Lovefraud Reader, Author at Lovefraud | Escape sociopaths - narcissists in relationships

TARGETED TEENS AND 20s: I have found a new pride and fearlessness

October 1, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 99 Comments

Editor's note: Lovefraud received the following email from a young woman whom we'll call “Adriana.” The name in the story below has been changed. This is a story about two girls who were on the same sports team in high school. Both showed lots of potential and both won lots of achievement awards ”¦ Both went on to do athletics in college. One was a sociopath ”¦ the other was shy and introverted. I was the introvert. Other people saw my success, but I just enjoyed athletics and was not seriously competitive... I was excellent because I enjoyed it. As strange as that sounds. I moved a lot as a kid... This last high school was the one I went to the longest: three years. Little did I know, …

TARGETED TEENS AND 20s: I have found a new pride and fearlessnessRead More

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Who We Used to Be

September 22, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 131 Comments

Editor's note: The following letter was written by the Lovefraud reader who posts as “Panther.” This little bundle of words comes from a new survivor. I write this hoping that I can find these thoughts to be consolation for myself, as well as to share them with others for the same reason. Through reading various Lovefraud articles, I've realized that the veterans have so much invaluable advice to offer. However, at times I wonder how the voice of a survivor sounded right after the break. The reason this matters to me is because the veterans seem so much stronger than I feel right now. I cannot help but wonder, as I read through their wise words, if they have something I don't have, which e …

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Who We Used to BeRead More

Letters to Lovefraud: Attempting to understand what happened

September 4, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 176 Comments

Editor's note: Lovefraud received the following email from a reader who posts as Whirlwind71. I have just finished reading Love Fraud just mere moments ago, and up until now, I really hadn't been interested in books at all. Previous to this, I read Mary Jo Buttafuoco, Getting It Through My Thick Skull as well as Snakes in Suits and Pathology of a Psychopath (a hard read) ”¦ all in an attempt to understand what the heck happened to me and my family when a guy (whom I described as the most amazing man I have ever met) came into my life ”¦ I now realize that the word "amazing" has many different levels! Once married to my kids' father, I was now a divorced ”¦ or shall I say a HAPPILY divor …

Letters to Lovefraud: Attempting to understand what happenedRead More

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Recovering from the Internet predator

August 18, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 4 Comments

Editor's note: Lovefraud recently received the following update from a reader who we called “Greta.” Hi Donna: I previously emailed you my story and you posted it on June 23, 2011 under Letters to Lovefraud: Hooked by an Internet predator. This is an update to my story. As I wrote to you last, according to his previous girlfriend in Italy that keeps in touch with me, my ex, the predator, had persuaded a church in Florida to buy him a bus ticket to New York City. The homeless shelter in New York City assisted him through Immigration to get a ticket back to Holland. After the FBI, CIA, and Interpol completed their investigations, Immigration issued him an airline ticket back to Ams …

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Recovering from the Internet predatorRead More

RESOURCE PERSPECTIVES: Why psychopaths feel the need to destroy us after the relationship is over

August 13, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 50 Comments

Editor's note: Resource Perspectives features articles written by members of Lovefraud's Professional Resources Guide. Sarah Strudwick, based in the UK, is author of Dark Souls—Healing and recovering from toxic relationships. Dark Soul as a destroyer By Sarah Strudwick Sarah Strudwick profile in the Lovefraud Professional Resources Guide Psychopaths are known for their lack of fear, but at the same time they often have other associated personality disorders along side, such as malignant narcissism. Deep down they have a sense of self-hatred and loathing, which is why they feel the need to have a constant fix of kind loving, empathic individuals that they can then slowly pull d …

RESOURCE PERSPECTIVES: Why psychopaths feel the need to destroy us after the relationship is overRead More

