Editor’s note: The following essay was written by a Lovefraud reader whom we’ll call “PeggySue.”
My book, Life in the Aftermath of a Narcissist came into being as I worked to create my life again following the utter anguish of being used and manipulated by the husband I cherished and who, I believed, loved me. In the midst of heartache and disbelief, I found myself to be dealing with the memories of gaslighting, my devastated emotions, a financial outlook of sheer decimation, and the loss of just “who I was.”
Marrying on the heels of my completion of my book called Romance Stew, I was, at age 55, heady at finding “Mr. Right.” The man and his family filled my heart’s empty spaces with hopeful expectation in discovering love with all the trimmings and a caring extended family. However, with a narcissist it felt like I had enrolled in a master’s degree program on ever shifting sands of reality.
I had participated in acquiring practical knowledge in the arena of romance and relationships and I was “seasoned” at that age, recognizing that Love doesn’t always bring the curtain down on a happily-ever-after theme. Even so, I sought enough good times to offer balance with life’s rough patches. Meeting “my particular” narcissist proved such a disconcerting trek into unknown territory. Loving and losing as I have described in my journey’s discourse was to be a learning experience beyond any I could have fashioned in my wildest fantasies. This jaunt through the bowels of “the Twilight Zone” found me feeling as if I had joined a traveling circus from an alien planet.
The Night Listener
To attempt to have the reader comprehend this horror story and not feel it’s all oh-so dramatic from a “victim’s” capacity, I would urge everyone who comes to these books to find the film, The Night Listener. It was written by Amistead Maupin and stars Robin Williams. The tale is an excursion into horror for anyone of ethical standards. Williams’character is a night radio show host who is given a moving manuscript written by a young boy who was horrifically abused. His social worker now has custody of him.
As Williams’ character is drawn deeper into the emotional entanglement with these two, he begins to question their actual identities and even his own reality in the way he connects with them. He is a man of genuinely high levels of warmth, love, and deep empathy. Unfortunately, the entire production has been only a fabricated charade. The sensation is one of being “out-of-space and time,” leaving the host to sort his compassion, awareness of intellect, and his own desire to believe in an idea where he wanted to be of benefit. He now must also handle this feeling of excruciating vulnerability. This movie brought back the anguish of my own “fairy tale” within a fairy tale.
Financial black hole
The relentless surprises from the onset of my marriage, following a whirlwind courtship, proved extremely costly. It seems that my substantial funds vanished into the black hole of financial crises brought by my spouse and his family almost in the blink of an eye as I struggled to maintain the marriage. His IRS debt from the past raised its ugly head. The arrival to live with us of the bipolar, alcoholic adult son with expensive legal problems set the stage for chaos and highlighted my lack of savvy in standing my ground in this alien domain, away from my family and friends.
Along with this came the drunken, drugged out former sister-in-law who called incessantly, leaving explicit boy-toy messages for my spouse I always felt such an affront all the more so because my husband really had no desire for intimacy with me and I was immediately saddled with all the household expenses and even the cell phones for his son and parents ”¦ and of course, the never totally “in the past” first wife. My mother-in-law had held her close to “the family core” through the decades since their divorce and my spouse’s former re-marriage.
My invalid mother-in-law living within a half hour drive felt me to be a coupon from heaven as I planned to use my money to add to the household coffer while I worked on writing. She called 4-6 times a day and there was forever some need of chauffeuring, errand, transportation, housework requirement, help to her husband, or trip to a doctor or therapy required. I had chosen this man whom I loved and also his family and felt that the marriage vows required persistence to that commitment.
The therapist
I was the only participant in agreement with this thread of belief. Soon his online contacts, reconnections with women of the past, and virtual dating began. Following the “I Do’s,” I was informed that my spouse was bipolar and I required that we meet his therapist. The tie between these two was immensely close and she supplied him with excuses for his behaviors, all the while telling me how important it was that I carry such a load in the family setting.
A bank levy followed with a lengthy unpaid period of illness soon after. Finally, the light glimmered weakly at the end of the tunnel ”¦ until, seeking marriage counseling, I suggested that his mother might be perpetrating emotional incest with her desires for me to call him her pet names, have her name be placed on all my gifts to him, and wanting details of any sexual intimacy. I became quickly disavowed, unceremoniously discarded. Apparently auditions for my replacement had been underway and the next lady chosen. Not only “left for dead,” there would be no closure.
