Lovefraud received the following essay from a reader whom we’ll call “Soundra.” Initials have been changed.
It started two years ago when I met T.L. through an on-line dating site. We talked on the phone for about a month before we actually met in person. Although T.L. was intelligent, well educated, and came from a good family, he wasn’t really my type physically. I also found him to be a little high strung, which I didn’t care for. He was interesting though, and he had a great sense of humor, which is always a positive with me, so I went out with him a few times.
After a few dates, I told T.L. that I thought it would be best if we didn’t date anymore, but that I would like for us to still be friends. He agreed to this. During this time, we both had jobs that caused us to have to travel often. Over the next several weeks while we were both on business trips, we talked on the phone and kept in touch. We decided that when we were both back in town we would have dinner together because after all, that’s what friends do. Little did I know that an innocent dinner with my new friend would be the start of a relationship that would eventually turn my life upside down.
During our dinner together T.L. was very kind and engaging, and I was really enjoying our conversation. Our dinner lasted for four hours, and I remember thinking to myself, why in the world wouldn’t I want to date this man? He’s such a nice person, and I really enjoy his company. I was hooked that night, and T.L. and I became inseparable for the next year and a half.
Badmouthing the ex
I knew that T.L. had been married once before. In fact, he had only been legally divorced for about a year when we met. His first marriage had only lasted three years, and he had no children. T.L. never had anything good to say about his ex-wife. In fact, he made her out to be a real bitch, and blamed the demise of their marriage completely on her. T.L. treated me so well though, that I believed everything he told me about his ex-wife, their marriage, and their divorce.
As time went on however, I started to notice little things about T.L. that concerned me. He would get upset very easily over petty little things. He would quickly blow off steam about them, and then just as quickly, he would get perfectly calm like nothing had ever happened.
He also had an unusual sleep disorder. There were times when he would wake up from being asleep, but he wouldn’t be completely alert. He would walk around in a daze and say and do weird and inappropriate things. He would eventually wake up completely, but he wouldn’t remember the things he had just said or done. I chalked all of these “little” things up to the fact that he was just being human.
Please take note that T.L. was never abusive to me during the time we were in a relationship. By all intents and purposes, we were very happy together. My family and friends liked him, and his family and friends liked me. I spent half of every week living with him at his house. We traveled and cooked together. We loved each other, or so it seemed, and eventually started making plans to get married.
Becoming distant
We went on a trip during the holidays. We had a good time just like we always did. I remember, however, that on our way home he seemed distant. T.L. could be a little moody at times, so I just brushed off his distance to that.
Over the next week though, we didn’t see each other, which was very unusual for us. We did have several conversations over the phone, but they just seemed a little off to me. During one of these conversations he asked me, out of the blue, if we had to get married? Obviously, I was very hurt by that question, and very mad at him. We didn’t speak much over the next few days.
Then one day, in the middle of the afternoon while I was at work, I received an email from him telling me that he didn’t want us to see each other any longer. I was devastated! Over the next couple of months we had a few conversations, but he would never give me a straight answer about why he broke up with me so abruptly, and in such a mean and heartless way. He acted as though our break-up, and the way in which he did it, was no big deal.
I had a lot of personal items still at his house, but he wouldn’t let me have them. We also had another trip that was planned and paid for that we were supposed to go on several months later. Although I asked him several times, he would never give me a straight answer about what he wanted to do about our trip. The behavior T.L. exhibited after he broke up with me was not the behavior of the man I fell in love with. I didn’t know this person at all!
Something more going on
Everything finally came to a head one weekend. My instincts were telling me that there was something more going on. Through some investigation, I found out that T.L. had canceled my airline ticket for our upcoming trip just days after he broke up with me. I also found out that he had immediately re-purchased an airline ticket in another women’s name! That’s how I found out he had been cheating on me.
When I found out that he had been cheating, I decided to go to his house to confront him and to finally get my personal items that he was still holding hostage. My instinct was telling me that the other women would be there with him, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to know that I had found out the truth about what was really going on.
When I arrived at his house and confronted him he blew up at me and became completely enraged! He screamed at me at the top of his lungs, cursed at me, and called me horrible names. This was the first and only time he was abusive to me, and yes, the other woman was there witnessing everything. T.L. was so out of control that I had to call the police.
Meeting the ex-wife
After this incident, my instincts kicked in again. I still felt that there had to be more to this whole situation, so I decided to track down T.L.’s ex-wife. I had never met her, but I knew where she worked. I called her, and she agreed to meet with me. We talked for over two hours. Needless to say, she wasn’t at all the bitch T.L. had made her out to be. She was a lovely, warm, and caring woman.
