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Anger & resentment in a relationship

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  • #199607
    M
    Participant

    Three months ago I left my emotionally abusive husband. I repeatedly asked him to go get counseling and he refused. He said he didn’t need it and that I was the one who needed help.  After many, many years of him convincing me that our issues were all my fault and many years of therapy for myself, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore. I knew I wasn’t crazy.  With the help of my current therapist I finally mustered up the courage to leave.  It took the action of my leaving to finally open his eyes. He now realizes that it was all his fault. He has started going to counseling, which is great. My issue is I have a lot of anger and resentment towards him now. I am very bitter that it took my leaving to make him see what was really going on. I had to leave my home, which I loved, to get him to see that he was the cause of our issues. He’s working on himself which is a wonderful thing but I can’t help thinking I’m the one living in an apartment with my three pets when I should be living in our home. Why did I have to leave? Of course he wouldn’t have left because he didn’t see his part in our situation at the time. Even if we don’t wind up back together I see my feelings making me miserable for a long time unless I can let them go.  He is fixing himself, which is what I wanted, yet I am so angry and bitter over the situation. I am looking for suggestions on how I can release that anger and bitterness and see happiness in the situation. How do you forgive and move on?

    #199635
    Inky
    Participant

    Hi M,

    He didn’t take you seriously before. As soon as you came into your power he realized that you are equals and he had to shape up. Wonderful!

    Houses and homes are nice. But to me living in an apartment with all my animals beats living with emotional torment any day of the week. You are so used to living with torment from without that you are now creating it from within. Stop it!

    After a year and a day of him going to counseling, you might beneficently return to your home like a gracious avatar.

    Perhaps then he can start over.

    Best,

    Inky

    #199637
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear  M;

    You wrote:  “I’m the  one  living in an apartment… Why did I have to leave? Of course he  wouldn’t have left  because  he  didn’t see  his part in  our situation a the time”

    “He now realizes it was  all  his fault”- now that he  realizes this, why is he  not leaving  the home and maybe moving to your apartment while you live in the home?

     

    anita

    #199759
    M
    Participant

    Very wise words Inky. Thank you. You are so right. Living with the emotional torment was way worse than having to leave. I should be happy that I am financially able to have a place of my own. My sister-in-law (who is married to his younger brother) is not so lucky. He’s almost as bad but she does not work and has a young daughter so feels trapped. Thank you for your honesty.

    #199761
    M
    Participant

    Anita – while in theory switching places sounds good. In reality it’s a lot of work and expense. I guess if one good thing came of me leaving it was that he finally woke up. 😉

    #199763
    Mark
    Participant

    Forgiveness is something for yourself not for him.  The anger eats you up.  I don’t see a rush for forgiveness for you need to be able to sit with it in order to let it go.  That may take a long time.  Taking action also helps.

     

    Letting Go of Anger: Forgiveness Is a Choice and a Process

    #199797
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear M:

    You wrote that you leaving him three months ago caused him to “finally open his eyes”. For less than three months then, his eyes have been open and he sees his responsibility to the troubles in the marriage.

    My suggestion: continue a communication with him, where the two of you are motivated and working for a common goal. Opening one’s eyes is a good thing. But it is easy for most to close them again.

    See to it that your eyes are open.

    anita

    #199805
    M
    Participant

    Thank you Mark!

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