julietsierra -> RE: Twisted Behavior (11/24/2007 9:35:44 AM)
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The difference between abuse and what we do, as others have said, is consent. However, often that consent is hard to read from the outside looking in. So, my take on all this is to be a friend. Be a friend whether the abuse is occurring or not. Be a friend in good times and in bad and make sure that those who call you a friend know you can be counted on in times of trouble as much as when times are good. And then, stand back. I know it goes against the grain of all those who would rush in to help those being abused, but stand back anyway. Be there if, when and should the abused person ever ask for help. Other than that, get your nose out of the relationships of others. Now, this isn't just me being heartless. From personal experience, when people start putting their two cents in on the merits of someone's relationship, what they do is drive that person farther back into the very situation they may be trying to get out of. Often in abusive situations, the abused person vacillates for a long long LONG time before finally being able to make the decision to leave. I KNOW we all want to help and just "know" that if they could just see things the way we on the outside see things, they'd walk away and never look back, so in the interests of helping this person, we in essence, do the very same thing the abuser is doing...we try to encourage, cajole, and force through our "helpful" comments them to leave. They start defending the very person they know is wrong and that just prolongs their stay with that person. Personally, what REALLY worked for me was when everyone STOPPED listening. You see, when they were listening, I'd use them to get through the rough initial instances of each time it happened...when the shock and the fear was the greatest. After that, when I'd calmed down some, I would come to the realization that I could try again, give him just one more chance. When people stopped listening, there was no one to calm me down, no one to reason with, no one to hear me. That meant the only person that was going to help me was me...and when I realized THAT.. after I stopped being angry at being "cast adrift" by those who genuinely loved me, I realized that I'd run out of options and for some reason, from there, the decision was easy. So...aside from being someone's friend, regardless of the situation (good or bad)... I don't think we should be informing anyone regarding the basis of their relationship. We should recognize that we have two ears and only one mouth and use them accordingly. We should listen to them and make sure they know they can count on someone out there.. and beyond that, we shouldn't do a thing. juliet
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