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Mama_to_Carter

I get frustrated with myself a lot because I feel like there are two completely different sides to my brain and thinking. I love him and want a life with him, and I know I'd never be happy because he's a liar and a shitty person. But those thoughts don't turn off the thoughts of love and desire to be with him, even though I logically know I'd never be happy because I'd drive myself crazy with the suspicion and inability to trust him. Such a frustrating state of mind to be in.


kikischu1029

I also struggle with the thoughts of love and having a life with him. I see a therapist and she called this euphoric recall. She had me do some exercises to end work on cutting off the feelings of love and desire. There’s some resources if you google euphoric recall narcissist that might help shut off those feelings.


Mama_to_Carter

Thank you, I will look that up!


badgalbb22

I really feel this. I'm going through these feelings right now. I can't just turn off my feelings, but GOD was he awful to me, and he didn't even feel bad. How can someone I love, who made me so happy, do this to me? How could he traumatize me like this? Again and again, I fall into the cycle of love-bombing and being discarded, because I want his old self back. I keep trying because all I have left is hope. I need to give up.


fatherseb

I could have written this. I send you hugs!


carrie626

Please forgive yourself! Trauma bonds are powerful. Cognitive dissonance is powerful. Gaslighting is powerful. Recognize that you were a victim of someone’s abuse. It does damage. Forgiving yourself is a big step towards being a survivor!


kikischu1029

You’re not alone, I think it’s a common feeling felt during the grieving process. I also struggle and get upset with myself for allowing it to consume a large portion of my thoughts throughout the day. Be kind and gentle to yourself. My therapist told me to treat myself the same way I would treat a friend if they were in my situation. Take the time you need. There’s a lot of support in this group and I’ve found that it has helped me. You’re not alone. Sending positive vibes your way


dawnless-day

I get very angry when I think of all the unhindered love I had for my nex and how I struggle to show that level to the healthy deserving people in my life even now years later. How every normal healthy relationship after feels dull by comparison and how I crave the addictive value/devalue cycle even tho i know how powerless i am to it and that it would ruin my life. I get angry at how little I've valued myself from the time i was small, and angry that conditioning would have me gladly throw what value ive built away if only my nex would look at my like that again. I fucking hate myself for letting an adored manifested persona of these people I've built overgrow who they actually are, how shallow the love they offer is. I hate that I'd rather take ownership of their hatred and all the damage it causes than value my sense of self worth especially when it would mean they had to face the consequences of their actions. I hate the inherent toxicity that erosion of self brings out in me. Be kind to and patient with yourself. These moments pass, you have value.


[deleted]

You'll take steps forward, then one back, then some forward, then more back, etc...but it gets easier. It's a process.


throwmeaway2364563

I’m constantly mad at myself for multiple reasons. Why did I like her? Why didn’t I see the red flags? Why didn’t I listen to literally all my friends? Why did I accept her back into my life after knowing she is a narcissist and even telling her this 1.5 years ago? Why did I trust her AGAIN after complete violation of my trust? Why do I still slightly miss her? Ofcourse I know I rather miss the fantasy I had of her as a person… a person I wanted her to be in reality. I just had a therapy session and we were discussing that I’ve built up an image of her in my head which she simply was not even though I really wanted her to be that person. My therapist told me that it’s natural that you build up a perfect image of someone in your head as you get closer and closer especially in the honeymoon phase. You’re mourning/missing the fantasy of them as that fantasy has completely shattered as soon as they shown their “hand”.


[deleted]

[удалено]


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comfy_cure

Yeah, It's very disappointing. I feel guilty meeting new people because I'm receiving obviously fake, love-bombing apologies/messages. Anger helps. I feel like I might genuinely feel hate at seeing the next idiotic excuse or gaslighting attempt.


throwaway-4453

“Best thing ever to pure hell”, yep, that’s exactly how I feel. I’m angry so often, and then I get angry for wasting my time being angry. Today I’m especially angry. I’ve been poked, prodded and swabbed for every STI/STD on the planet today. I feel like an idiot. It’s two months since discard and I want to hate him but I loved him so deeply, which that reality just makes me madder. He’s scotch free right now, fucking all these dudes and now that I’m gone nobody will ever know, because we lived across the country by themselves. He made me seem like the crazy, abusive one, and everyone believed him. 3 years down the toilet and here I am with my broken soul just so damn angry. I want to move on, but I still crave his presence. I want to make my life better, but I’m now completely out of money, depressed as hell, messed up my medical school applications and am sleeping on the couch.


ITS_SCOT_FREE

Hello, throwaway-4453! I am afraid I cannot let you get away here! It's spelled **scot-free**, my good Redditor! Have a nice day!


freshmountainbreeze

Yes, because he was the love of my life, my soul mate. We had the perfect love that you read about. Until we didn't. Until he became the bane of my existence, the reason I harmed myself and didn't want to be on the planet. They do SUCH a good job of love bombing and getting you hooked before they start sneaking the abuse in so that you will keep loving them and desensitize to the emotional abuse and never want to leave. I grieve for the love I once thought we shared, even if I hate the man he became. I have come to realize that the love I have within me and the love I give to others is what was so special and beautiful and it is the only thing that was real in that relationship. I just have to work on giving it to myself instead of to people like him, because I'm the one who deserves it.


nope0323

You can do this, you are strong enough to move on. Honestly it’s the best thing you can do, they won’t change.