Through our conversation, I found out that everything T.L. had told me about her, their marriage and their divorce was nothing but lies! She told me that as soon as they were married he turned on her, and treated her terribly throughout their marriage. T.L. had taken the truth about his marriage and divorce, and twisted everything so that he looked good and she looked horrible. He had made his stories just convincing enough that I would never suspect that they weren’t true.
Learning about sociopaths
There is more to my story than I’m able to write in this letter. Finding out that the man I spent a year and a half of my life with, planned on marrying, and whom I loved and trusted with all of my heart was really just an expert liar, deceiver and manipulator completely devastated me.
Through therapy I found out that the psychological term for a person like this is “Sociopath.” For a long time I blamed myself for what happened. I thought that there must have been something I did or didn’t do that caused this once kind and loving man to turn on me so quickly. My therapist helped me to realize that none of this was my fault, and that I was just a victim of this man who has very deep issues. There was nothing I could have done or not have done that would have kept him from doing what he did to me.
The way T.L. verbally abused me the night I confronted him about his cheating was his true self coming out. I had never seen that side of him before, nor did I ever think in a million years that he would cheat on me. He hid who he really was very well. Once he had gotten everything he wanted from our relationship and was done with me, he let who he really is come out.
This is how a Sociopath operates. I’m just fortunate that my relationship with him ended before we got married, or I’m sure that he would have done even more damage to my life. I’m also fortunate that I have faith in God, a lot of support from my family, friends, and yes, even T.L.’s ex-wife, or I don’t think I would have gotten through this horrible time in my life. I still have days that are hard, but they’re happening less often. I’m definitely on the way to being myself again!
Master liars and manipulators
I hope that any woman who reads this and who has been a victim of the evil doings of a Sociopath takes heart, and knows that it’s not her fault. These men are master liars and manipulators who don’t care who they hurt, as long as they get what they want.
I would advise anyone who has been victimized in this way to get professional help as soon as possible from a therapist who is familiar with character disorders. The sooner you can come to terms with what has happened to you, the sooner you can move on with your life. It’s a sad and confusing process, but there is light and life at the end of the tunnel!
I wish you hope and happiness.
I wanted to comment about this because I wanted to give a different perspective about dating sites – from my personal experience. You cannot blame a dating site or the internet because you met a sociopath. They are everywhere. The one I met was in my reptile hobby and should have been a great match for me!
I do use dating sites and – this is just my personal experience – I have never met a sociopath on a dating site. I have had some questionable people write me and maybe even have a phone call with one, but I was able to recognize right away something was amiss. I am also very one-pointed about why I’m there. If I decide a man is not a good match for me, I end it right away. At this point I don’t have the time to keep these guys as friends. I have enough friends and a very busy social life.
Another thing is that immediately when a guy starts bad-mouthing his ex, that’s a HUGE red flag to me. It shows that A) He does not take responsibility for his behaviors, and B) He will someday do the same with me. This goes for a guy from a dating site, a guy from work, the guy next door, or the guy in the supermarket.
Whenever we have these threads about “I met a psycho on a dating site,” the common response is “stay off the dating sites.” But I know many people who have met decent mates on dating sites. I’ve met many decent men myself (I’m talking to a few now) and almost married one of them several years ago. I think the more appropriate response would be “How did I miss the red flags?” The red flag is not that he was on a dating site. After all, you were on a dating site, too. I am on a dating site. I know I’m not a psycho. We need to take some responsibility for how well we screen out any guy we meet and it is OUR responsibility to run when we see red flags. You can often tell by a few emails. Love bombing is very obvious. Controlling behavior will come through right away. For instance, if you’re chatting on email (on the dating site) back and forth with a guy and you go off to do something, does he get mad? That’s a RED FLAG. If he controls when you respond to an email, what else will he try to control?
Granted, some sociopaths are so cunning you just don’t see it coming. But usually there are one or two red flags. There were with the one I dated. I just didn’t recognize them for what they were because I didn’t know what a sociopath was. Now that we are all savvy about spaths, we know what to look for. However, avoiding dating sites (to me) is not the answer and will not prevent us from meeting a spath at a different venue, if we cannot spot a red flag. We can continuously narrow the venues for meeting a mate because we are afraid of meeting a sociopath. Or we can remain open but watch carefully and be smart.
