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years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

Hello SANE folk, I am beside myself because in a very heated argument after 4 years of emotional abuse, I just hit my just -turned -18 year old son. I can't believe I did it and can't see any point going on now, as he will never forgive me. I also pushed him once before about four years ago when he was refusing to stop punching holes in the wall over anger about I didn't know what, and its been four years of silent treatment since then (he doesn't talk to me, has only whispered for four years) school refusal, weekly punching up or kicking in the house (22 holes I have to gyprock repair,) many rules ie I am not allowed to look at him ever, be in the same room as him ever, he has punched me when I woke him up per his request, if I go to the toilet in the night he screams at me that I am disturbing him, he has woken me up to tell me that he will slice my throat - he has sprayed hair spray in my face and tipped juice on my head on the rare occasions when I have been allowed to drive him somewhere (at speed, on the freeway) there are weekly if not daily threats to take his own life with long calls to the police to track him, him often not coming home until late and then screaming at me, heartbreaking refusal to let me in, let me apologise. I am a single parent of three, working full time to support every wish of these children. I take anti-depressants which I stopped taking as they were interfering with another medication, and have mainly 'sucked up' this abuse from morning until night saying' Yes, you're right,' and 'Yes, I'm sorry.' (I think he is angry with his dad, who he hasnt seen in 5 years, who left out of the blue saying he didn't like that I wore odd socks and had found someone else....for it then to be found out that he had had 6-7 relationships throughout our 17 year marriage.) On this day 4 days ago when I lost it and hit my son, it was in response to my son having said that I was not to see him at all on his birthday as he knew I would 'be myself', and this would force him to commit suicide (I didn't and don't know what he meant about 'being myself.'.)So whilst his brother and sister gave him presents I sat in a car park for two hours. When I returned I put some presents and a cake near him. In the middle of the night he woke me up screaming that I had ruined his birthday because I had given him food as a present. (He had not explained this rule before, and the one act of family love he had practised was buying us interesting little food items, so I thought it would be ok.) He screamed that he had thrown everything in the river. I had chosen these things with love and care and had just had enough of the unfairness. My adult daughter has left the house on this issue, herself aghast and very judgemental that I would hit him. (I am also coping with menhorragia, meaning I am being treated for anemia- but the treatment has had me menstruating for 45 days , very draining, scary and I don't know when it will stop, if at all.) I keep thinking of the medications I have in my glovebox and wondering how many of them I need to be at peace. No-one will ever forgive me on this - even though he has practised so much violence on me- and can not see how pushed I have been. I know I shouldn't have hit him, but I did, and have tried to offer apologies but they will not hear them. (He never apologises to me for what he does to me - once, I crashed the car in response to him spraying me in the face with hair spray and he just got out of the car and went to his drama class.) Yet they continue to live in my house and have me cart wood, prepare all meals, provide electricity, computers, internet. There seems to be only one way out of this.

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In response to: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

Re: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

@Lesleen

It never ceases to amaze me how much domestic violence is carried out against people on this forum. It really is a national health emergency.

When Bandy X Lee said family is the third most violent social setting apart from the military and the police she aint kidding - and she would know

It is completely normal to lash out when you have been provoked for so long. Man you have been through a lot. I went through something similar for 20 years. The problem with abusers is they can dish it out but cannot take it. What you have clearly been through is called domestic violence. I am sure one of the moderators here will give you the number for RESPECT. I think it is a service for DV victims.

Have you heard of DARVO

Deny

Attack

Reverse

Victim

Offender

Look it up and familiarize yourself with it. It is time for some firm boundaries. You have capitulated to some toxic behavioural patterns, and the more you capitulate, the worse it gets. It is clear he will punish you even if you follow the "rules". He is just looking for a reason to justify punishment. They never take accountability for their actions, they instead project all the blame on to their victims.

Seems your cheating ex husband was a serial manipulator as well. Look up books by Shahida Arabi on narcissistic abuse for clarity. https://self-care-haven.com/tag/narcissism/

My mum died a horrible death and a lot of her health problems were due to caring for her abuser son. The mother or younger siblings bear the brunt of mental pathology (dark triad) which drives abuse. "Not all abusers are narcissists but most of them are" - Elizabeth Mika.

Out of control mental pathology or bad behaviour requires expert psychiatric intervention, but is is really hard to get. We were lucky my brother had psychosis and it justified calling the catt team. It took them 6 years to rehabilitate his bad behaviour.

I swear there needs to be a domestic violence section at sane.

In response to: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

Re: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

Hey @Lesleen, thank you for sharing your experiences here on the Forums you have demonstrated your strength and courage by openly talking about what you have been going through. It sounds like you have been experiencing some domestic and family violence with your son and nobody has the right to make you feel threatened or that your life is at risk. I encourage you to reach out to https://www.1800respect.org.au/ Call 1800 737 732 and speak about this further so you can understand what steps you can take to stay safe and protect yourself and your property from your son. Here you can search for a DFV service in your area: https://www.respect.gov.au/services/.

The Forums are a safe space to talk about this with a community of peers who might have similar situations or experiences to support you. I am a little concerned for your safety and would like to know what you think about speaking with someone to take these matters further to ensure that you are safe. If you are ever in immediate danger you can call 000 and request the police to come and handle a situation and it sounds like you have already had some involvement with them.

Please, let me know your thoughts.

Thank you again for sharing here on the Forums!

Take care

RiverSeal

In response to: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

Re: years of frustration so sadly resulting in violence

@Lesleen @Appleblossom @Bow @LostAngel @Emelia8 @RiverSeal

Lesleen: Here is a video you might find helpful, please note your boundaries may not be respected, ensure you are safe. Call RESPECT 1800 737 732 for more support. Let your GP know as well, they might be able to help you.

When You "ABANDON" The Narcissist, They Will Do This To TRAP YOU! | Dr. Ramani - YouTube

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