I'm not going to attempt to argue about the whole "mental and emotional abuse are bullshit" thing, cuz, y'know, it's been done.

Lemme just say that not everyone who's emotionally abused has self-esteem issues and "doesn't think they could get anyone else." Honestly, I'm healthier than I've been self-esteem-wise than I have been in years. Oh, and I'm hot. Let's not forget that. It's just that someone who you've shared a lot of yourself with has all the tools they need to really fucking hurt you, intentional or not.

She is retarded. That is either a lie to cover up abuses, or they really do beat each other instead of talking. Either way, it's an unhealthy choice in a relationship. You shouldn't need to get violent in order to resolve your issues with a loved one.

Sassafrass, the whole mental abuse thing doesn't make much sense the way you put it. And you're right, if you consider the source as insignificant, then it's easy to walk away from insults/inconsideration. Problem is that one's boyfriend/girlfriend is someone whom you care about what they say. If their words have little effect when they are negative, then they have little effect when they are positive. Either way, it's a good reason to leave a person. To just 'ignore' it and pretend like everything is alright is what leads people to be in unhappy relationships.

And the point about the kids is crap. Those who stay together, in an unhappy or even abusive marriage, hurt their kids. You are better off with on parent than in a home which is full of such an atmosphere. Kids may not say anything, but they are affected by these things, and they notice a lot more than we think.

No, it's not a lie. She and her 'man' are both cold-hearted people. I can see it happen.

Well, technically, they are pretty happy when I see them together even if the fighting is unhealthy. Maybe it's just the 'thug' way of talking things out. It's just what happens when 2 violent people form a relationship.

Ask ANY counselor, therapist, psychiatrist or psychologist if that's normal or healthy. I guarantee they'll say "it's not".

Sure there are relationships like this, but that's why therapists and the like exist. They sort of act as referees so people can talk.

Usually people who have "hard time talking" actually have a hard time listening. They end up repeatedly interupting eachother and one gets fed up and attacks the other person. (Could be physically or mentally.)

You might wanna suggest counseling to your friend.

When I mention stuff like that to her, she just laughs.

Somethings just need to be solved by that person (If they want to solve it). You can't change a person if they don't want to change their ways.

Of course. I said "suggest", not "force".

She'll probably get help eventually, tho. No one is happy with someone that hits them or someone that pisses them off enough to make them want to hit them.

Sounds like battered woman syndrome. If you get a woman with more than her fair share of physical and mental abuse, she ends up being one very messed up woman. I'm very guilty of inflicting mental abuse on a lot of people, especially girls. It's definitely something I need to fix.

lol and eks is right. If you can't take breathing the same air as someone, stay away.

Okay. Here we go.

I've been in many, many kinds of abusive situations that you can imagine from ex boyfriends to family members. (I didn't get this mean from being raised on sugar and spice, lady)

And yea, you're right - its NOT EASY to fix the problem. But unless you feel like getting shit on for the rest of your life, you need to stand up, slam down your fist, and start being the one who makes decisions for yourself.

I wasn't always a control freak like I am now. I learned to be this way.

I've had my life threatened by more than one person who was close to me. I've been smacked around, I've been thrown across rooms, I've been choked against a wall, had a woman literally come at me with a knife, threaten the lives of my family members, had a few forced sexual situations, et cetera. (The real reason I started weight lifting, actually. It was my only remedy in my mind to not get tossed around.)

The end result was me one-upping, and scaring the ever-living shit out of the abusers. Sure, not everyone can do that. I pretty much went insane with rage and in the end, I stopped the shit. It's not the MATURE way to deal with it, I admit. And yea, it was probably one of the hardest things to do. But would YOU let yourself get shoved around, slapped around - all that shit - when NO ONE was there to defend you?

Thats their weakness.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Devo. Now, I know not everyone can't think like that, and some people don't WANT to, but SURVIVAL is the way to go here.

I know a lot more about abuse than anyone would imagine. I just don't whine about it.

