Caring
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Stay away from Trauma Bonding, this my story ❤️‍🩹

I worked in the marketing department of a multi-specialty hospital and there, I found myself deeply attracted to a nurse intern. She was remarkably beautiful cute little fairy to look at, but her words could be harsh, and she had a toxic side to her personality. We began dating, but after a few months, she disclosed that she was already in a committed relationship with someone else. She had feelings for him but didn't wish to marry him due to his lack of effort. Her past had been marred by abusive experiences, and her present boyfriend's behavior was causing her distress. She valued my care and kindness, creating a complex emotional situation for both of us.

One day, influenced by her friends, she approached me and made a decision – she wanted a future with me. She proposed, and we rekindled our relationship. I was deeply in love with her and paid no mind to her previous boyfriend, whom I saw as the antagonist in our story.

We shared an intimate moment at my place, but afterward, she left, overwhelmed by guilt, feeling that she had betrayed her boyfriend. She confessed that I was only the second person she'd been with and that her attachment to her boyfriend, despite his lack of effort, was strong. She couldn't face him after what had transpired, so she asked for some space.

Despite the difficulties, we couldn't stand to be apart for long. She would cook and bring me meals, even after her internship ended, and she secured a permanent job. Our relationship dynamics shifted – I used to buy her gifts initially, but she reciprocated, gifting me shirts and small presents from her salary. It touched my heart, but our relationship was fraught with constant fights and toxicity. She would request no contact when she met her boyfriend, which deeply troubled me. Even though she was the one who had cheated, I was the one losing sleep and shedding tears, unable to bear the thought of her being with him.

This situation continued for a month until, one day, she fell seriously ill and was admitted to our hospital. She confided in me about an altercation with her boyfriend, who had become physically abusive, hitting and slapping her due to his suspicions. Deeply concerned, I took her to my home after her discharge, where we shared an intimate night. The next day, she argued with and cursed her boyfriend on the phone, then blocked him.

She expressed a desire to be with me forever. After months of emotional turmoil and tears, I found happiness because I had her by my side.

For about 4-5 months, my life was filled with happiness. My previous girlfriend occasionally messaged me, leading to fights between my current girlfriend and me. She wanted me to block my ex-girlfriend, just as she had blocked her ex-boyfriend. We were now living together, and she had met my family, while I had met her father, who liked me. Everything seemed great, but her ex-boyfriend continued to message her, trying to convince her to return, which was distressing for both of us. She often expressed missing him, despite acknowledging that he didn't put in any effort and had an unattractive personality. I was getting fed up with the situation and wanted her to make a decision, though I never explicitly told her.

I stopped taking care of our relationship, but she continued to be kind to my family and me, reassuring me that she wouldn't go back to her ex. One day, she told me to ask her father for permission to marry her, but I had seen many red flags due to her lingering feelings for her ex-boyfriend. I started making excuses to avoid it. Frustrated, she declared her final decision: she wanted to be with her ex-boyfriend, even if he was abusive. This led to a big fight, and we argued for days, sometimes angrily and sometimes affectionately. She admitted to feeling guilty about being with me while missing her ex-boyfriend, even though her relationship with him had lasted for 2-3 years, and she often had flashbacks of the past.

We eventually ended our relationship, but we remained in contact. She would sometimes say we could only meet as friends, with no physical affection, but that wasn't always the case. I felt relieved after the breakup, realizing she had fidelity issues.

Her ex-boyfriend learned about me through her Instagram and contacted me. We had a conversation, and I promised not to interfere again. However, she contacted me again, blaming me for ruining her relationship. We fought, but we also had good conversations as friends. During our 4-5 months of living together, we had started a clothing business, and I helped her grow her Instagram from a few hundred followers to 50k followers, and I was managing her account. Now, we needed to stay in touch without her boyfriend finding out.
Now the dude has even asked for her hand in marriage to her father and now we have finally created boundaries.
even then we talked romantically sometimes whenever she missed me, sometimes we would fight and blame each other, but atlast she got what she wanted and I am the one suffering whenever she goes to her (almost fiance) boyfriend's house. It was hard to believe that the person I cared for deeply was going back to her ex.

After a month of trauma, I was once out with a friend, where I met a new girl. She was cheerful, and I went on a date with her. However, my ex had problems and engaged in jealous, toxic fights with me, as she didn't want to lose me to this new girl. She expressed regret about choosing her ex and says she cannot choose me again because she is going to marry her “love” who was man enough to meet her father but STILL she doesn’t want me to go with other girls. In other words, she will go and sleep with her guy but wouldn’t like me going out with a female friend.