Hope now
With the passage of year five in this strange adventure within the aftermath, I still struggle with the financial debacle and emotional triggers, but hope exists.
I suspect I’ve taken down my “romance at all costs” shingle from my front doorway. But, I’ll look in on it and shine it from time to time. I did seek that elusive “Camelot” of high adventure with its invention of fanciful sentiment. Although I did encounter and even initiate heroically marvelous deeds in the quest for my evasive dream, the lighthearted zest more than occasionally found itself dashed by life’s details and unexpectedness.
So, now, with a limited arsenal of skills, I can share my story with you. In the process, I have connected with the most amazing people, mostly women, who have taken the same path. Their passages shared for the aid of others along the route fill me with awe, humility, and joy at the depth of humanity and compassion.
You can survive. I have.
Life in the Aftermath of a Narcissist is available on Amazon.com.
PeggySue – thank you so much for being willing to share your story. The more awareness is brought to this issue of the predators among us, the better for all of us.
That’s also something I’d forgotten in my case. His family and how I paid and paid. He said he owed back rent as soon as we got together. I paid his speeding and parking fines. But the family. His daughter rang for her fines paying, his son received a car for him to do taxi business (£10,000) with the agreement he pay back in increments. That was 7 years’ ago and not one penny back. I sent money to his sister and 2 sons on his behalf and numerous gifts. That’s besides him owing me over £100,000. The marriage was only genuine on my side I discovered when it was too late. He was a fake, parasite, social predator, promiscuous, manipulative. You know the story. It is becoming too common. We need more education and especially awareness (and possible prosecution) of these romance frauds. As soon as they’ve ruined one, they move to another, often 5 or 6 at the same time.
Thank you, Donna and Kathleen. What appears so difficult for those outside this awareness of strange beings is that we stayed. I second guessed myself, feeling it would somehow even out.
Kathleen, I smile with compassion at your experience, so much like my own. I was in deep sadness and disbelief for such a long period of time.
The most difficult lesson for me was to recognize there probably would be no justice.
When I was so devastated and seeking answers…Anywhere…I also found myself with absolutely no money. If you know of anyone who would like this in ebook format, please have them contact me at
agartha1952@gmail.com
Although we all seem to have formed a rather unique community, I am humbled by the folks I’ve met.
Yes, it does feel like a unique community, especially as it’s almost impossible to get people who are not victims to believe us. The trouble is the community just gets larger as it seems the percentage of sociopaths increases. It just feels like greed and selfishness rule the world at the moment.
Kathleen,
I don’t think there are more sociopaths, I just think that awareness of them is growing exponentially (but not nearly as quickly as we’d like!).
Before the internet, would any of us had figured out what was going on with us? Most of us, no. We’d either still be in the relationships, blaming ourselves, or depressed and messed up from cognitive dissonance, intrusive thoughts, etc. that we didn’t understand.
I’ve told many people about what I’ve learned the past few years. While those who haven’t been through it don’t get it at all, some of those who have started researching it on their own and thus joined the community. In fact, I’ve told a few of my ex-S’s exes about sociopaths, and I know of two who have then educated themselves and started healing.
Then they tell two more, who each tell two more, and you tell two more……that’s why the community’s growing.
Sometimes when I see a woman who looks depressed and beaten down (we’ve all seen them from time to time)I wonder very much whether she’d been a victim of a sociopath in the past but was still blaming herself.
Thanks abbri, I think that’s probably correct. So education is really the only answer. The hard part for me is how people don’t understand no matter how many times you try to explain. Even my lawyer, after my saying ‘I don’t know how much you know about sociopathy but….’ She said ‘right, all your money, yes, then he spent the lot? You could go for unreasonable behaviour.’ She never mentioned my broken heart, the many mistresses, the slander, the silent treatment to punish me for nothing, the 7 years of love from me and all the work I did trying to get some kind of love from him. I know the courts would make me, the victim, the perpetrator because of the compulsive lying and manipulation which is second nature to him. It’s really frustrating. Yes, I often wonder when I see anyone who looks broken down if they are suffering the same treatment and might not even know what it is. I didn’t know until he’d left me for 12 months. I just googled romance fraud or abuse and there it was. All of a sudden my mind cleared of confusion. All the accusations of my ‘crimes’ were what he was doing – shifting the blame. The constant feeling there was something a bit off about him. I even used to suggest to him during his rages he had a problem with his thoughts maybe due to his drug addiction or alcohol, gambling, promiscuity. His answer ‘you always accuse me of cheating when it’s you!’ I got so depressed, but when my eyes finally opened by education on sociopaths/narcissists I started to heal. He can’t believe I’m not jealous (of a fake?). He wants me to be? All conversation is about him. Therefore that tells me he’s a narcissistic sociopath.
