I'm 65, my wife 70. She's been emotionally/verbally abusive all the years we've been together. She came from a large, emotionally dysfunctional family where there was also alcohol addiction and she has that, too. Married 20 years, lived together 3. No children. I am also on OOTF but I was recently diagnosed with C-PTSD and started on Prazosin for sleep problems, as well as to reduce anxiety, irritability, anger and intrusive thoughts. It's working. I also have treatment resistant ultra rapid cycling bipolar. Lost my sexual function several years ago, which I've been told is a symptom of the abuse.
I need to get out of this marriage but holding a job with severe bipolar is daunting, to say the least. My wife is prone to horrendous emotional meltdowns when she feels afraid that I might leave her. She reverts to being the nine year old whose mother died and her world was blown apart. All I feel is sorry for her. I would love to love her and protect her, but she has hurt me in ways that I never thought I could be hurt by someone who professed, and still professes, to love me. She has all the money and owns the house and a vacation condo. I'm not suicidal, but I definitely feel trapped and hopeless.
I need to get out of this marriage but holding a job with severe bipolar is daunting, to say the least. My wife is prone to horrendous emotional meltdowns when she feels afraid that I might leave her. She reverts to being the nine year old whose mother died and her world was blown apart. All I feel is sorry for her. I would love to love her and protect her, but she has hurt me in ways that I never thought I could be hurt by someone who professed, and still professes, to love me. She has all the money and owns the house and a vacation condo. I'm not suicidal, but I definitely feel trapped and hopeless.