A few days ago, i met her, she asked me to call my new poor “ girl-friend “ who is not even my girlfriend, so she could hear her voice. She is jealous of her she curses me blames me but then goes into self analysis as she chose to leave me. I don't know what the future holds, but one thing is clear – I am suffering. It's a situation I allowed to continue.
PinkMoon · 26-30, F
@Authoritarian So you punish yourself by keeping in touch with a woman that left you? Instead of moving on you're wasting this poor new girl's time because clearly you just want to be with your toxic ex. Can you imagine if the new woman called you just so her ex could hear your voice? Or if she was flirting with an ex? Are you using her to make the toxic ex jealous? Because if so mission accomplished,just let the poor woman go.

You're currently behaving in extremely toxic,self destructive and anti social ways. You lose em how you got em buddy,she cheated with you,cheated on you and then left you,just like she left her ex. You're not special to her,she just loves lording the power she has over you,the power you so freely give her.

You're a young man with a career and a bright future ahead of him. You have what it takes to be in a healthy relationship free of unnecessary drama. A relationship where you won't be manipulated,berated and cheated on. You did a bad thing by dating someone in a relationship but you're not a bad person,you're just a fool. You're the worst kind of fool,the wise fool. Wise enough to know better but too foolish to do better.

Stop using the strong feelings she brings out in you as an excuse to backslide. She's a dud man,a manipulative dud with an ego so large she can't stand the thought of an ex moving on. She doesn't love you or her used to be ex and now fiancé,she only loves herself.

Cut her off,block her off of everything and purge yourself of this season of your life and embrace a new one. One where you assert healthy boundaries,one where you make decisions to help your future self,not harm him by compounding trauma after trauma for him to have to process.
riseofthemachine · 41-45, M
Learn from the situation or else you’ll walk into another relationship the same . You’ll have fierce trust issues with women . A 4-5 month relationship is very short to understand . A very short time . Even 4-5 years is very short in a relationship.
What blew your mind and I can relate is that she said forever .
Also I can relate even knowing the relationship was broken you were trying but her love back with presents.
Also do me a favour , if your with someone cut all ties with opposite relationships, like contact with ex’s and going out with someone , no wonder the relationship broke down if she was in contact with her ex.
Another one I learned and you might not have much control over it , never introduce girlfriend to other fella friends cause they’d could end up chasing her .
That’s where pain comes in then and especially if she goes off with one of them . Make your world as small as possible with her and you’ll have a big relationship with her then .
Leave her go out and leave her do what she wants to do and if you are ment to be with her and together you’ll know it .
I was with a woman for 4 years . I met her when she was 19 and I was 25 and 6 years gap so I had to leave her live her life cause she was young and so was I at that age . I took me a trip to a pysche ward 3 times in the one year for a 6 weeks stretch being in there to understand we were both young at that age and as what you said she wanted to be with you forever . That’s the bone crusher my friend .
Give time time and you won’t suffer that much no more and don’t jump into another one straight away cause as what I said the chances it could happen again can be very strong.
I’m 42 now and I’m single 14 years and I’m ok most of the time but I’m saying you have to be single , just watch jumping into another one straight way .
Eventually when your older you’ll look back at the good times instead of seeing the bad times cause people normally look back at the bad times to play the victim.
You shouldn't be engaging in workplace romances, either.

You need to lose the ex... you're just an option to her - and she's making it clear to you that she won't let you move on while she's still in the picture. So, your choice is to carry on waiting for a few breadcrumbs from her from time to time or lose her and start looking for a proper relationship.
And I quote [quote] she had a toxic side to her personality[/quote]

Time to block and walk......
saintsong · 41-45, F
Sometimes you just have to cut ties, it will sting for a while, you'll want her back but you must discipline yourself it is a toxic and she is selfish and wants to dominate her boyfriend and you as well... if she loved you she would love those whom you loved and be happy for your new relationship, as it is she is jealous/toxic I don't know you decide...do you like this new woman if so you would protect her...Sometimes God closes a door and opens a window!
G0ddess · F
Wow you need a mental reset 😵
Authoritarian · 22-25, M
@G0ddess yeah, still searching for a way out.
She can't decide whom you should go out with. She is ex and doesn't have any rights to tell you what to do. If she wanted you she would been with you. Go tell her that.
stay away from crazy women. your life will be better for it.
PinkMoon · 26-30, F
Why do you hate yourself?
Authoritarian · 22-25, M
@PinkMoon I might be a bad person.
SW-User
Cutting toxic people off is necessary to move on
Zonuss · 41-45, M
People who are so quick to play the [b]victim[/b] often victimize others. Manipulation can be a defense mechanism for the weak. Trauma bonding relationships usually end us how it started. In trauma. Do yourself a favor. Stay away from dramatic people. You'll enjoy life more when you do. 🙂

 
Post Comment