjenn]

hello again

I don't know if you all remember the posts I made earlier in this topic about helping someone close to me after finding out about her abuse. (ps. it's on page 77 now)

I've done all I can possibly do for her, be there for her, listen and talk offer advice try and cheer her up. I thought I was doing alright until I found out she tried to kill herself.. She says she trusts me and that she knows she can talk to me about anything yet she didn't mention anything before she tried to do it, or after for that matter I had to find out myself. I've tried to talk some sense into her but it seems to not get through. I'm really running out of ideas.. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm also scared because she has become dependant on me saying things like "your the reason I haven't already killed myself" and "I'd die without you". She is getting professional help to so it's not like I'm trying by myself but apart from me she doesn't really have anyone else.

I'm just looking for some advice or something.. I just don't know how to deal with this anymore(not that I did in the first place either)

 

[Gil_T2]

hello again

I don't know if you all remember the posts I made earlier in this topic about helping someone close to me after finding out about her abuse. (ps. it's on page 77 now)

I've done all I can possibly do for her, be there for her, listen and talk offer advice try and cheer her up. I thought I was doing alright until I found out she tried to kill herself.. She says she trusts me and that she knows she can talk to me about anything yet she didn't mention anything before she tried to do it, or after for that matter I had to find out myself. I've tried to talk some sense into her but it seems to not get through. I'm really running out of ideas.. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm also scared because she has become dependant on me saying things like "your the reason I haven't already killed myself" and "I'd die without you". She is getting professional help to so it's not like I'm trying by myself but apart from me she doesn't really have anyone else.

I'm just looking for some advice or something.. I just don't know how to deal with this anymore(not that I did in the first place either)

Yes you haven't been forgotten & there are many questions about this post.
* How honest is she being with the professional help?

*Has anything change in her life to trigger the attempt? & was it a serious attempt or a please notice me attempt?

*Have you or anyone else gone with her to her professional help?

* Have you stressed how bad her attempt makes you feel seeing that she has stated that your "The reason she hasn't killed herself" & "I'd die without you" well why didn't she talk to you first!

My thoughts are you have to go with her to the meeting & fill the professional in on what's happening that she's not telling them.

My final thought is you'll likely need counciling as well to help you deal with this difficult situation.

 

[Don K Dyck]

^^^ Like Gil says ^^^^^

From a safe distance of half a world away it seems that your friend may have substituted one co-dependant relationship for another. This may have been done knowingly or unconsciously.

Personally I am not good with suicide attempts, I leave that to the professionals.

Some years ago we had a rash of students who topped themselves and their colleagues were very angry that those "victims" had been so selfish and uncaring.

Eventually your friend has got to face up to themselves and take responsibility for their own position. Obviously, at present your firend is not doing that at present.

 

[Gil_T2]

Yes you haven't been forgotten & there are many questions about this post.
* How honest is she being with the professional help?

*Has anything change in her life to trigger the attempt? & was it a serious attempt or a please notice me attempt?

*Have you or anyone else gone with her to her professional help?

* Have you stressed how bad her attempt makes you feel seeing that she has stated that your "The reason she hasn't killed herself" & "I'd die without you" well why didn't she talk to you first!

My thoughts are you have to go with her to the meeting & fill the professional in on what's happening that she's not telling them.

My final thought is you'll likely need counciling as well to help you deal with this difficult situation.

Another thought is to really tell her off over the suicide attempt is to put it back on her for thinking so little of you that she didn't even bother talking it over with you or letting you know how bad she was feeling & how that her attempt makes you feel so worthless, get her thinking of others (you who do care about her instead of dwelling on herself tell her she has to consider thos who care about her & how her actions will affect them).

 

[sexyjenn]

Yes you haven't been forgotten & there are many questions about this post.
* How honest is she being with the professional help?

*Has anything change in her life to trigger the attempt? & was it a serious attempt or a please notice me attempt?

*Have you or anyone else gone with her to her professional help?

* Have you stressed how bad her attempt makes you feel seeing that she has stated that your "The reason she hasn't killed herself" & "I'd die without you" well why didn't she talk to you first!

My thoughts are you have to go with her to the meeting & fill the professional in on what's happening that she's not telling them.

My final thought is you'll likely need counciling as well to help you deal with this difficult situation.