Peggysue
Thank you for sharing your story. Your story has helped so many. There is an aftermath after being in a relationship with a narcissist. Once the narcissist leaves or you leave there is so much damage done to the non-distorted person. Like denial, low self worth, depression. Years of therapy may help. But usually a person is so beaten down emotionally after being with a narcissist or sociopath that they rarely seek therapy. But instead they isolate. I know my experience with a sociopath, made me want to isolate. But I couldn’t sink into depression because my child needed me. So I just kept on living life. As hard as it was. I has lost faith in humanity. Until I met my husband (who is a wonderful man) and loves me. He restored in me what the narcissist had taken away.
Little did I know my husband was married to a sociopath before he met me.. They were divorced and she was still harassing him and still does. I guess men who are victims of abuse handle things differently. Because he has always been positive and had a positive outlook on life (he was somewhat in denial of how abusive his ex wife was) He is fully aware now of what his ex is and how abusive and manipulative she is. She doesn’t care how much she is hurting her children, as long as it hurts her ex or me. I guess she hates us more than she loves them
SocioSugar….and I do so like that tag name!! I just saw your response. It gives me immeasurable hope to know that you found a wonderful man.
I agree with the idea of isolation – and that’s what makes Donna’s site so amazing. To know that it wasn’t “just me.” It took me a long time for the faith in humanity to return.
Such a wonderful story of success…for you, and your husband…and the children, too. I wish you strength in your union and always love in the path ahead.
For me, I believe that the numbers of psychopaths are indeed increasing; however, even if the entities are only becoming uncloaked, there exists so much long range damage to our culture. Certainly within the context of humanness – all the outstanding traits of decency almost appear under assault. But there are good folks out there as the shared stories offer. In the arena of financial consequence, even house insurance is affected by poor credit which, in my case, was the precipitate of my marriage of tunnel-visioned ignorance.
I look at all your posts and am awed by the sheer power of will to continue. The worst effect on a personal level was a crisis of faith…along with financial devastation.
In a patriarchal society, I suspect we will have more women as victims.
Peggy Sue – Yes, I agree with all you say except for the faith part. Despite everything I never lost my faith in God. He is the one helping us through all this. Please don’t give up. It also feels like a case of ‘sink or swim’ when you have to pick yourself up or give up. But, when you find a site like Donna’s and realise how other people have suffered too and often still are, it gives you real strength. If you have a setback, you pour out your feelings here and someone will help you through it. There does appear to be many more women victims possibly due to our natural nurturing instincts. I often think of The Good Samaritan I was taught at school. It had a profound effect on me at the time and I still think of it. Then I get confused when I see a news report about someone e.g. sitting weeping on some doorstep, you go to help a distressed person as an empath, then they attack you. That would be a sociopath in a nutshell. You think you’re helping, they make you fall for them, then wear you down and drop you. It doesn’t finish there. They slander you and let people know how it is you (the victim) who is evil, not them. Don’t give up. We’re here to support anyone who’s been a target!
@....... Kathleen
Thank you for the opportunity to share a bit of my story here. Although it’s long and complicated, I’d appreciate some experienced feedback.
My husband and I discovered lately my brother, sister & mother were in cahutes for over 20 years. Our compassionate nature drove us to believe their story which was: my father left my passive mother without resources and because my husband was accumulating wealth, we should supplement her income intermittingly and pay for her travel to visit the other siblings. (NYC to LA). Once we realized we were taken for fools, we ceased the activity. She had plenty of money. Of course now, it is the two of us who are deemed evil, not them.