Inactivity to calm the suffering

August 4, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 311 Comments

Editor's note: The following article refers to spiritual concepts. Please read Lovefraud's statement on Spiritual Recovery. By Shocknawe As a fellow victim of a spath, I've been both heartened and heartbroken by the stories told on Lovefraud. Also, like many of us here, I have a natural inclination to feel for others and to do what I can to support and assist in whatever way I can to help ease others' difficulties that's a key reason we were targeted in the first place, isn't it? My experience has caused me to try to understand the nature of suffering and what can be done about it. So if the members will indulge me, I'd like to share some thoughts that have come to me as I continue to …

Inactivity to calm the sufferingRead More

Dealing with illness and chronic pain through nutrition and environmental changes

July 28, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 93 Comments

Editor's note: Diane Dawber is a founder of the Health Pursuits Reading Group. A Lovefraud reader suggested the following contribution on alternative health strategies. Please remember that Lovefraud is not a medical resource, and if you are suffering from symptoms like those discussed below you should consult a doctor. Adrenals and PTSD By Diane Dawber In 1996, a small group of mostly professionals, felled too early by chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia (FM), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), asthma, arthritis, etc., started studying together to see what they could do for themselves since the medical system did not have much to offer. With …

Dealing with illness and chronic pain through nutrition and environmental changesRead More

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Her son is psychopathic, and she fears for her granddaughters

July 20, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 6 Comments

Editor's note: Lovefraud received the following email from reader whom we'll call “Grandma.” She would appreciate any advice to help her deal with her son and granddaughters. My son is categorically a psychopathic personality. In my mind, I can remember the tendencies starting about his high school years. I wonder why nobody else recognized this. Now he is the 29 year old father of 2 small girls. The youngest child, 3-1/2 years old, is telling stories of her father hurting her vagina. She is in counseling and the counselor is the one who reported this to law enforcement and to DSS. (The counselor believes it to be true.) However, because of my husband and my involvement in the lives …

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: Her son is psychopathic, and she fears for her granddaughtersRead More

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: He will not let me go

July 14, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 120 Comments

Editor's note: Lovefraud received the following email from a reader whom we'll call “Gloria.” She's from Australia, and “pokies” are slot machine parlors. She would like some advice. I am a lady that had both hips replaced, my back fused in 2 places, and my neck also fused in 2 places. I met my love fraud when going through a court case, on my hip. My son has a mental illness. Met him at the pokies. I thought I met a wonderful man, he helped me out with my son, totally looked after me through a hip op. Told me he would look after me even if I was in a wheel chair, and even be my carer. I met his family and his parents, got engaged, was on cloud 9. If I won my court case we would get mar …

LETTERS TO LOVEFRAUD: He will not let me goRead More

RESOURCE PERSPECTIVES: Why we try to understand the psychopath

July 13, 2011 // by Lovefraud Reader// 56 Comments

Editor's note: Resource Perspectives features articles written by members of Lovefraud's Professional Resources Guide. Sarah Strudwick, based in the UK, is author of Dark Souls—Healing and recovering from toxic relationships. Who is the fool? By Sarah Strudwick Sarah Strudwick profile in the Lovefraud Professional Resources Guide A normal empathic individual will do their utmost to understand a psychopath, especially if they have no idea the person is a psychopath or has a personality disorder in the first place. Throughout the ages most people have had a fascination with evil, so when we suddenly find ourselves coming across someone who ticks all the boxes when it comes to …

RESOURCE PERSPECTIVES: Why we try to understand the psychopathRead More

eleanoreliza1234 on When bad behavior shows symptoms, not flaws : “What a beautifully composed response by Emilie 18! Reassuring to know that others have experienced the same. Thank you, Emilie.”
jhmb6 on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “This article suggests that all narcissists are not simply narcissists. There always seems to be a co-occurring disorder. All evidence…”
Joanie Bentz, B.S., M.ED, LBS, CCBP on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “Happy Sunday Donna, and I am not surprised based on the story of your ex that he may have been…”
Donna Andersen on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “Hi Joanie — thanks for this article! My ex was a complete pack rat. I converted my basement into an…”
Donna Andersen on When bad behavior shows symptoms, not flaws : “Emilie 18 posted the following comment in the Forum. Eleanor Cowen posted a beautifully said piece in the Blog about…”