HOWEVER, and this is a big however, if you are truly fearful about meeting a sociopath on a dating site, then stay off the sites because this is the experience you will create.
I can relate to this a lot, except it wasn’t a dating site, and a meeting did not take place. Please know that men can be victims of sociopaths as well, straight or gay. Stargazer, although I agree with your comments about dating sites and the Internet to some degree, I am avoiding contact with men on the Internet because it was what happened in my situation. I suffered great emotional pain from someone I never met, but who I regarded highly as a friend for years. I feel like a moron saying this, but that’s what happened.
I have had my own experience dating a psychopath. It’s too bad I don’t feel safe to put his name on this site. I’m sure I am not his only victim. When I met him I was very naive and believed what people said to be the truth. We dated for over 4 years before my instincts kicked in. I finally did a background check on him. I discovered he was divorced once and still currently married. He denied everything and continued to makeup more lies. Even after I had a copy of his marriage certificate that showed the marriage and past divorce. I did more investigating and discovered I had no idea who this man was. His background check showed him using two forms of his name and a different date of birth. It was harder to research because he was from a different country. His lies, deceit and fraud has affected me in so many ways. I don’t trust people,and I keep my guard up. I don’t know what happend to him but he deserved to go to jail. He also kept my belongings hostage. He too had an explosive reaction to me attempting to retrieve my belongings. I finally go them back when he wasn’t home. I got his permission to go to his house. I had a key. I go there faster than he expected me to. He didn’t know I was already dressed and had boxes etc. to pack and get out quickly. He tried accusing me of stealing money. He kept calling many times that night. I finally answered and didn’t let his threats scare me. I needed to get the closer. That’s why I wanted my things out. Many I threw away. I just didn’t want him to enjoy the things I bought for his home, as he was so cheap. I never saw him in person when it ended. I knew it wasn’t safe and he would try to convince me to stay. I hate that there are people out in this world that purposely hurt and use others. I will not consider dating anyone that is born in another country again. I have used my experience to warn my daughters and other single women. I hope this site helps other survivors out there.
Learned the hard way – thank you for sharing your story. I am so glad that you escaped. You did everything the right way – retrieving your belongings while he wasn’t home, not responding to his threats. Good for you.
Here is another story that is very similar to mine:
“After a few dates, I told T.L. that I thought it would be best if we didn’t date anymore, but that I would like for us to still be friends. He agreed to this. During this time, we both had jobs that caused us to have to travel often. Over the next several weeks while we were both on business trips, we talked on the phone and kept in touch. We decided that when we were both back in town we would have dinner together because after all, that’s what friends do. Little did I know that an innocent dinner with my new friend would be the start of a relationship that would eventually turn my life upside down.
During our dinner together T.L. was very kind and engaging, and I was really enjoying our conversation. Our dinner lasted for four hours, and I remember thinking to myself, why in the world wouldn’t I want to date this man? He’s such a nice person, and I really enjoy his company. I was hooked that night…”
From the moment I met my x-spath, I had this gut feeling that something was not right with him, but I could not put my finger on it. However, he charmed me and I changed my mind, but then after a few dates a very odd incident made me realize that he was at best “quirky” and probably “trouble.”
The incident occurred in a very fine restaurant. In fact a similar “scene” occurred in first “Sex and City” movie, in the very same restaurant, when Carrie storms out on Miranda.
My x-spath stormed out on me because I asked him back to my apartment for a beer. Keep in mind that we were both 30-something gay men and he was a flight attendant. Outside the restaurant, he told me that asking him back to my place “offended his British reservedness” and that he was “sorted” and was not simply looking to play around.
Having never witnessed such drama before, I became totally defensive, even though when planning the night, I mention an itinerary that included stopping by my place, having a beer then deciding where to go from there, as I lived in a popular New York City neighborhood with many different places to go.
After I calmed him down and outside the restaurant he was literally pacing back and forth, we agreed to just hop around the city. We stayed together until 4 AM. As a watched him walk away toward his hotel, I thought to myself that despite his charm, “this guy is trouble” and once he went back to London, I vowed not to contact him and if he contacted me, I would be indifferent, just be friends, if even that.
Other than a polite response to a text of his the next, I stuck to my vow. However, at the end of the next week, he began messaging me. I would not call it “love bombing” but he was flattering and stated a strong interest in getting to know me better.
Normally, I would not consider such an arrangement but not only was I under a lot of stress and somewhat needy, I have a dual American-Irish citizenship and an EU Passport. Thus, I can legally live in Europe without any red-tape, and this idea had crossed my mind even before I met the x-spath.