My brother died in 2010, leaving my now elderly mother with all his resources – which is as it should be. This is when my sister who could have cared less over the span of mother’s life pounced and devised a plan to acquire all mother’s resources upon her death. Sister is known for her sneaky ways and lack of moral fabric. She and her puppet husband have convinced mother that she should be the executor of her estate. Mother knows all sister’s tricks, but did it anyway. (possibly to hurt us for stopping support.) Sister has already started raping my brothers house of estate possessions (so far $10,000. goods) and we are left watching this robbery from afar with no recourse because mother refuses to take a stand. There is no doubt sister, upon mother’s death, will spend all the resources and note them as “expenses” ” and possibly send us a bill.
We believe we must “run for the hills” in order to prevent being snared in another trap of deceipt and manipulation. We are of strong faith and believe the truth will prevail, even if its on the otherside of eternity. God is good. Your input welcome.
Hi, Runforthehills,
I’m not sure How Kathleen will respond, but my thought is – if you have the funds…see an attorney about your concern of “undue influence” on the mother…and also check to see if there is any path you should take legally to protect yourselves from “estate bills.” I’m not sure where you are, but many places have governmental “auditors” making sure estates are handled in an above-board manner and the executor/-trix is accountable.
I’m sorry for the ordeal. When I was left in abject poverty, I could not find any legal counsel willing to work with me – and to be honest, I was still in quite a mess of confusion, disbelief, and angst. But, having a lawyer would have helped immeasurably. Legal aid in my state is not like some found in the movies…they could do almost nothing for me.
Be kind to yourselves through this process.
Hi Peggy Sue,
As with most in today’s world, the economy has taken its toll. Mother is in Connecticut, brother’s house in LA, sister resides in LA and I’m in Hawaii which adds much complication to finding an effective attorney. The situation also gives sister leverage. Sigh…
We have found the only way to stop the almost inevitable outcome is to not be listed as an heir. It’s an act of faith if we proceed, but will save us many emotional headaches she’s calculating up her sleeve. We are sad for them and we’re no longer in disbelief because as Maya Angelou used to say “When someboby shows you who they are ” believe them”! Done, thank you very much.
That being said, I’m, sorry you were left in abject poverty, remember this is a temporary state and evil will never win over good. Hold your head high and tell yourself the truth about these betrayers – this will lessen your disbelief and angst. If you’ve been taken advantage of as we have, it’s not your fault. Forgive yourself for not seeing the trap. You now know how to identify this ilk and you will be stronger because of the ordeal.
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, it’s good to know we are not the only people who are working through the process of betrayal. Aloha/
Hey, Lady….it sounds like you have thought things out. Thank you, too, for your kind words of encouragement.
If I had the wherewithal, I would still check with an estate attorney in LA where it will be discharged…just to cover bases. I served as an executrix once for a rather hefty family estate and with emotions running high, it was Hell…I tried to remove myself after the process had begun, but it became too costly. In that case, there weren’t disordered people, but folks acting out from pain and grief.
You are right in this old arena of life not being a bad place…I have come to believe in goodness once again…BUT one really has to “see things as they are” and not overlay your own sense of value and decency onto another with questionable systems of action and behavior.
It very much DOES, in my opinion, help to evaluate by contacting forums. There is a vulnerability with so many of us and that, too, is something we must learn to come to grips with and handle.
God Bless….I think you and your husband are on the right path. Thank you for sharing…it helps me to know this ugly little patch of reality can be found in so many places.
Hi Peggy Sue, I would be in agreement with you. So long as Runforthehills has the money to pay lawyers it could really be worth it. I don’t have the money for lawyers to try to get my money back, divorce etc. but even if I did, don’t forget even professionals can be duped by these evil people. That is what holds me back from therapy and the law. I’m afraid of being pushed over the edge as the perpetrator rather than the victim by my evil sociopath ex.
Well said – “professionals are often duped by these evil people” ” these sociopaths are extreemly smooth tongued liars. I’m not convinced the battle for inheritance is worth selling my sanity for. Sister is all about the here and now, accumulating “stuff”; I’m after peace, relationships, and sound-mind and intangibles of eternal value. Again, thank you for the input – very valuable, this site is keeping me in check. Stay in faith with blessings & aloha.
Runforthehills
I so “hear” you on this one, Kathleen. It happened to me and I was “left for dead” with a large chunk of my “reputation” attacked…even by his therapist…and family members. AND I felt EXACTLY as you do about therapy and the law. I did see a counselor once…and although there is something to be looked at in the cover of “co-dependence,” I feel it a terrible error to place more blame on the victim.
YOU have spunk! I was tremendously devastated and became fearful of so much in the beginning stages.
