Presidential nominee Donald Trump went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of America’s Civil War, supposedly to outline his plans for his first 100 days in office. But first, he said he’d sue the women who accused him of groping or kissing them without their consent.
Typical abusive behavior
Trump denied and threatened. That’s the typical behavior of an abuser and it’s triggering symptoms of PTSD in women who have endured sexual assault and/or relationships with sociopaths.
A Lovefraud reader wrote:
I wanted to bring up something that has been happening and it’s alarming. While Trump has been campaigning for president, it has caused flashbacks and triggered memories of my experiences with the sociopath.
I asked this reader about her symptoms. She explained:
I know it’s a sensitive topic because some people feel very strongly about this candidate. I however can see him for exactly the monster he is since I was married to one of these horror shows.
When I read or see stories about him my heart races, I feel sick and it throws me back to the abuse I was subjected to by the sociopath I married. I find myself full of rage as I watch him swindle unsuspecting people. It seems like I’m watching a metaphor of what happened to me through his swindling of my fellow Americans. It’s so disturbing and frightening. I tried finding a therapist here in (another country) that had experience with victims of sociopaths, because after all the research I have done I feel it’s extremely important they understand in detail what happens to a victim. No one here has that experience and speaks English so I’m just trying to deal with the negative feelings on my own.
Perhaps I have to feel these horrible feelings to come out better in the end? Should I avoid watching him at all?
I can’t imagine going thru a Trump presidency – he is one of the reasons I wanted to leave the country. I can’t handle it.
More women report symptoms
Multiple other women who have endured sexual assault have reported PTSD flashbacks because of Donald Trump.
Huffington Post listed Trump behaviors that are typical of abusers: Controlling, evading responsibility, blaming, denial, gaslighting all while presenting himself to be the victim.
Trump is triggering domestic violence survivors with textbook abusive behavior, on HuffingtonPost.com.
One author described how watching Trump causes her body to re-experience parts of the sexual assault that she endured six years ago.
Dear Melania, your husband’s ‘boy talk’ triggered my sexual assault PTSD, on wbur.org.
UPDATE:
A Lovefraud reader who commented below reports that her PTSD was triggered by Hillary Clinton. Women can also have personality disorders, and Hillary Clinton likely does.
Relief from symptoms
So what should survivors do?
One approach that some women have taken is to totally disconnect from media no television, no Internet, no social media. Avoiding triggers is certainly a reasonable thing to do.
Another option may be to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) also known as “tapping” to break the connection between the triggers and your physiological response.
Research with combat veterans and other trauma survivors has shown that EFT tapping is effective in relieving the symptoms of PTSD. It does this by breaking the connection between your memory and your fight, flight or freeze response. You can learn the technique on your own, or you can find a practitioner to help you. Here’s a good source of information:
About Trump’s lawsuit
Eleven women have come forward (so far) with claims of Trump’s sexual misconduct. Abusers typically threaten retaliation, but in this case, despite all his money and resources, Trump may have no chance of winning.
Why? Because he’s a public figure, and he faces the burden of proving that the women’s claims are false. Since video has surfaced of him bragging about being able to grab women whenever he wants, it will be difficult for him to make his case.
Donald Trump says he will sue sexual misconduct accusers. Law experts have doubts, on Time.com.
The nightmare election
This whole election is a nightmare. Back in August, when I wrote about the narcissistic and psychopathic traits exhibited by Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, I was depressed.
Donald Trump, Hillary (and Bill) Clinton narcissists with psychopathic features, on Lovefraud.com.
The campaign has gotten worse, and now I am truly despondent. Donald Trump is disordered, but so is Hillary Clinton. Her lies and power plays would disqualify her for the presidency in the minds of many voters— if her opponent were anyone other than Donald Trump.
What to do? I will probably vote for a third-party candidate.
The men on the Libertarian ticket, Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, are drawing a decent amount of support among several demographics, including young voters and the military.
Jill Stein of the Green Party is popular among many environmentalists and is trying to attract the people who once supported Bernie Sanders.
And then there’s Evan McMullin, an independent candidate who is on the ballot in only 11 states, but is doing well in Utah.
I’d like to see more options in American politics. If a result of this nightmare election is to blow up the stranglehold of the Democrats and Republicans who gave us these two unsuitable and pathetic candidates, that would be good.
To all Lovefraud readers who are American citizens, please vote. If you can’t stomach either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, vote for someone else.
