You feel trapped in your relationship.  When you first met, you used to love spending time with him, but now you sigh in relief when he is out of the house or goes out of town.  You have opinions and likes and dislikes, but you find yourself constantly doing something other than what you feel is right, just to please him because you do not want to make him unhappy.  You can’t remember the last time you made a decision that was just up to you.

You get criticized about everything.  Every time you do something, he always has a comment about what you did wrong or how you could have done it better. Your spouse makes you feel like you are going crazy. They deny saying things. They make you question your emotions and your thought process.  Instead of celebrating you for your achievements, he always makes it about him.

Your spouse is like Jekyll and Hyde. You walk on eggshells because you do not know what to expect.  You’re afraid to tell your spouse about things such as your car needs repairs, there is a bill due, your kids need something for school, your boss made you work overtime etc., because you’re not sure how he will react.

When you  talk to your spouse, they put you down and make you feel stupid. They regularly dismiss, disregard and pay no attention to your thoughts, opinions or feelings. You feel like you need to keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself. Your spouse does not respect your opinions, feelings or input. They do not honor or cherish you.

You make yourself available to your spouse no matter what the personal cost or what time of day or night, just to avoid a confrontation, conflict or a lecture.

And no matter how hard you try, it’s never enough to please him.  You’ve tried reading self-help books but the pain is still there.  You are tired of feeling not good enough.

You may be in an emotionally destructive relationship, which unlike physical abuse, the people doing it and receiving it, may not even know it’s happening until much damage has been done.

If you are ready to take back your life, I can help you to stay safe, promote healthy change, gain the skills to respond wisely, identify damaging behaviors, and understand when, why, and how to leave.  For more information on these types of relationships, please see my blog post. If you are ready to give to yourself as much as you give in your relationships and work, Call or Email to set up a complimentary consultation today.