I don't know for sure but from the way she talks about it I'd say not that honest/reluctant with the professional help. It was a rather serious attempt her father saved her though, Hes gone with her to her professional help. I did stress to her about how I felt! I was really hurt and betrayed not only that she did it but she didn't talk to me before it, or even tell me about it after! Least to mention she broke a very important promise to me by doing those things to. I pushed all my feelings aside though after all I don't care so much about that stuff as I do her being okay. She has been on medication and when I asked her to please not hurt herself again if I really meant so much to her, she said she couldn't and that the medication tends to give her the urge to do it. I've told her to let them know the medication maybe it's a side effect or something but Could it actually be the medication? or is that a weak excuse? I don't think I'll need counciling unless something worse happens, which is good as I couldn't afford it right now.

Another thought is to really tell her off over the suicide attempt is to put it back on her for thinking so little of you that she didn't even bother talking it over with you or letting you know how bad she was feeling & how that her attempt makes you feel so worthless, get her thinking of others (you who do care about her instead of dwelling on herself tell her she has to consider thos who care about her & how her actions will affect them).

I've tried saying similar things along those lines however it is extremely difficult. She thinks so low of herself that even if I were to do something really bad to her she would be apologising to me for some stupid reason. Her entire life she's been put down by family and others even though she is really talentend in many respects!! So even though I've been supportive of her, I feel she doesn't quite believe me and that she still thinks she's not good enough/doesn't deserve any sort of praise. So I've tried to be firm and tell her yet at the same time gentle so not to cause her to get more upset. The last time I tried by mentioning how much it would hurt me and her father if she did die, she ended up crying and leaving.

I wanted to write some more things that came to mind but my computer is being troublesome, I'll check back later

 

[Gil_T2]

I don't know for sure but from the way she talks about it I'd say not that honest/reluctant with the professional help. It was a rather serious attempt her father saved her though, Hes gone with her to her professional help. I did stress to her about how I felt! I was really hurt and betrayed not only that she did it but she didn't talk to me before it, or even tell me about it after! Least to mention she broke a very important promise to me by doing those things to. I pushed all my feelings aside though after all I don't care so much about that stuff as I do her being okay. She has been on medication and when I asked her to please not hurt herself again if I really meant so much to her, she said she couldn't and that the medication tends to give her the urge to do it. I've told her to let them know the medication maybe it's a side effect or something but Could it actually be the medication? or is that a weak excuse? I don't think I'll need counciling unless something worse happens, which is good as I couldn't afford it right now.


I've tried saying similar things along those lines however it is extremely difficult. She thinks so low of herself that even if I were to do something really bad to her she would be apologising to me for some stupid reason. Her entire life she's been put down by family and others even though she is really talentend in many respects!! So even though I've been supportive of her, I feel she doesn't quite believe me and that she still thinks she's not good enough/doesn't deserve any sort of praise. So I've tried to be firm and tell her yet at the same time gentle so not to cause her to get more upset. The last time I tried by mentioning how much it would hurt me and her father if she did die, she ended up crying and leaving.

I wanted to write some more things that came to mind but my computer is being troublesome, I'll check back later

I can only hope that she eventually realises what a wonderful person you are & the mental anguish your going through.

She must come clean with the pro as help can't come without honesty & one of the best ways to ease the burden of the past is to let it ALL out.

As for the meds being the cause this too is possible but a google might be needed to understand the side effects.

 

[sweet_marie]

hello again

I don't know if you all remember the posts I made earlier in this topic about helping someone close to me after finding out about her abuse. (ps. it's on page 77 now)

I've done all I can possibly do for her, be there for her, listen and talk offer advice try and cheer her up. I thought I was doing alright until I found out she tried to kill herself.. She says she trusts me and that she knows she can talk to me about anything yet she didn't mention anything before she tried to do it, or after for that matter I had to find out myself. I've tried to talk some sense into her but it seems to not get through. I'm really running out of ideas.. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm also scared because she has become dependant on me saying things like "your the reason I haven't already killed myself" and "I'd die without you". She is getting professional help to so it's not like I'm trying by myself but apart from me she doesn't really have anyone else.

I'm just looking for some advice or something.. I just don't know how to deal with this anymore(not that I did in the first place either)

Hello you very sweet, caring lady!

Before I say anything, I want to say that you are very kind, gentle and very involved in someone's life who might now otherwise have had a real chance. Good for you. I just hope for your sake that you have the boundry to know how far you can go without losing yourself.

