Even though you went through hell, you can heal.
Why did I stay for so long?
What did I do to deserve this?
Will anyone believe me if I told them what happened?
Was it actually abuse?
This goes through your head on a daily basis.
(Probably more than you’d like to admit.)
Even if you are no longer in an abusive or toxic relationship, you still feel alone, afraid, and misunderstood.
You say yes when you want to say no. You feel like that you are always giving, without getting anything back.
Even if you are no longer being hit, yelled at, or emotionally manipulated, you still feel triggered and irritable.
You can’t bring yourself to fully commit and be vulnerable with your partner. You feel like you are ‘damaged goods’ and no one will ever want you. You can’t trust your partner actually loves you.
You feel afraid to move forward in your current relationship because you don’t want to make the same mistakes.
You’re terrified of dating because you don’t trust yourself. You’re worried you’ll just keep picking the same toxic partner and end up right back where you started.
Sometimes you are convinced you’re better off alone.
Quiet Moon Counseling - Arianna Smith, LPC, EMDR 