There was a bit more drama but he came back with more charm and I began to view his “quirkiness” as just British eccentricity plus me perhaps saying or doing the wrong thing.
The real drama occurred when he took me to the hospital as I was suffering from a rash unlike any before, one I blamed on antibiotics I was taking for a sinus infection. He was concerned that I was having an anaphylactic reaction and was very caring.
Turned out I had Shingles. However, since I am a gay man and presented several other symptoms, the doctor was concerned I might be HIV+.
When the x-spath asked me what the doctors thought, while embarrassed, I told him the truth. There was no rapid test at that time, and it would be a week before I knew the test results.
He did not react badly. In fact, he did not say much at all. He took me to get my prescriptions filled and was caring. His flight back to London gave me time to think and I was thankful for him, especially since I had just been illegally terminated from a Wall Street job.
The next day, by email, he told me that he only wanted to be friends. When I called him there was immediate blame shifting and while he was not overly angry, I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was annoyed by my call.
Of course I blamed myself. Why wouldn’t such a “reserved” person run from somebody who might be HIV+?
Since there were many aspects of him that I respected, I decided to remain friends. I can’t say that I loved him, but I did see him as a “soul mate” which for me is perhaps more powerful.
By a chance of fate, I came across a profile of his online that completely devastated me. It was not a UK site, so I had to think that he used it to set-up dates when flying to the USA.
More important, for a 30-something year old, it was the most juvenile profile I had even seen.
His hobbies: “boys, beer, travel and mojo.”
Under the same rather unique profile name were accounts on Xtube, Cam sites and other gay sites.
So much for Mr. “British Reserved.”
His Xtube account showed that his favorite porn was bareback and then a light went off — he is HIV+.
It seems that double-lives are almost universal among sociopaths. The mirror a target, which is how he convinced me that he is a “soul mate” when in reality, we have little in common.
I was so shocked and stunned that I never contacted him again, although I wish I had. Not because it would have made any difference, but just to let him know that I am not as “clueless” as he thinks I am.
Once his mask came off, so did my denial. A trip of his to Cuba that I though was last minute get-away was a carefully planned sex liaison with another fight attendant. His communication gaps were due to internet hook-ups. A “new friend” that with he mentioned having a night of drinking and Guitar Hero was no clear.
Yet to me, the mask of shy and reserved…
I am so sorry that you went through this horrible ordeal, and you are correct in that you were very lucky to not marry this man, and God forbid have children with him. This would make your learning experience much longer and much more painful.
You wrote, “I hope that any woman who reads this and who has been a victim of the evil doings of a Sociopath takes heart, and knows that it’s not her fault. These men are master liars and manipulators who don’t care who they hurt, as long as they get what they want.” I was the unfortunate victim of two people who are master liars and manipulators, full of deceit and malice. These were women, and I believe that because of that fact, they have even more of an ability to be ruthless and nasty than any man would be.
My point is that this disorder is not gender specific, and I believe that there are just as many women out there preying upon others for their own agendas and for their own gain, as there are men. Maybe because for a man, it may be seen as a sign of weakness, men are less likely to speak about their experiences.
Please take it from me, there are many women out there that are even more dangerous then the disordered men, and much more skilled at blending in, and at playing the game.
Evil is an equal opportunity force.
I wanted to say thank you for this letter. This sounds pretty much like what I experienced with a few changes in the details, can’t disclose them in public because I am still very much afraid that the Spath is trolling the internet. This has been a painful experience and thank goodness I have a fantastic shrink and lovefraud. It helps to know that there are others out there.
Strongercoco – welcome to Lovefraud. It does seem that many of these sociopaths use the same tactics and strategies. I’m glad Lovefraud is helping you.
I had a thought this morning that even if the x-spath wasn’t ‘for real’ and I don’t actually know what his true personality is, the me he mirrored for persuading me I was his soul-mate was that of a fun, funny, kind, generous and quirky person, so having seen myself reflected – even though it was by a spath, I look and see a great person who never deserved the treatment dished out to me and I’m holding on to all the good memories that were made (no matter how fake the love was) and I’m moving forward, gaining my strength back and I hope you guys do too – it’s not easy and I think staying away from dating for a few months or longer is probably the best thing to do.
I have to add that this guy started off as a friend and it’s only now that I look back I realise I was being ‘groomed’ for being the next ‘wife’…urgh!