When you read this, I truly don't mean to sound harsh when I say this. I just don't have soothing voice to go with it. So, take what you might see here and pick apart what you relate to.....and please know I am not trying to hurt anyone's feelings...I get clinical with this stuff but I mean it with many hugs and a kind heart.

An old boyfriend threatened to complete suicide if I broke up with him. I broke up with him anyway (the healthiest thing I've done this year) and he is still alive.

The point is, when someone decides to complete suicide, THAT IS THEIR CHOICE! It has absolutely nothing to do with you. You MUST keep that mantra close to you heart, honey. I cannot stress enough how much you must not allow her choices to ruin your mental and emotional health. If she decides to kill herself, that is on her. You will be sad, you will be very angry, and that's ok! Meanwhile, do not take any responsibility for her actions.

You have done what you have done. You have been there for her as one fellow human being can be for another. But when it goes this deep, no one can prevent another person from dying on whatever level.

Let me ask you this: How far would she be willing to help you?

As Gil mentioned to tell her off, I would be absolutely honest with your friend. Tell her what it felt like, betrayal, anger, any emotional feeling you had, get it on the table and let her see how her decision affected you. And then let it proceed naturally, keeping in mind how far you are willing to go with your friend, how far she would go for you.

If I were you, I would get some help for you first. There are a lot of websites on this post, might be good to look at them. Also, go to your local Hospice (if you aren't sure, PM me and I'll steer you in the right direction....I work for Hospice so it wouldn't bother me in the least) and ask for their Medical Social Worker (make sure she has a masters in medical social work). Hospice deals with death and dying on a daily basis and they know what they're about...don't be shy or embarassed, I promise they've heard the same or worse than you could tell them.

Explain exactly what your situation is and then ask that nice person (they are, usually without exception, a fabulous resource and very kind people) what she/he would recommend for you. They usually, if they aren't too busy, are exstatic (sp?) to figure out a new problem and might be willing to talk with you a bit.

the other thing I would recommend is go through some grief/mourning cycle for you. This is important in that you are essentially letting go of a friend you thought you had. That can mean that she will complete her suicide next time or that you will both continue on your relationship in another way that is more appropriate for your state of being and health as well as hers; either way, there is a natural grief that will occur for what you have known as you welcome the new and say good-bye to the old. A good website to start is:

www.centerforloss.com

and check out Dr. Alan Wolffelt, a great author and he knows what he's about when it comes to natural, no BS, honest to God grieving and growth through loss. I can tell you, its helped me a lot.

If you need someone to talk to, or just vent, even though you don't know me worth beans, I'm just an email away.

Get some sleep. Be sure you're eating. And talk a lot about what is on your heart. If not to a person, talk a walk and find an inviting tree.

{{{{{Jenny}}}}}


Marie

 

[Sensual Man 05]

Hello you very sweet, caring lady!

Before I say anything, I want to say that you are very kind, gentle and very involved in someone's life who might now otherwise have had a real chance. Good for you. I just hope for your sake that you have the boundry to know how far you can go without losing yourself.

When you read this, I truly don't mean to sound harsh when I say this. I just don't have soothing voice to go with it. So, take what you might see here and pick apart what you relate to.....and please know I am not trying to hurt anyone's feelings...I get clinical with this stuff but I mean it with many hugs and a kind heart.

An old boyfriend threatened to complete suicide if I broke up with him. I broke up with him anyway (the healthiest thing I've done this year) and he is still alive.

The point is, when someone decides to complete suicide, THAT IS THEIR CHOICE! It has absolutely nothing to do with you. You MUST keep that mantra close to you heart, honey. I cannot stress enough how much you must not allow her choices to ruin your mental and emotional health. If she decides to kill herself, that is on her. You will be sad, you will be very angry, and that's ok! Meanwhile, do not take any responsibility for her actions.

You have done what you have done. You have been there for her as one fellow human being can be for another. But when it goes this deep, no one can prevent another person from dying on whatever level.

Let me ask you this: How far would she be willing to help you?

As Gil mentioned to tell her off, I would be absolutely honest with your friend. Tell her what it felt like, betrayal, anger, any emotional feeling you had, get it on the table and let her see how her decision affected you. And then let it proceed naturally, keeping in mind how far you are willing to go with your friend, how far she would go for you.

