By Quinn Pierce I watched a special on television once about a magician. The show revealed secrets behind the magician's act. I remember watching the assistant disappear through a trap door.  The door was situated beneath a table that was sitting on an angle which the audience couldn't see. It occurred to me that living with a sociopath is not unlike living with a magician. A sociopathic spouse creates an illusionary life complete with spontaneous tricks, secrets, and a hidden escape route. Distraction With a Touch of Flair Most arguments within my marriage were subject to a minimum requirement of drama. It was very unusual for a topic to be discussed at face value; usually, my ex …
Research on trusting your gut
Lovefraud advocates trusting your gut, instincts or intuition when it comes to romantic relationships. Jim McNulty, a psychology professor at Florida State University, just published research that tested how "automatic attitudes" and "semi-conscious attitudes" predicted long-term happiness in romantic relationships. Gut feelings might be best predictors of marital bliss, on IndividualHealthNews.com. Link supplied by a Lovefraud reader. …
Sociopaths and the three components of love
Last week, my husband, Terry Kelly, and I traded colds. I got sick first, and Terry made chicken soup and did what he could to make me feel comfortable. Then, despite my best efforts to keep my germs to myself, Terry got sick. By this time I was feeling better. So I went to the store and bought cold medicine, tissues and orange juice, because I'd used everything up. I made him chicken soup. I even made him a pot of chili. As I did all this, I noticed a warm feeling within me. It was the joy of taking care of someone I loved. I was concerned about his health and wellbeing. I was happy and energized to help him. It was a feeling sociopaths never experience. Three behavioral …
Stop Asking Yourself Why and What
By Patricia Jackson When you live with a sociopath or psychopath (the difference will be the subject of a future article) you find yourself analyzing everything he (or she if you were unfortunate enough to be targeted by the fifteen per cent that are estimated to be female) says can be a source of endless analysis. The questions go something like this: 1) Why did he suddenly change? (Meaning why did he just go from being pleasant/kind/good/nice/reasonable to mean?) 2) What happened in his past that makes him act like this? 3) What did I say, do, fail to say, fail to do, that provoked him? 4) What if I do X. Y. Z? Or for that matter A. B. C. D. E. F. G. through W? (Maybe that will …
How Career Con Artists Take Risks With Your Career, Reputation, and Resources
Editor's note: The following story was contributed by the Lovefraud reader "Abbie123." Names have been changed. A while ago, I was going through a difficult break up when an acquaintance friend of mine named "George" invited me to "get away from it all" at a conference held on an exclusive resort island, no strings attached. Although George and I had only known each other a few weeks, I was vulnerable and the rare opportunity to boost my own spirits and career by spending a weekend mingling with an elite group of international business leaders in my professional field in the lap of luxury so far from my painful reality seemed irresistible. But that was not what happened in reality. As i …
How Career Con Artists Take Risks With Your Career, Reputation, and ResourcesRead More
Divorcing A Sociopath: The First Steps Are The Most Difficult
by Quinn Pierce I remember walking along the sidewalk, the ice-covered snow crunching under my feet. The moonlight did nothing to warm winter's night air, but I couldn't feel the cold. I just walked. One foot in front of the other. Next to me, my dog, Sammy, followed my pace keeping her long Great Dane legs in short strides. This was our usual Saturday night outing since separating from my ex-husband. It was the only thing I could bring myself to do instead of sitting at home, missing my children and crying. I tried so hard to shield them from the angry and hurt emotions swirling around my dissolving marriage. I believed it was best to try to foster a healthy relationship between …
Divorcing A Sociopath: The First Steps Are The Most DifficultRead More
Shellie Zimmerman, George Zimmerman’s estranged wife, speaks out about abuse
George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, 17, in Sanford, Florida, the night of February 26, 2012. Despite the media circus that followed, and Zimmerman's high-profile trial last summer that ended with his acquittal, I have never written about this case. Although it was a big story, I wasn't sure it was a Lovefraud story. Most of the media attention focused on the racial aspects of the case. Most of the debate was on whether or not justice was served. Neither of these issues necessarily correlates with sociopathy. There were a few hints that Zimmerman had sociopathic traits. In fact, a writer by the name of Shawn James did a good job of outlining them in his blog article, Why I …
Shellie Zimmerman, George Zimmerman’s estranged wife, speaks out about abuseRead More
Video: Women ignoring the Red Flags of Love Fraud
This Youtube video is a satirical and cringe-worthy look at women with skewed ideas of what's appealing about men. Unfortunately, some of the behaviors look familiar. The video has gone viral. …
Lovefraud Professional Resources Guide: Patricia Jackson, B.A., CAC III
Lovefraud presents a series of Q&A articles with members of the Professional Resources Guide. Patricia Jackson is a Psychiatrist, psychologist and therapist, who specializes in depression, women's issues, parenting, legal abuse, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, victim of injustice, isolation, and special needs of intuitives and artists. She also offers expert evaluation and court testimony on issues of abuse and psychological torture, victimization assessments, treatment recommendations and provision and substance abuse. Q. What experience have you had dealing with sociopaths or other disordered personalities—personally, professionally, or both? A. I have been personally an …
Lovefraud Professional Resources Guide: Patricia Jackson, B.A., CAC IIIRead More
What’s in Alec Baldwin’s wallet? Not pledge support from WNYC member
Editor's note: The following post was written by the Lovefraud reader who posts as "Jennifer." "Alec Baldwin can always be counted on to give a good performance, whether on television or on the witness stand, and his testimony in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Tuesday was no exception." That's a quote from the New York Times article about Alec Baldwin's stalking case entitled, In Court, Baldwin Tells of a Stalker 'Out of Hitchcock.' According to the article, Mr. Baldwin alleges that he has been "harassed" and "stalked" by a woman he "painted" as "...both delusional and dangerous."Â And, while it appears that the woman's behavior has certainly been extreme since their "meeting" …
What’s in Alec Baldwin’s wallet? Not pledge support from WNYC memberRead More