I saw a fascinating youtube where the young married female nurse in a car with her husband appears to go over-the-edge…but only in reading the details does the public understand her ordeal prior to this awful emotional outburst. I have no doubt that I appeared totally INSANE…while the nutters quietly stepped back and watched.
I so applaud the strength you show in your writing. I mean this most sincerely.
Thank you, too, for having such courage to speak out.
Kathleen, what is amazing is the similarity in our stories – yours and mine…and so many others. I really believe my ex lies farther on the continuum toward psychopathy and he is smooth as silk and VERY convincing. I wonder if there exist “hives” of these creatures.
Hi Runforthehills – I’m so sorry for the stress you are experiencing because of your mother and inheritance. I have something similar but not so bad. I don’t have much capital or income due to my sociopath ex-husband cleaning me out so I wouldn’t have bills to pay. However, my brother is earning really good money, has a big house, capital etc. and is doing the same thing with mum’s furniture. I just think truth will prevail as you have said. Good overcomes evil even though it really upsets us at the time. I’ve read lots about sociopaths and how to deal with them. The advice is usually have nothing – nothing – to offer. so in your case it would be to plead poverty if possible. e.g. debts to pay, bills, income reduced and so on. In fact, they are also compulsive liars so often the advice is to treat them the same way. Good luck.
@Kathleen,
Thank you for responding with wisdom. I often forget my sister is a professional liar, treating her in the same vain would be a new tactic for me but probably throw her off her game in the short term. Sadly, I believe mother is a liar too – both playing off my good nature. A girlfriend, more deeply steeped in discernment suggested sociopaths are the “spirit of jezebel” and suggested I read further in Heavenawaits/wordpress.com. to also deal with this. Is this angle to deal with them familiar to you? Just heartbroken over their ability to hurt others as the author of this behavior is the pit of hell ” and they don’t care. Whew!
Good morning, Kathleen. I am genuinely pleased to know that your own faith wasn’t shaken. Mine has returned and even while in the midst of it all, I can look back and see that I was not abandoned.
The overwhelm and emotional fatigue – perhaps in forever trying to “decipher clues” – wore me down more than a little. Donna does have such a great site…and her contributions to Lifetime are wonderful.
You and all the others make picking oneself up off the floor, cleaning away the tears, and moving forward a look at choice and possibility. Thank you for “being here.”
Peggy Sue,
Thank you for your story. With each story I read, I become more confident in my decisions and direction. Since joining LF, I have learned to protect myself, to keep my eyes open, to expect anything and to KNOW that I am very vulnerable.
I’m sorry for the pain you endured. Your story is a testimony of your strength. It must be difficult to rehash all the abuse in a page by page format, but your story is so helpful to others who are searching for direction.
Best wishes to you.
That is so very kind of you, HopingToHeal…
It was truly “painful as Bloody Hell.” But, now, my sense of humor has returned…Some say it takes about two years…but for me, I just recognized not long ago that it had been FIVE – HOLY COW! – years. I just withdrew into the barest survival mode.
Now, it is finally time to Let Go…Part of me struggled so with the unfairness of it all. Like Kathleen, I was left for dead in almost all the ways imaginable…It is utterly amazing just how many like us are out in the ether. And I am most grateful for Donna’s site…
I believe you are very wise to protect yourself and to see “just what is” without those rose-colored glasses. I wish you GOOD adventures as you heal and look into a much better future!
I’ve been separated 2 and half years from my sociopath ex after 4+ years of marriage. It took until 6 months after he left for the confusion to go when I found out what a sociopath was. I’m in an awkward position as I had no contact for 6 months then an accidental meeting in a shop. He made straight for me and now I try to be sort of agreeable so that I can hopefully get an undefended divorce. However, it is very difficult not to believe his lies as he is very charming. I don’t argue and agree with everything he says if I can, which is also very difficult. I stopped contact because we’d agreed to have a meal together on New Years’ Eve 2013. I told him I spent all day cooking etc.(I didn’t – he’s taught me to lie but only to him) but knew he wouldn’t turn up. So I took advantage of the situation. I called his landline – no answer at 8 pm. I texted ‘hope you’re not going to disappoint me again. food’s ready’ etc. He replied ‘I told you I’m with my friend.’ At midnight he texted ‘happy new’ no year. Drunk? High? I didn’t reply. When he saw me 6 months’ later he said I was jealous and that’s why I stopped talking to him because he had a friend I didn’t know. Wow. The narcissist in him came out. I didn’t agree with that. I just said I wasn’t jealous but didn’t go any further. Now I find being agreeable difficult because of his charm I believe him. When I get home and think about it, I realise I’ve been lied to again!