I’m glad to read SOUNDRA’s account of how well a Spath is able to hide their lies. Even after reading story after story of the betrayal and deceit, I still feel dumbfounded when I uncover more lies and manipulation from my Spath.
I’m also astounded of how they can take a situation that has revealed their “true self” and turn it around to be in control again. Once the control has flipped back to him, I sit in amazement and think “How did he do that?”
I recently found out that he was having yet another affair. I went to a divorce lawyer to start divorce proceedings . The woman he was seeing broke it off with him after she found out that he was still married and professing his love to me. It appeared the Spath was in some DEEP water. He cried to me, and I’m sure to her. He swore his love for me, begged me to not divorce him, that he CHOOSES ME. Afterwards, he returned to his normal behavior, love bombed and didn’t mention the girlfriend again.
After a couple of painful days for me, I asked him to explain this new woman, what was the deal? He said it was part of his sex addiction and that he loves both of us. He’s confused on what God wants him to do.
He asked me to give him time to figure it out, to seek spiritual guidance and consult with some Christian brothers. He swears he loves me with all his heart. And he is as cheerful and happy as he can be as he shares this information with me. How the Heck did he get back in control?
And I’ m sure he is telling the other woman the same thing. She’s probably waiting with baited breathe for his Super Power Love Bombing to return.
I always think that I can figure out the game, or I succumb to his lies. I have to get away from him. He’s stealing my soul. 5 days until I go no contact. Can’t wait.
HopingToHeal – you may not see my reply – people don’t always check back.
But I’m sending good wishes to you. I’m also deciding to move toward leaving my marriage and waiting until I can go no contact before I make my move. Big shift in our lives, isn’t it ?
The spath in my life sounds exactly like yours. And I react exactly like you do. I’m actually amazed at how he will do something outrageous and then cry and tell me I am the only woman he will ever truly love and then go back to business as usual once he thinks the coast is clear. It never changes.
He has a particularly dark side which I saw early on sort of, but it was so weird that I could not process what I was observing. He also did and does a lot of honeymooning (love bombing) behavior after he has been out and about.
So – I will be thinking about you as you go No Contact. Stay strong and I hope I will be walking the No Contact path myself before too long.
OpalRose,
I’m sending well wishes and strength right back to you. I’m so glad to hear that you are planning to go NC as well. From my experience, it is very difficult and don’t be surprised if you give in at first. It’s a process that your soul has to embrace and that takes time. My counselor advises that if one can manage a two week period of NC, it will begin to be less painful. I’m aiming at taking it one day at a time, always being aware of how he will try to suck me back in. I know I can do this. I know you can too. If we have been strong enough to withstand their abuse, surely we can withstand the difficult path that will lead us to peace!
I’m praying for God to fortify us both.
Hoping To Heal,
Two more days until NO Contact from what your comment said. I am praying that this happens for you! It is the only way to clear your head and reclaim your soul. I have been where you are and I promise you that each day will bring clarity and healing. You may not know or realize that you actually have figured out his game. They are “stealers of souls” and do not have a heart to love anyone besides themselves with.
Nomoretears2013,
I’m becoming more determined, and less determined, every day. The closer I get to the cut off day, I panic, but I KNOW that is what I must do.
I’m so thankful for all of you who share how NC has helped you,
When you start to panic (and that is normal) just remember and think of the panic and anxiety that Esther must have felt. Say these words over and over while you breathe-“I have come to a position for such a time as this”. I don’t know if we are allowed on this website to share our personal information but if we are I would be happy to share my telephone number for you to have as support.
Wow Soundra….I am pretty sure your T.L. is the same guy as I was with….met online….was not physically what I would be attracted to…he was very funny, which I love…we shared so many hours of fun fun times!!! dreams …promises….same story about his ex wife…painted her as an alcoholic….but to me, he was very nice…bought me gifts that were as if he knew ME!…storybook romance…until his true self came out!…Now been NC for a few months….made the mistake the other day of looking at facebook….I was glad that finally my pic was gone…now…new pic of him….I learned that I cannot do that …it triggered all the stuff again…I was in a panic mess for awhile…it is like PTSD…something triggers and my body goes into panic mode….I can’t have any contact….in any way shape or form….
I had been sooo good…I noticed and friends noticed how well I have been….to have my mind back…and use it for better things!!!…that was a good reminder for me ….NO CONTACT!!!FEEEWWW
Grace,
Thanks for that tip about how you are triggered and go into panic mode. I’ll remember that as I begin my NC.