The thread title is open to any and all abuses.

Physical abuse, in MY opinion, is far more egregious than mental abuse. Because just about anyone on the planet has suffered mental abuse at at least once in their life. Hell, we mentally abuse each other on these forums for FUN. ^_^

And in some cases, where men literally overpower a woman physically, a woman needs to put her thinking cap on and get into the groove.

I agree, though, that I can't use myself as a measuring stick. I just sincerely wish women would wisen up, get the fuck out, and carry on.

Hey man. Their insecurity isn't my problem. They need to learn on their own.

Life isn't for sobbing about all the bad shit that happened to you. Life is for learning from your mistakes and moving on with them in the back of your mind as a lesson. EVERYONE makes mistakes. It's one of the wonderful things about life. WE ALL FUCK UP! =D

You know what the doctors call people who do the same thing over and over, expecting a different result every time, right?

Well, what if they actually think that's the way they are suppose to release anger? I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people who think hitting someone is the only way to solve something. There is a lot of aggressive people in the world.

I doubt girls like her will ever seek help because they are use to having that kind of relationships with others and probably think it's right.

Sure! But they don't love me, and I don't love them! THUS, it should be a LOT EASIER for them to learn a lesson from me! Or according to your argument anyways~

I don't care about their precious feelings, Devo. You should know that. I am a horrible monster. I've been through it. I didn't need anyone to help me. I used the lump 3 feet above my very LARGE ass. I encourage them to get some balls and try it themselves. Until they try, they get no sympathy from me.

GOD, I am mean.

"Hey doctor, we have devised a perfectly functional way of resolving our differences"

"NO THAT'S NOT ALLOWED ONLY RAINBOWS AND HUGGING ARE ALLOWED"

Shut the fuck up.

Well, depends on how you define superiority, Devo.

I didn't complain about them, really. I just stated my opinions on the issue, see. YOU'RE the one complaining about how MEAN I am being to them, "belittling their intelligence" and all.

Life should not be dictated by emotions, Devo. It should be dictated by logic.

Why don't you ask her. I am sure she'd have a few angry things to say about what I do to make her life more difficult.

And I'm not sure how that has anything to do with abusive relationships, but nice attempt at trying to piss me off? I don't even know why you mention it, really. But it's interesting that you're complaining to staff about me!

Patience, my dear Devo, is a virtue. I've learned THIS among all things.

I definitely agree with that.

I never said it wasn't. I made it very clear that I understand that people have a hard time, Devo. I am saying that eventually, these people will wake up, have enough, and decide to make their own decisions. Be the boss, essentially.

People need to pull up their own reins. Thats all I am saying.

Because I am determined to win, see. Like I said: Patience. I've put myself through decades of hell just to win a battle in a glorious manner. I've never disappointed myself.

I don't walk away from a problem. I solve it. It may take some time, but I always always get the job done. ^_^

If a person doesn't know how to control their own decisions, they need to be in an institution if you ask me.

They are both a risk to themselves and others if they can't control their own decisions. =/

Could be! I don't deny the abuse I've endured!

But let me remind you: this isn't a love relationship. Its a work relationship. And apart from you attempting to make personal jabs at me to upset me somehow (which it doesn't), I don't see what the purpose of bringing it up is.

If you'd like to continue the discussion regarding my work environment, I welcome you to any number of the entries I've made about it in my journal.

Disagree.

Assess situation. Determine algorithm. Problem solved.

Because I intend to go out with a bang, Devo.

No one steps on me and I subsequently back down. This never happens. I will go through hell and back to make sure the person who did me wrong gets theirs.

I will not continue to discuss the Cheryl Problem here, by the way. I can make an angst thread if you'd like to continue it. I'd like to try and encourage OTHER people to participate here. Not just you and I going baaaaack and fooooorth about it.

That's stupid. Why don't you just be the bigger person, remove yourself from the situation, and save yourself some frustration and RAGE.