I almost left my husband for a narcissist
This is a very important article. This election has been triggering me in all sorts of ways. I become upset when people don’t want to acknowledge or can’t see the malignant narcissism of these candidates, especially those who support Trump. There is a certain “relationship expert” on fb who has been defending Trump and calling women who are upset by his misogyny weak and victimy. This woman actually charges women lots of money for her advice. In my opinion, this “love expert” is very dangerous because she has no understanding of psychological disorders and her cookie cutter approach to relationships can hurt women by suggesting they tolerate the abuse of disordered men.
I wish women could see how many so called “relationship experts” are in fact con artists. They see a vulnerability in women desiring love in their lives and then exploit that!
I am inclined to believe this woman and others like her are narcissist themselves.
Thank you Donna for finally posting this. it appears there is a psycho/sociopath handbook for them. Right down to him declaring at one point he is a victim?! I am Canadian, follow the election because we are so closely tied and my PTSD has been so heightened from every newscast of Trump.
The problem I see is the amount of followers which is exactly what I have experienced from my ex. Falsities are put forth, verified, but followers still stand behind them?
Thank you my PTSD has gone through the roof with this election. I can’t even bare to think how I, let alone anyone else with PTSD is going to survive if he wins and gets more exposure.
I’m so glad you write this article about how HILLARYS sociopathic lying to the public triggers those with PTSD. Every time I see her speak her anger and tone triggers so many fear responses as she is a classic liar and manipulator. I see she also uses mind control techniques thr are finely honed over her long 30 year tenure where people who have been in contact with her end up dead, the Benghazi deaths and secret arms deals – then she has a speech telling us how bad Trump is, classic gas lighting. My sociopathic mother was just like her.. her anger in her eyes and that speech about her attacking the alt-right, the anger in her eyes and her YELLING at the camera like we are her children who don’t know the terifying murderer that she is..! After reading her emails via WikiLeaks, the symptoms get so much worse because it’s proven she is manipulating all of us using mainstream media which she pays off and actually gives thrm scripts of what to say when reporting – the news is controlled by her! She hires mentally ill people to start fights at Trump rallys and the media films it and then they are intestines by Hillary to report that it was Trump supporters attacking women and children ! If it weren’t for videos ppl took on their cell phones of the event, showing trump supporters being attacked by insane people they call ‘bird dogging’ in the Project Veritas videos, I too would be fooled into thinking Trump was evil – not the truth.. all I can do is vote against Hillary and pray she doesn’t get into the White House AGAIN.. she even stole items from the White House last time she was let in..!! We cannot let this criminal sociopath in there again.. Bill has had over 20 women come forward about raise and he paid them off.. why wouldn’t he sue them for fraud or defamation if it weren’t true?? These people scare me to death I can’t even watch them without beng triggered now..!!
JM_Short Sadly, you have not commented back on my response to your post in this thread, which already brought up some of the themes we are ”ždiscussing“.
Because I disagree very strongly with almost everything you bring up, I will, again, go into details.
First of All: I even disagree with your first statement- that we all start out in life as complete narcissists. Even though if ”žFraud says so“, it is not a universal law! Maybe you have heard of the famous switzer psychologist Carl G. Jung and his work, who by the way, was a close friend to Freud. He, from the beginning, disagreed with Freud in many aspects of his work. Not only did he go deep into the research of dreams but overall concluded, that there are in fact determinating parts of nature of humans- who lead to a certain character and personality. It has not been, not at all, for certain, been proved, that we all come to life ”žthe same“. As you probably know there is strong evidence, that Cluster B types of personality disorderes (which are also not at all completely understood) are sometimes (not always) connected to genetic endowments.
You say, with Trump, abortion will go ”žback to kitchen tables“, the government will control reproductive rights- what are you referring here to?
Is it maybe about the controversial debate of organisations like planned parenthood that have admittedly ”žkilled“ about 7 Million Babys nobody knows how many women died from this. Are you aware that babys ”žparts“ like liver and kidneys and stemcell tissue have been sold by companies, related to that organisation? I am very strongly fort he rights of women and children and this should be looked at closely.
Trump will ”žrenegotiate“ the countrys debt? I don´t know what other could be done with a country that has now 12 Billion Dollars in debt. The only way would be that the private federal reserve bank would ”žfree“ the people from the brutal slavery of debt and the flooding mass of money, that has made the danger of a hyperinflation or crash of the economy almost inevitable.
You bring up the fact that Trump has declared bankruptcy 4 times. Have you wondered, how many businesses he´s run succesfully? If someone runs 60 companies and fails with 4 of them, was he then successfull or unsuccesful? At least Trump is spending most of his own money on the election campaign, Hillary is funded by arabic countries and by who knows who.
Running a country is all about people and the greater good. That is right! Do you really think that Hillary Clinton is up to the ”žgreater good“? After all she has done (not said).
