I just need some help from guys or girls. I went through a really bad/abusive relationship it lasted for 4 years and I broke up with him about 11 months ago. He still contacts me to this day but I let it be known that I want no future with him. I'm trying to move on but I can't get myself out of the house. When I go out with my girlfriends, I usually come home and close my door and cry all night. I have very low self esteem and I feel like I'm never going to find my true love. I know I'm only 21 years old but this feeling of loneliness is overwhelming. I've tried talking to guys but it just hasn't been successful. I need to be confident in myself but I just can't find it. Its been 11 months and I should've moved on by now, but I just can't and it doesn't matter how hard I try. I'm crying myself to sleep about once a week and not wanting to have fun and go out. I need advice on how to gain my confidence again and be the person who I used to be. I'm just not the same
Is there something wrong with me? Do I need to see a psychologist? Its really starting to ruin my life
No. Not yet anyway. Just take some time to chill out and talk to your close friends. It's normal to go through a sort of emotional cool down time after such an experience.
It wouldn't do any HARM to talk to a professional if you don't have anyone that you can really open up to.
I don't think I can add much to what has been said by Bad Bruce and wondering why, those posts are great advice. Q, Is there something wrong with me? "Its been 11 months and I should've moved on by now" Its normal to feel down after a break up and there is no rule on how long it takes to get over someone and ignore anyone who tells you there is. Breaking up is hard, its even worse: - x 1 -the first time x 1 -after a long relationship x 1 -after an abusive relationship
That means your have break up x 3 (cubed) That’s like 9 break ups all at the same time. No wonder your feeling bad.
Q. Do I need to see a psychologist? You do need to talk to someone, be that family, friend or professional. I’d recommend that you chose someone who’s down to earth and practical and distant enough from all people concerned to give an honest reply. That person could be someone like an aunty or friend from work or it could be your best friend. If that person advises you to visit a psychologist then I would certainly recommend you follow their advice.
“waiting at the door” told you to force your self out and start dating. I’m going to give you the exact opposite advice, and I therefore apologies for confusing you. You seem to feel bad because:- -you feel you haven’t got over your old boy friend -your lonely -you feel a failure because you can't find a boy friend Men are not knights in shining armour that make everything okay and you should not expect men to be. You’re sad because you haven’t got over your old boyfriend. When your getting over someone you don’t date, and there is no logic to forcing yourself to dating so you can pretend you have. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.
So my advice is give up on the guys for a month or two. Don’t stop going out with your friends, don’t stop talking to men; just say to your self, at this moment I’m happy being single so I’m not looking for a man. Consider it a sabbatical.
I've tried talking to my friends but they've never experienced anything like I have so it's kinda hard for them to relate. They just tell me to move on, and they're always setting me up on blind dates. They just don't understand so I don't talk about it anymore. I'm fine with being single, but its been almost a year now. I've talked to plenty of guys, but I always back off after a week and stop talking to them. - 4 months ago
YOu definitely need someone to talk with whether a professional or some friend you feel comfortable discussing this affair with.
It's normal to go through emotional withdrawal after ending such a long relationship. Don't be down on yourself. Do you have any really close friends, the type who will drop everything and talk with you no matter when?
If not, I would suggest talking to a professional. But I don't think you're in any way abnormal really.
You need to force yourself out there and play the field. I don't mean go and sleep around, I mean go on casual dates, and see guys that are different from what you normally seek out.
Ask your friends to set you up. I know we normally despise that, but for you this will be perfect. You're not going to be dating these guys to necessarily make it a regular thing. It's just to get out there, meet different guys, and try out new kinds of personalities. Tell your friends not to introduce you as the girl coming out of an abusive relationship. Just have them keep it simple: name, age, job and maybe some hobbies/interests.
Don't get invested in these outings, just go out, be pleasant, watch for behavior and their interactions. Pay attention to what they talk about passionately, and when and if they shut their ears off when you talk. Just try out different guys, and reflect on the pro's and con's.
This exercise will let you discover things you like, and things you don't. You probably have a good idea of this already, but by dating guys who don't fit your typical mold, you will be expanding your vision and you may even alter your position about what is good and what is bad. This also will allow time to pass. And keep in mind, the more time that passes where you have different experiences, the less time you'll have to think about the past.
On a side note, don't discuss the details about your past relationship. If they ask about an ex, just keep it short. "I broke up with him about a year ago because we didn't work together well." For one, if you go into a long story about the past, they are going to be a bit on edge. And they may lose interest. The goal for you is to keep yourself looking simple and confident, so that they have to reveal things about themselves that indicate to you traits, patterns and reactions.
Once you've had, oh say a dozen of these kind of one off dates you can start thinking about what it is you truly want in a partner. And because you'll have a wealth of experience to draw from that doesn't include this ex, you'll be able to focus on finding someone who is right for you.
Therapy could be something of use, but I would suggest doing some self exploration about that subject after you've had some of the above mentioned experiences. If you are more vibrant and focused after three or four of these, then it's just a matter of you moving on. If you're still dwelling on this ex, then it would be time for therapy.
I'm sorry you had an abusice partner. No one deserves that. Good luck!
You just have a broken and bruised. You are a woman, women are sensitive. Don't think there is anything wrong with letting your sensitivity get the most of you and feeling hurt. You were hurt and it changed you, and that is normal. I am glad you said you are sure you want nothing to do with him and let him know and left him. You took necessary steps to get yourself out of that situation. I commend you for that, a lot of other women would have stayed in that relationship and took it as ''tough love" or something. You have to be happy about the move you made. Gaining back confidence that has been broken or lost is not easy, as I said you have changed because of that relationship. If he calls, don't pick up. You are no longer in that relationship, cut him off, COMPLETELY. Don't let him get anything out of you, not even a phonecall. It is said to always "forgive and forget". If any compassion is there, you can forgive. But you can also forget; forget him. Forget about the things he may have said, things he may have done, let it go. Bury it in the past, domething you should never look back to. Remember what it was that made you that confident woman. Bring yourself to understand that it didn't "die", it was just beneath all of the hurt. He needs a nurturer, and you can no longer be that for him. You have a life too, understand that. To gain back everything you had before that relationship, you have to let the past be the past. You also need soul searching. Don't think that meeting a bunch of guys and partying is a cure. Yeah, it is an outlet to 'let go' and 'be free', but you are in need of finding out who you are, now, and seperating it from the woman you were before. He was a 'test run'. You've tested him, tried him out and everything, and you know that's not what you want. Let him go, move on. I hope what I said didn't seem too motherly, as I am only 16. I hope it helped a little. Good luck honey, I really think there is hope.
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