Using continued Isolation as a Defense When unnecessary
I don't know all the rules yet. I'm new to this, but I'm struggling.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Child abuse
Suicide
Animal abuse
Domestic Violence
I feel like I bounce from one abuse to another. And I don't realize I'm doing it until I'm too far in. And if it's not bouncing between abuse it's total isolation.
First it was childhood physical and emotional abuse as well as a healthy dose of neglect. In the name of taking care of my siblings everything important to me was sidelined because I was the black sheep for some unknown reason. Then my first bout with domestic violence in the form of a cruddy room mate. I dealt with everything up to her trying to drug my food and a blatant admission of abusing my dog. Having no other option I moved back to family for some continued childhood trauma. Physical violence from a brother, gaslighting manipulation and threats of unfounded legal trouble from my sister, and continued violence from my father. I did the homeless thing and wen to my isolation of me and my dog for a couple months. Once I got back under a roof the first thing I d was get into another domestic violence situation with a new boyfriend. The relationship ended with a month of threatened suicide every time I turned around. If I was out late if I was in early. Anything and everything. When I tried to reestablish contact with any of my family after a couple years of no contact, my abusive sister used her own alleged issues as a reason that I should forgive her and then started right up again with her antics.
The only time I am safe is in isolation. I have 2 friends that live hours away. And that's it. And they're in different timezones so I rarely have any interaction outside work.
I just don't know how to learn to trust again. And I don't know how to thrive safely without being completely isolated. Does anyone else have issues with forming anysort of relationships that are safe? I don't know if I've ever had any safe relationship that has been anything more than a coworker or superficial aquaitence.
@BrokenWingFlight
Hey! Welcome to the trauma support subcommunity. It's so brave of you to come on here and open up about such painful experiences *offers hugs*![]()
It's okay to experience trust issues and feel like everyone you ever trusted has wronged you. In the aftermath of abuse, it was difficult for me to form relationships and trust without a nagging voice at the back of my head. You are not alone in how you feel. Survivors of abuse are often scared to express their needs and emotions. Fear of rejection and feeling like showing emotions are a sign of weakness are all thoughts that may run through your mind (and it's okay to experience these).
Learning to trust yourself is the first step towards trusting others. ![]()
Here are some resources which might prove to be helpful:
https://www.jimhopper.com/topics/child-abuse/consequences-of-child-abuse/trust/
https://blog.melanietoniaevans.com/how-to-restore-your-trust-again-after-narcissistic-abuse/
https://aspacetoreflect.com/2019/05/22/learning-to-trust-yourself-after-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship/
Hope they help!
Take care
~Sierra