If I were you, I would get some help for you first. There are a lot of websites on this post, might be good to look at them. Also, go to your local Hospice (if you aren't sure, PM me and I'll steer you in the right direction....I work for Hospice so it wouldn't bother me in the least) and ask for their Medical Social Worker (make sure she has a masters in medical social work). Hospice deals with death and dying on a daily basis and they know what they're about...don't be shy or embarassed, I promise they've heard the same or worse than you could tell them.

Explain exactly what your situation is and then ask that nice person (they are, usually without exception, a fabulous resource and very kind people) what she/he would recommend for you. They usually, if they aren't too busy, are exstatic (sp?) to figure out a new problem and might be willing to talk with you a bit.

the other thing I would recommend is go through some grief/mourning cycle for you. This is important in that you are essentially letting go of a friend you thought you had. That can mean that she will complete her suicide next time or that you will both continue on your relationship in another way that is more appropriate for your state of being and health as well as hers; either way, there is a natural grief that will occur for what you have known as you welcome the new and say good-bye to the old. A good website to start is:

www.centerforloss.com

and check out Dr. Alan Wolffelt, a great author and he knows what he's about when it comes to natural, no BS, honest to God grieving and growth through loss. I can tell you, its helped me a lot.

If you need someone to talk to, or just vent, even though you don't know me worth beans, I'm just an email away.

Get some sleep. Be sure you're eating. And talk a lot about what is on your heart. If not to a person, talk a walk and find an inviting tree.

{{{{{Jenny}}}}}


Marie

I don't have any expert advice to add, just the voice of experience. I agree with Sweet Marie. When someone decides to commit suicide, that is his or her choice. Do not take responsibility for that action. It's not your fault. Call me insensitive, but I think it's pretty selfish of a person to lay that kind of pressure on somebody. To say "you're the only reason I haven't tried to kill myself" is no compliment. It's a warning. That person is saying "if you don't do A, B, and C for me, I'll kill myself. And you'll be responsible." I don't care what anyone says, I think that's bullshit. Excuse the hint of anger, but I've had to pull a broken bottle out of a GF's hand because she was trying to kill herself. There is no worse feeling in the world than having witness something like that.

Good luck to you, sexyjenn. Just remember to take care of yourself.

 

[Gil_T2]

I don't have any expert advice to add, just the voice of experience. I agree with Sweet Marie. When someone decides to commit suicide, that is his or her choice. Do not take responsibility for that action. It's not your fault. Call me insensitive, but I think it's pretty selfish of a person to lay that kind of pressure on somebody. To say "you're the only reason I haven't tried to kill myself" is no compliment. It's a warning. That person is saying "if you don't do A, B, and C for me, I'll kill myself. And you'll be responsible." I don't care what anyone says, I think that's bullshit. Excuse the hint of anger, but I've had to pull a broken bottle out of a GF's hand because she was trying to kill herself. There is no worse feeling in the world than having witness something like that.

Good luck to you, sexyjenn. Just remember to take care of yourself.

SEXYJENN athough you know what she has suffered with her abuse I must agree with Sensual Man you really do need to make her realise how her actions have made you feel & don't let her just walk away, you must make her listen to everything you have to say & above all else take care of you.

 

[mortalwombat]

hi all-have been following the site with great interest-only quiet because the last couple of posts are well outside my experience so i have nothing really to add. there are plenty of people who can give better advice than me!
Jenn i feel for you with what your friend is doing-no advice just a *hug* and my support. I hope everything eventually works out
Kiki, sorry for your loss-i've never lost anyone close to me so I cant say i know how you feel-all i can do is offer my sympathy and support. oh and of course a *hug*
well thats me done-feeling pretty useless but i do give killer hugs!

 

[sweet_marie]

I did it!


Ok k, you guys,........I did it.

I got:

Belly dancing instruction video
Meditation/bellydance video

Hip scarf (turquoise and silver coins)
Veil (turquoise)
Stick on belly jewels


so, will let you know how it goeth...

Also, came to another resolution. I am going to be a body builder....I probably won't be cover material but I'm gonna go for it.

And do you know that belly dancing qualifies as cardio?

and that the best resource for body building I've found is for guys, the guy who is usually on Men's Health cover wrote a really good, no nonsense (doesn't take forever like some of the girly ones) workout book. So excited. If you guys know of any other resources, let me know.

Also.....

Trying to be a little more femmy...ish...hence the belly dancing....but if you girls know of otehr hints or etc, let me know. If I had my way I'd scare all the men off by telling them I enjoy eating testicles or something (I'm a farm girl...we call them Rocky Mt. Oysters... )

Ok, thanks for letting me vent. I had to talk to somebody.

many hugs.....(here's to starting an adventure huh?)

