Editor's Note: This SPATH tale was submitted by the Lovefraud reader who goes by the name “Sisyphus Unchained.” He was handsome; he was charming; he had an incredible zest for life. But more importantly he was manipulative, deceitful and dangerous. In 2007 I met a man with whom I thought I shared interests: educational/community development projects in Southern Africa. He portrayed himself as the founder of a South African-based charitable project focused on the needs of orphaned/disadvantaged youths in the townships of Johannesburg (which much later, once I investigated further, all turned out to be non-existent). Over the course of the next four years he skillfully interspersed his r …
Why I wrote, ‘Entangled’
By Natalie Monroe Divorced after thirty years and unsure about my future, my confidence level was at an all-time low. Alone for the first time in my life and living in Florida, I felt isolated, but too scared to get back into the dating scene. Luckily, I didn't have to. Only three months on my own, an old classmate through the high school website contacted me. I remembered him right away. “Daniel Weaver” (not his real name) one of the popular boys and someone who never had an interest in me. Taking a chance, I agreed to meet him in New York, on my next trip home. Good-looking and charming, he said all the right words to make me fall for him. Intent on overcoming the difficulties of a long dis …
The critical thinking skills and instincts he tried to erode ended up saving my life
Editor's note: This story is from a Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Eve2014." I have what is known as Narcissistic Victim Syndrome, and have suffered from it since I was narcissistically abused* by my father, who was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. I have been diligently and continuously working on myself in therapy for many years, with a slew of diagnoses that are all incorrect. It is only because of my involvement with a psychoanalytic therapist who behaved like a sociopath,** that I have reached the depths of emotional devastation and worked like a demon to solve the mystery. I cannot say whether Dr. X is a sociopath, psychopath, or narcissist, as I am not …
The critical thinking skills and instincts he tried to erode ended up saving my lifeRead More
LETTER TO LOVEFRAUD: Sociopathic wife determines what husband is ‘allowed’ to do
Editor's Note: This letter to Lovefraud was submitted by a Lovefraud reader whom we'll call “Friend's Keeper.” I am writing this about a friend who I am trying to help who is clearly involved with a sociopath. My friend is a male, married to a sociopathic woman. Her acts and behavior are really unbelievable unless you see for yourself. What he's ”˜allowed' She takes his entire paychecks (salary plus state pension totaling $14,000/mo), and puts him on a $100/mo allowance, which he gets only if he's good, while she takes the rest. She convinces him it's all for him. He's only allowed out of the house to go to work, and she times him on when he gets home. He's not allowed out on the even …
LETTER TO LOVEFRAUD: Sociopathic wife determines what husband is ‘allowed’ to doRead More
The Decision’s In on Oscar Pistorius
Editor's note: Joyce M. Short is the author of “Carnal Abuse by Deceit How a Predator's Lies Became Rape.” By Joyce M. Short I watched the final decision on the cases against Oscar Pistorius at the ungodly hour of 3:30 this morning. The trial took place in South Africa, so my head bobbed as I struggled to remain conscious enough to deal with the time zone difference between Cape Town and New York City, where I live. To me, this case's importance was just too relevant to miss! The Judge, Thokozile Matilda Masipa, had already decided to find Pistorius not guilty of the two most serious murder offenses he was charged with. There is no jury trial for murder in South Africa. It's all up to …
He does not know how to tell the truth — he lies just to lie
Editor's Note: This SPATH story was submitted by the Lovefraud reader who goes by the name of "Lauren2014." I opened my home, soul and heart to someone who had a ”past.” He was able to pull at my heartstrings and tell me horrific stories of his childhood and terrible accounts of his upbringing so that I would feel sorry for him. I was willing to overlook his “past” and the bad decisions he made as an adult because I felt it was attributed to his childhood. (Most of which are lies.) I thought every word he told me was the truth. I would later find out he does not know how to tell the truth. He lies just to lie. There were so many red flags in the beginning and I still ignored them. …
He does not know how to tell the truth — he lies just to lieRead More
He has no remorse for the complete fraud he was to me and our children
Editor's Note: This SPATH story was submitted by the Lovefraud reader who goes by the name of "Beverly2014." I have told this story so many times and feel like no matter how much I discuss it I could never tell it all because there are so many details and incidents that occurred that it would be exhausting and somewhat impossible. I met my Sociopath about two years after my divorce from my first marriage which was abusive in its own way. My Socio preyed on my vulnerability and used it against me. When we met online he was instantly every dream I had ever dreamed of -- the "perfect" man. Looking back on everything it is so frustrating the level of deceit and energy he put into fo …
He has no remorse for the complete fraud he was to me and our childrenRead More
I was bowled over; I really thought the guy was in love with me
Editor's Note: This SPATH story was submitted by a Lovefraud reader who goes by the name "Mary2014". I first met J when he came to fit a new door. I had recently moved house and was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done. He was extremely polite and well mannered and appeared to be attentive to my specific needs. He visited regularly bringing catalogues to choose doors, glass, etc., and seemed very keen to make sure that I was happy with the work he did. Although I did feel quite vulnerable having a strange man in the house he soon managed to put me at ease to the extent where I gave him a key so he could come into the house to work when I wasn't there. I …
I was bowled over; I really thought the guy was in love with meRead More
My sociopathic boyfriend went from idealizing me to neglecting me
Editor's Note: This SPATH TALE was submitted by the Lovefraud reader whom we'll call "Kathleen Jones." I dated a sociopath for two years before I found out what he was. We met on an online dating site. He mirrored my shyness and interests. I was smitten with him right away. He was not pushy, but patient, and soon we were a couple. After three months of bliss, he would start arguments with me over nothing, but would manipulate me by crying and lying so that I always thought I was in the wrong. It was a long distance relationship, so we saw each other on the weekends. He went from idealizing me, to neglecting me. When I would bring up how I felt, he would say he felt pressured …
My sociopathic boyfriend went from idealizing me to neglecting meRead More
My narcissistic father made it no secret that he preferred my siblings over me
Editor's Note: This SPATH story was submitted by Lovefraud reader “Isis2014” My father displays behaviors that are consistent with narcissistic personality disorder. He was emotionally abusive and neglectful to my mother, my siblings and me. He and my mother were married for 28 years. Months before their 28th anniversary, my mother discovered that my father had a 25 year old daughter. She is three weeks younger than my parent's second child. He hid his daughter's existence for 25 years. No one knew about her, not even his own parents. My father exploits people, especially ones who are shy and quiet. He has exploited all of his children and continues to exploit my brother to this day …
My narcissistic father made it no secret that he preferred my siblings over meRead More