I heard that the Veterans are worse off than they have ever been in your country. They are diagnosed with PTSD after the Trauma they were put through in wars (who where strongly supported by Hillary Clintons weapons of mass destruction ”ždeals“ ) and then put on years of hold without help, having a veterans soldier aid that keeps them barely alive.
They are crawling in your streets. Poor and left there to die.
Why do have 2/3 of the people of your country not even a 1000 Dollars in spare- because they are so in debt? Why are people selling their bodies for food in the US- I read an very disturbing article about that? Don´t you think a time even worse than the ”žGreat Depression“ has already begun?
You cannot blame Trump for the 12 Billion in debt and how he wants to handle that! Nobody will be able to fix it! Finally it will collapse. Do you know what elites, kings and queens do to ”žtheir“ countries and ”žtheir“ people bevor they financially collapse?
Do you know what great societies like the Roman empire endured bevore they ”ždied“? They went to war!
Your economy is already sold out to China and will never come back! Europe is sinking in Chaos- the war has already begun!
If Hillary Clinton goes into election- I think a REAL BIG WAR WILL START SOON. And instead of Hillary´s last statement regarding the war on Lybia: “We came, he saw, he died” next time it will say: “We saw, it came, WE DIED”
May god bless America! And Europe!
I need to correct you on one major thing. The United States is not billion dollars in debt, we are almost $20 trillion in debt! Scary!
You are Right!
I am messing it always up it is different in german 1 trillion is 1 with 12! 0 it is: 1 000 000 000 000 – so it would be
20 000 000 000 000 ? – 20 Millions Times 20 Millions – It is not! imaginable I guess… 🙂
I am sorry- I have to correct myself again! it is a number with 13! 0. if BrokenEmber´s number is correct It should be 20 000 000 000 000.
I love using energy psychology Emotional Freedom Technique and the specialized form of it Matrix Reimprinting to set people free from Co-dependant addiction to narcissists. The reason I do this is because I attracted one narcissist after another from the time I started school and then attracted a Psychopath psychotherapist into my life 5 years ago. These techniques allowed me to heal my past trauma and resulting subconscious negative beliefs. I am now no contact with all these people and no longer attract narcissists and Psychopaths into my life. I now attract caring and supportive people and am free for the first time in my life.
Many people, even many therapists do not understand narcissistic abuse and can end up making the situation worse. I wish there were more therapists who understood this as there are so many people needing help. I work on Skype and am happy for anyone to contact me. My e-mail address is teresanorrisbefree@yahoo.co.uk and my website is releaseandbefree.com
Donna, thank you!!!!!
Donald Trump scares me, and the thought of him becoming president is absolutely frightening to think.
Now as for Hillary Clinton, I see things in her that are very much like the sociopath that was in my life for 48 years.
Most people I know feel the same way about Donald Trump, but most people I know are supporters of Hillary Clinton. I have gotten to the point of just saying to people that “I’m not a supporter of Hillary Clinton, because of personal reasons that I can’t explain to you.”
Thank you, Donna, for allowing me a safe place to express myself and for showing me that I am not the only survivor and compassionate human being who is being triggered by these “classic” examples of predatory behavior in this horrific election campaign!!!!!
I am enjoying the information and the discussion being laid out here.. thank you, Donna & fellow sufferers..! God bless to all..
People who suffer from the abuse of a narcissist is real and I already unfollowed one page that chose to make it a political platform. With that said, I can say I see the opposite. The narcissist that harmed me doesn’t show true colors to everyone. He is very liked, charming, funny everything you wish to find in a person. However, there is a deep dark side that is buried in skilled emotional and mental abuse of the “charm” and lies. I associate that more with the history of Clinton, his accusers and the smear campaign that followed. Hillary calling them bimbos and more. I see the abuse with the one that laughed at the thought of failed lie detector test, the emotional disconnect as I hear the recording of her describe defending and pleading down a child rapist. then to know she slandered the child who was victimized and emotionally damaged her. No don’t say it’s her “job” no matter what your job is, the emotional disconnect is within the person. The minimizing of jeopardizing our national security with her illegal emails. “It was a mistake and will never happen again” words I have heard many, many times. The excuses, the story spinning. It’s all there. I don’t understand why that isn’t an article of its own?
YES!! Those with NPD (and sociopaths) that harmed me were very charming, very persuasive, very skilled in manipulation, power acquisition, control, and reputation destruction. They were tenacious to those ends. I see Hillary with the dozens of traits we’ve all studied in these dangerous evil people.
By the time anyone has been harmed by one of these it is easy to see it in Hillary.