Marie

 

[Don K Dyck]

Ok k, you guys,........I did it.

I got:

Belly dancing instruction video
Meditation/bellydance video

Hip scarf (turquoise and silver coins)
Veil (turquoise)
Stick on belly jewels


so, will let you know how it goeth...

Also, came to another resolution. I am going to be a body builder....I probably won't be cover material but I'm gonna go for it.

And do you know that belly dancing qualifies as cardio?

and that the best resource for body building I've found is for guys, the guy who is usually on Men's Health cover wrote a really good, no nonsense (doesn't take forever like some of the girly ones) workout book. So excited. If you guys know of any other resources, let me know.

Also.....

Trying to be a little more femmy...ish...hence the belly dancing....but if you girls know of otehr hints or etc, let me know. If I had my way I'd scare all the men off by telling them I enjoy eating testicles or something (I'm a farm girl...we call them Rocky Mt. Oysters... )

Ok, thanks for letting me vent. I had to talk to somebody.

many hugs.....(here's to starting an adventure huh?)

Marie

Go for it Marie!!! Well done!!

THere is something just simply erotic about rolling a farm girl in the hay . . .

 

[Noor]

Ok k, you guys,........I did it.

I got:

Belly dancing instruction video
Meditation/bellydance video

Hip scarf (turquoise and silver coins)
Veil (turquoise)
Stick on belly jewels

Cool! Way to go! I don't even have a hip scarf with coins yet, almost I saw one in vegas I really liked but it was $75 so I skipped it.

I also walk and do pilates occasionally.

 

[Private_Label]

.... She has been on medication and when I asked her to please not hurt herself again if I really meant so much to her, she said she couldn't and that the medication tends to give her the urge to do it. I've told her to let them know the medication maybe it's a side effect or something but Could it actually be the medication? or is that a weak excuse? I don't think I'll need counciling unless something worse happens, which is good as I couldn't afford it right now.

Some of the depression/anxiety meds do have nasty side effects that some people do have. Especially young adults - if the meds are making her think more about suicide, then she definitely needs to speak to the doctor who prescribed it and tell them that it is having that effect. Sometimes it is a matter of dosage too much/too little and the side effects are more prevalent. Chances are she will have to be weaned of that medication before starting the new one and will need to be watched carefully until the new medication is adjusted properly which could take several months (6 to 8 weeks for the initial dode to have full effect, and several weeks after that if she needs a higher dose or a differnt medication). Not everyone reacts the same way to these medications. The good news is there are lots of new ones out there, it will just take time to find the right one, right dosage, right combination of them (I take Zoloft and Trazadone; Zoloft makes me antsy by itself, and I need both at about double the minimum dosage), and sometimes takes weeks before it is effective; it took about 2 weeks before I felt the Zoloft kicking in the first time, and was another 3 or 4 months before I noticed the antsy feeling enough to complain about it and start the Trazadone, but the first day I was taking both the difference was amazing it was the closest I had felt to being "normal" in a long time (years).

So- could the meds be giving her the urge to hurt herself? Yes, or it could be a number of other reasons that are also related to the meds. I cannot stress enough the need to be open with the doctors about this aspect of care.

The problem with having depression is that untreated over a period of time it can get to the point where even though the original reason for the depression has been resolved, the brain chemistry is so screwed up that it needs medical intervention to get it back on track. It is also possible that your friend suffers from chronic clinical depression, the neurochemicals got out of balance for an organic reason and not a psychological reason, and she will need to take medications the rest of her life to help her maintain her balance.

Prozac left me feeling like I was in a fog. Zoloft alone left me feeling very tense all the time and easily irritated. Once my medications were balanced in a way that was effective for me, I felt awake and good and happy and sad and angry as I would normally - I could cry if I wanted but I was not left crying at everything.

I've tried saying similar things along those lines however it is extremely difficult. ... So I've tried to be firm and tell her yet at the same time gentle so not to cause her to get more upset. The last time I tried by mentioning how much it would hurt me and her father if she did die, she ended up crying and leaving.

She probably hadn't thought about how it would affect you. When my depression is on a bad phase, I cry at anything almost - random thoughts, stupid TV shows, commercials, reading my favorite books, my cat wanting attention... Things that made a big difference to me while depressed: Hugs. If she gets weepy, hug her, hold her hand... touch is an amazing healing thing. It gets through where words sometimes can't reach or are rejected by an irrational mind.

