This path of growth and healing and counseling and reading.  I think of when I joined DS in Oct.  I see growth.  I see it when I see my ex/off & on boyfriend.  He is not growing with me.  We have grown apart.  I am impressed with what I am learning in codependency recovery, that I don't have to react to his stuff, and realizing his stuff for what it is through domestic violence counseling, he attempts to have power and control over me and it is abusive.  It hurts.  I am learning I can't change him or make him see my limits.  I tell him until I'm blue in the face and he just bypasses it to try to get what he wants.  A couple days ago I told him to leave me alone when he hung up on me.  He often reacts with anger when I bring up the hurt I experience with him.  So he said he would, and he isn't.  His message last night was the most scariest I have felt of him.  He said he wasn't going to let me slip through his fingers as easily as he has in the past, so I may as well talk to him.  It is a threat and again, like he thinks he has me in the palm of his hand, it's about power and control, not intimacy.  Maybe I used to be more submissive, maybe he thought he had me in the palm of his hand because I would go back after he broke up w/ me so many times.He just called at work and is demanding an answer, if this is the end of the road for us.  I ask him if he heard one thing I said the last time I saw him.  That is when I laid it all down.  Obviously he didn't, so why bother say anything if he doesn't hear me?  He hung up on me again.  I am working.  It is so rude.  He is so hostile.  He thinks sex is the answer .  I told him it is not healthy for me to have sex with someone I am not getting along with the last time I saw him.  I told him we've grown apart and it's not healthy. Of course he is trying to break me.  He has no clue, all he can think of is his needs and I am on a different path.

Replies

deleted_user
deleted_user

**hugs**

Stay strong and make sure you keep your boundaries. Do what\'s best for you. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user

no, he obviously has no idea how STRONG u have become! but he needs to kno that u r NOT going to be bullied or pushed for one more second by him. if he cant/wont go by YOUR terms, then perhaps he should go by his---as in bye bye, on his own. u r in my prayers, im sooo proud of u! God bless.
deleted_user
deleted_user

I\'m sad right now. I\'m feeling grief and loss. I am hurt by his angry outbursts and how little he is aware how hurtful our relationship and our problems and this is for me. I am just tired. I have been so busy working, it is time for me to have some down time. He got me a bunny at home, home is not feeling restful now. I think I\'ll take a walk at lunch time and clear my head. My emotions are stuck in me. At work, how can I let myself cry? I need free time to release.
deleted_user
deleted_user

The feeling of grief is totally normal. He\'s toxic and you know all of his games now. I\'m so glad you\'ve found DS and are really making progress and it\'s sad that he isn\'t growing. You are absolutely right about him not hearing you so there\'s no point in talking. I agree, it\'s best to not engage. As long as he thinks he has communication he thinks he has a chance. My ex hated the silent treatment he\'d go NUTS. The worst thing for the controllers is to just not give them anything, no attention, it\'s like they lose their power! it\'s amazing, and true. I know it is hard. And isn\'t the codependency board great??? It is truly a lifesaver for me. It will be so great when you are free have a blessed weekend!
deleted_user
deleted_user

He\'s trying desperately to re-gain power over you, now that he\'s lost it. I hope you can take that free time that you so much need right now. And also the strength. Take lots of care. HUGS
deleted_user
deleted_user

Big hugs. Stay strong. Take care of you. Sometimes breaking up is the healthiest thing to do even though it hurts and makes us sad.