he asked me if there is help for him

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#1 Jun 7 - 10AM
Anonymous (not verified)
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he asked me if there is help for him

A while back we were talking. He said he knows after he is abusive to me that he shouldn't have done that. But at the time he is very angry and he feels he is right and that I don't care about him. He said he would get help if there was any. But we have been to marriage councling, individual, group, self help(Dr.phil,etc), christian councling on and on. But most of these counclers didn't seem very bright. They didn't get it. They were ignorant to what was happening. They weren't educated on abuse or narcs or really anything it seemed. I know I sound like I am still bargaining. But I really am trying to except that its over, I just wonder if "Dr Jeckell"could get help while he is in a rational state of mind?

Jun 8 - 4PM
grossot
grossot's picture

No. No help for him. Leave

No. No help for him. Leave it to God. U r enabling him by entertaining his requests for NS. Never go back! nolongercontrolled
Jun 8 - 3AM
sean157 (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

New, Hello..

Hello Leah, I was lucky, I was not married to my NPD and she had not moved in yet. She was moving out of LA up to SJ in an attempt to get her out of the environment and get her into CCC (Cristian Counseling Center's) group. I was taking notes as back then I didn't even know about PD's, but working in a detail specific trade before I started to take meticulous notes on the questions or comments I would make and her reactions. She projected me a liar and split. Feed me BS after BS and never once in the 12months of dating and 2 years of being friends ever went... I take it as all a manipulation and she never intended to head into Therapy... So in my experience the way I read your post is keep trying... If he is showing up, however flaky, I'd keep trying if I could endure... Just had a head clearing session today with my Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and one question I asked (my father is BPD) is the act of just showing up enough to tell you that "I'm" ok? He agreed, as my father has gone through so many employees ect professionally, now when he needs to go in Mr. B&W cannot drag himself in... Similar to the Ex... Take it as a huge positive... Is that not showing conscience? Sean
Jun 9 - 12AM (Reply to #19)
Suzie (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Hi

Hi Sean and thanks. I am not interested in trying with him anymore. I miss him (part of him) I love him. But I am not willing to stick around to be his victom should this attempt at getting help fail. I do however wish with all my heart that there was help for him and that he could change. Mostly for the sake of my children. I grew up the child of a Narc father and it is a very lonely and painful experiance when they abandon you and I so don't want that for my kids(and for him). Leah
Jun 8 - 8AM (Reply to #18)
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

incorrect

Take it as a huge positive... Is that not showing conscience? Sorry Sean that's incorrect. It's simply another in the bag of tricks to try to hoover her back into the relationship. Conscience? not. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/
Jun 8 - 5AM (Reply to #17)
finallydone
finallydone's picture

I disagree. All due respect

I disagree. All due respect to sean as his comments seem compassionate and well intentioned...your guy has shown violent tendencies and this maneuver seems in synch with typical abusive cycles. Please think carefully leah before you try this. You've come so far. As I write this, I just received the anticipated email asking "if we really have to cut this off all together?" And this is after a week of calling me a liar and abusive and not a human being and saying he was blocking my email. Which, by the way, was a lie obviously. I know when my answer is no, he will just start the nasty campaign again and probably mess up this refincing round AGAIN. He doesn't care about anybodys feelings but his own. I feel your pain leah, but please be careful.
Jun 7 - 8PM
Suzie (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

I know, I know

I know you all are right. I do get it on an intellectual leval. But just writting him off when he is asking for help feels like burying someone alive. Someone I love. Someone I have been devoting my entire life to help for almost 11 years now. I am overjoyed to see that monster who abuses me leave my life. But I am deeply grieving over the part of him that I believed loved me back. Leah
Jun 8 - 12AM (Reply to #12)
Suzie (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Barbara

this sucks. Not the happy ending they promise you is it?
Jun 8 - 7AM (Reply to #13)
Lisa E. Scott
Lisa E. Scott's picture

Leah

My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry, but it's best you find out sooner rather than later. He sees you as a friend? Wow. How hurtful. I was just talking to a friend of mine who dated and slept with a guy for years who said to her in the end, "You know, I never had any romantic feelings for you." WTF? He slept with her for years, but never had any romantic feelings for her? Then what was it all about? Like I've said, narcissists separate women into two categories. You are the mother of his children, the madonna and he will never see you as anything different or anything more. You married this man, Leah. You weren't looking for another friend. You were looking for a soul mate, a partner, a teammate and he is none of those things. He is "friends" with you? WTF? I know how much it hurts and I'm so sorry, but this is further validation that you are doing the right thing by leaving him. Stay strong and know we are here for you. Big Hugs, Lisa
Jun 9 - 12AM (Reply to #14)
Suzie (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Lisa

Thank you. You know I just realized something... this message board is the first time I have ever recieved empathy for the abuse I have experianced. I have been begging him for years just to care and he never has. But I have been caring enough for both of us. Hearing that you all can relate and that you care means so much to me. It is, to me, an essential part of the healing process. I know this sounds crazy but I am having a really hard time making the shift from caring about him to caring about me. Thank You Leah
Jun 9 - 12AM (Reply to #15)
Lisa E. Scott
Lisa E. Scott's picture