To me in my personal view (from personal experience) it says that her medications are probably not working for her, because they are the wrong dose, wrong ones or wrong combination for her. The only way that will change is if she is up front and honest with the doctor - at least about her emotional state.

 

[Gil_T2]

hi all-have been following the site with great interest-only quiet because the last couple of posts are well outside my experience so i have nothing really to add. there are plenty of people who can give better advice than me!
Jenn i feel for you with what your friend is doing-no advice just a *hug* and my support. I hope everything eventually works out
Kiki, sorry for your loss-i've never lost anyone close to me so I cant say i know how you feel-all i can do is offer my sympathy and support. oh and of course a *hug*
well thats me done-feeling pretty useless but i do give killer hugs!

WOMBAT sometimes just a hug does wonders so you are helping.

 

[sweet_marie]

[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

Cool! Way to go! I don't even have a hip scarf with coins yet, almost I saw one in vegas I really liked but it was $75 so I skipped it.

I also walk and do pilates occasionally.

www.visionarydance.com

they have everything...i just got one for like $49 or so....very nice stuff.

 

[sweet_marie]

To me in my personal view (from personal experience) it says that her medications are probably not working for her, because they are the wrong dose, wrong ones or wrong combination for her. The only way that will change is if she is up front and honest with the doctor - at least about her emotional state.

Ah, the voice of reason. I confess that I got a little emotional and didn't even stop to think about this...and I should have.....thanks for saying this!
Marie

 

[sexyjenn]

thank you very much for all of your replies and support.

I've read them all several times even yet haven't been able to think what to say, I spent this week away from her since both our schedules caused it and I've been trying to.. enjoy myself and take my mind off things. Yet each night I still find myself thinking endlessly...

it's all a blur though I need to clear my thoughts before I type a proper reply hehe.. Just wanted to say thanks! hugs and kisses to you all

 

[Gil_T2]

thank you very much for all of your replies and support.

I've read them all several times even yet haven't been able to think what to say, I spent this week away from her since both our schedules caused it and I've been trying to.. enjoy myself and take my mind off things. Yet each night I still find myself thinking endlessly...

it's all a blur though I need to clear my thoughts before I type a proper reply hehe.. Just wanted to say thanks! hugs and kisses to you all

*Gil sends many hugs & hope of healing for you both*

 

[Gil_T2]

bumping the thread back into view hoping it's not needed.

 

[Lyrical Fool]

Update...

Well, to bring you all up to speed (rather belatedly so, but still...)

I had just found the thread in the week before Katrina hit -- it took me three days, if I remember right, to read through it all at that point, and I had an epiphany.

But then life got weird. I had prepared to leave my house for three days -- we had been through this so-called hurricane mess before, so, sadly, I didn't take it seriously. Judging by the stories around here, though, not many people did.

But here I am, almost 2 months to the day that I left my house, and I'm back living with my parents (oddly after swearing I'd never be back again). Unfortunately, the storm didn't leave me much choice.

My brain is just now getting back to normal, for whatever that's worth, and I'm not sure how much of all of this I've actually worked through.

But I have noticed changes

I'm just not sure where I stand on the abuse issue anymore, much less anything in my life right now.

But there's my update, anyway

 

[Gil_T2]

Well, to bring you all up to speed (rather belatedly so, but still...)

I had just found the thread in the week before Katrina hit -- it took me three days, if I remember right, to read through it all at that point, and I had an epiphany.

But then life got weird. I had prepared to leave my house for three days -- we had been through this so-called hurricane mess before, so, sadly, I didn't take it seriously. Judging by the stories around here, though, not many people did.

But here I am, almost 2 months to the day that I left my house, and I'm back living with my parents (oddly after swearing I'd never be back again). Unfortunately, the storm didn't leave me much choice.

My brain is just now getting back to normal, for whatever that's worth, and I'm not sure how much of all of this I've actually worked through.

But I have noticed changes

I'm just not sure where I stand on the abuse issue anymore, much less anything in my life right now.

But there's my update, anyway

I'm sure from all we have seen & heard this end of the world that you & so many other will need counciling to get over the disaster your been through.
As for returning to mum & dad's place we all seem reluctant but do at times need to.

Please take care.

 

[mortalwombat]

shameless *bump* for an important thread
*hugs* for all that need them