I’m so grateful that others see this. I’m so grateful to this blog for uncovering what I was feeling.
To everyone that is upset with Donna….PLEASE PLEASE don’t be upset with her. Donna has been incredible about educating ALL of us that literally crawled out of hell away from our own sociopaths and now she has opened a extremely important dialogue that needs to be discussed, as sociopaths & narcissist are everywhere in this world manipulating us everyday!! Even in our governments from local to state to federal government.
I personally think this conversation is excellent.
Reading everyones comments leads me to think that this is a perfect example of how we have all been brain washed & manipulated by our politicians who are ALL disordered!! BOTH sides!!
We have psychopaths (Bill Clinton), Sociopath (Hillary) & a narcissist (Trump) running for office!!
HOW CRAZY IS THAT!!!
Like Donna states a TRUE nightmare!!!
We have all lived in hell behind closed doors while our ex mate sociopaths spun their manipulation web to get everyone to believe their lying manipulative words to con people. To me these three Hillary, Bill & Trump are just doing it on a larger scale.
We have been forced by politicians to pick a “team” by their brain washing & manipulation. Are you on the “republican team” or “democratic team”?? But the reality is they are ALL on the same team and their ultimate goal is to get the “We the people” to just believe their lies while they continue to scam money into their own pocket while we work harder & harder to pay our increased taxes.
Well to me this is classic sociopath “triangulation”!! Pick a side. Aren’t sociopaths masterful with triangulation?
Also I see masterful “sociopath” smear campaign from Hillary, Bill & Trump.
Gas lighting!! YEP they are gas lighting people thru their speeches & the media too!!
LOOK CLOSELY TO WHAT EACH SAY AND SEE ALL OF THE MANIPULATION TACTICS THAT YOUR EX DID TO YOU & SO ARE ALL OF THESE POLITICIANS & MEDIA REPORTERS!!!
Please stop thinking “I’m a republican” or “I’m a democrat”….how about “I am a educated free thinker & I see sociopathic manipulation in this political race”.
I stead of saying Trump is this or that & Hillary is this or that…lets all start posting specifics of what YOUR ex sociopaths did to you & how Hillary/Bill/Trump are doing the same to ALL of the America & World citizens.
Thank you Donna for opening this dialogue and for all that you do to give us a place to learn & speak freely of our own personal nightmares!!
I think it’s fair to say no one is upset at Donna, however given the facts, behavior, and history of the Clintons. This article just seems more biased writing once again. There are many people that file lawsuits or “threaten” lawsuits I don’t believe that makes them a narcissist. My ex did some horrible things to me and many have said I should file a lawsuit against him. I feel like Trump doesn’t have a “politician” filter and says things we are not used to hearing a politician say because he isn’t a polished politician, people take his words and run with it. Yet, look at the history of Bill who will be our first “first gentleman” who has a long history of inappropriate behavior with women and lied about it! Did we forget the impeachment process for it? Does anyone know about his close relationship with Jeffrey epstein and times traveled on the Lolita express? Look it up. Hillary who slandered these women, made them feel threatened, what about their PTSD. She chose a career where she defended and pleaded down a child rapist and slandered the 12year old victim of rape by a 40 year old man. The emails, etc. The enabling, the lying is right in front of all of our faces yet so many chose not to talk about it, that’s TRUE narcissism and manipulation. I cannot wrap my head around how anyone can ignore all this and want these 2 back in the White House. There was 2 sentences that was updated after a comment about Hillary that’s all.
Absolutely agree with you and NotWhatHeSaidOfMe – BRAVO and blessed to be in good company with well spoken & well informed – I wish in spite of my condition I could slow down my thoughts enough to convey my points as well as you both (and others) have in this forum.. God bless America & all the true patriots with a thirst for truth and what is just in this crazy world.. !! Take care..
Dear Lovefraud readers,
I am sad to say that this dialogue, and several of the people who are participating in it, is beyond abhorrent to me. I am no longer feeling I can participate in any kind of intelligent discourse with those of you who believe in such rubbish. I see that there are a few of you trying to talk with reason, but you are wasting your breath (sadly).
I honestly will not be visiting LF any longer as a result.
Thank you Donna for all your good works.
Catherine, AKA slimone
I knew I was taking a chance when I posted the story. On the one hand, discussing the candidates’ disorders is clearly within Lovefraud’s mission of educating people about sociopaths. On the other hand, I knew that political discussions can become inflammatory. I decided to go with education and validating the experiences of people who were being triggered by the candidates’ behavior.
But I think we’ve had enough, so I am closing comments on this thread. To everyone who posted thoughtful comments, thank you.