Hi Kathleen,
The games played to prove they still can “play you”, control etc. I’ve pasted a snippit of the FAQ page from Luke 17:3 Ministries, thought it may help as you sort this out.
FAQ~ Answers to the questions we get the most about Abusers/Narcissists/and Psychopathic Relatives:
1. Yes, they know what they’re doing.
2. Yes, they know they’re hurting you.
3. Yes, they’re doing it on purpose.
4. Yes, they can control it. They do whenever they want to impress someone.
5. Yes, they could stop if they wanted to.
6. No, they don’t love you, even if they say they do (Actions speak louder than words). They do not feel love, empathy, compassion or remorse. Your relationship is not about love. It’s about control, dominance, power, attention, “respect”, admiration, subservience.
7. No, you cannot change them. You can only change yourself.
8. Yes, there is something you can do. GET OUT. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but that’s the answer. If it takes you years to accept this, you will always regret those lost years that you could have spent living a joyful life.
Blessings
Thanks Runforthehills – yes, I’ve studied all the traits and he has them all. I’m aware of what he is doing. He wants to use me. But I go along with his lies just to get my divorce. He has been on welfare since he left me. He cleaned me out but my income is slightly more than his therefore, I just want to hear him say he’s got a job then I will try to get him to agree to a divorce. It would push me over the edge if I had to start paying him alimony after he paid nothing and I paid everything – more than £100,000 life savings. I know he won’t change. I have no intention of falling for all the rubbish he talks. It isn’t easy but after studying sociopaths and narcissists for 2 years I know he is one. I’m sort of playing him at his own game. e.g. He’s ‘ill’ everyday so I sympathise. It’s not easy but with no contact I can’t find out whether or not he has a job. He goes on many courses and hints he might get a job. Fingers crossed. All I need to do is be aware it’s all fake from his side, so I’ll play his game right back to him. I tell him nothing about my family or my life even though he asks me. I find an excuse.
Hi, Kathleen, Thomas Sheridan has a most interesting book, Puzzling People, The Labyrinth of the Psychopath…and some really excellent youtube videos. I very much enjoy contacts with this man. Narcissism and psychopathy are on a continuum of pathological presences…so there are many overlaps…
Sam Vaknin wrote Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited. His book and youtube videos are VERY good. I like this fellow, although from other professional evaluations, he has been diagnosed as a psychopath.
Most of the authors on this topic tell – tell – and re-tell victims to “have no contact” – as simple as that sounds,in the early stages (how many years?), it is very hard to do…but, little by little, strength is gained.
Sandra L. Brown wrote an exceptional book, Women Who Love Psychopaths, and this explains the brain/hormone/chemical activities that lead to that devastating LINK to the creature. Sexual bonding is much heightened to that of normal relationships.
I recently read an ebook called Psychopath Free in which I found much agreement…
Not all the authors agree with each other…but Dr. Robert Hare is held by all in high esteem.
I believe it is our own goodness that is twisted by these beings and that very goodness holds us to the idea that “we must have misunderstood something.”
Breaking the communication trap with these people allows our minds and bodies to heal from the ordeal of stress and even CPTSD. We who are seeking answers may not fall into agreement with all of these authors, but certainly we can grasp bits and pieces that make sense…and make us realize we are not insane…and not alone.
Love bombing and gas lighting are some pretty intense shill games…and like the Twilight Zone when we try to build a legitimate relationship with these pathologicals.
@Peggy Sue et al ”
This site is healing ” for the first time I’m amongst you who understand evil acts of betrayal exist ~ their acts are not my “interpretation” of the situation. Just saying I’m extreemly grateful we can virtually walk together as sisters here. On LoveFraud I found “Spiritual encouragement for survivors” page which included a link to http://www.luke173ministries.org. ~ a site dedicated to adult women who have been abused. Check it out if biblical application is of interest.
Either way, thank you ladies & Donna for being present on Lovefraud.com, I extend blessings for health and healing across the miles and will check in regularly.