BellaOnline Forums Relationships Domestic Violence Anyone is capable of being an abuser

I'm sorry for all you have been through. Abuse comes in many forms and its sometimes hard to recognize. I am just getting out of a emotionally abusive relationship and learning not to blame myself for someone else's dysfunctions. Thanks so much for sharing your stories

Kristin, that is one of the hardest parts when you are getting out of and for awhile after you are away, accepting that it isn't all your fault for the abuse, no matter what form it takes. It can take months or years to recover.

Yes it can take a long time to recover from a relationship like that, but it can be either side who can be the abuser. My ex was very abusive when she wanted to be, even in front of the kids. Although she never touched the kids we had a terrible time for long enough. Wouldn't be the frst time she tried to hit me with a baseball bat she got from somewhere or threatened to stab me which was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back and I left. Can you imagine trying to explain to a 5 year old why his mother was threatening to stab his father??