You're Welcome

Thank YOU, Leah. What a wonderful post you made. That is exactly the vision I have for this website and want to thank all of you for helping me make it happen!
Jun 7 - 10PM (Reply to #11)
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Leah

Please remember: - the person you loved doesn't exist and NEVER DID, it was a lure... like the kind you use to catch fish... pretty & nice but not real - ask yourself, would he do the same for you? Doubt it. In fact, he hasn't. - this is another HOOVER maneuver. Not anything real that he would really follow through. If he wants help he needs to find it HIMSELF and go FOR HIMSELF... and not dangle it out in front of you. You can pray for him - FROM A DISTANCE! Call the lawyers 2morrow and don't procrastinate on that anymore. QUOTE FROM A SURVIVOR: “If a narcissist throws the “bad childhood” stuff at you, keep in mind he might be trying to get sympathy and make an excuse for his atrocious behavior towards you and/or others. If we let these people make us feel sorry for them, we ultimately end up in the submissive position again...just what they want. I can “pity” them yes... but I refuse to shed another tear over the tragedies suffered by who is now, only a shell of a person.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/
Jun 7 - 4PM
Lisa E. Scott
Lisa E. Scott's picture

Leah

I wish I had better news for you, but I agree with everyone's sentiments here. Narcissists cannot change. This is who they are and always have been. It's engrained in their psyche. Here's another copy and paste from my book that I hope addresses your question: Days later, it was time for me to see his therapist alone. At the begin- ning of our session, I asked her, “Andrew has Narcissistic Personality Dis- order, doesn’t he?” She looked at me, paused, nodded her head, and said under her breath but loud enough for me to hear, “Most definitely,” and then proceeded to tell me, “I don’t like putting labels on people, but yes, Andrew has NPD.” I asked her if she thought our marriage had a chance and if I should continue to try to fix things between us. She explained that NPD is a personality disorder, such as borderline personality disorder and someone with such a problem can rarely be changed. She said the best we could do is continue meeting with her as we had been, and she could tell him what he needed to do to appear more caring and compassionate. I wasn’t ready to give up and did a great deal of research on the topic. I found a therapist who was an expert in personality disorders and wrote her dissertation on narcissism. Instead of proving Andrew’s therapist wrong, she confirmed all of my fears. A personality disorder, such as NPD, is a pattern of behavior that begins in childhood. Unlike other behaviors that can be modified, the behaviors of someone with a personal- ity disorder are part of his or her character or personality. This means he or she cannot change, and if you desire to continue the relationship with this person, you will need to make the changes necessary to take better care of yourself. I realized I could no longer be with someone who was simply acting out emotions to maintain the status quo. I could no longer live a lie. I wanted the real thing. I wanted to be with someone who genuinely loved me for me and found joy in making me happy because he wanted to, not because he was being instructed on how to do so by a therapist. This is when I decided I could choose to live my life in a loveless marriage with someone I knew was incapable of change, or take the steps necessary to re-create my life and move on. It was at this point I made the difficult decision to file for divorce.
Jun 7 - 3PM
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Carolyn

very interesting! My "go to" guy on pathology is Dr. Robert Hare at the Univ. of B.C. in Vancouver, Canada. His website www.hare.org is very well set up. He's supposed to give a speech in NYC later this year and I hope I can go. An excellent read is his book 'WITHOUT CONSCIENCE' There is all sorts of MRI information, genetic components and so on. Also, if these people are ALLOWED and ENCOURAGED to be this way LONG enough in childhood - their brains change permanently. Yes - PERMANENTLY. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/
Jun 7 - 3PM
Carolyn
Carolyn's picture

There is a lot of clinical

There is a lot of clinical and scientific information coming out of Medical Schools in the US and Canada about the physical reasons for narcissistic and personality disordered behavior. McGill University and UCLA have websites where you can check on their research or google. Basically what I have read is that there is a lack of cellular development in a part of the anterior lobe of the narcissists brain. They have a limited range of emotions and act like a 4 year old. They rage, manipulate, insult, tantrum but they don't have a range of positive emotions. They lack empathy, sympathy, loyalty, understanding. They are confusing because they have normal adult intellectual intelligence but their emotional intelligence is child-like. If his intellect can dictate and control his child-like emotions maybe something more stabile would happen in his relationships. I think Lisa would know more about this. I have worked for many narcissists and was married to one and my father was one and I always saw the exact same pattern, they insulted and alienated everyone around them, were bewildered why they had such terrible emotional upsets with people, and around age 60 just self-destructed all over the place in family, job, career, everywhere. I saw this happen so many times that it couldn't be just a psychological disorder. It was too ritualized and too exactly the same. the only thing that ever worked for me was Lisa's No Contact rule.
Jun 7 - 8PM (Reply to #6)
malloryforest
malloryforest's picture

Why do most of them self destruct

Why do most of them self destruct around the age 60?????
Jun 7 - 10PM (Reply to #7)
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

because

can you see one of these idiots carrying the charade on past 60-65? Some do though! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/
Jun 7 - 3PM
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Leah

Honey - this is a HOOVER MANUEVER. There is NO HELP for these guys. None. Anyone who tries to tell you there "is good" within them is LYING. Don't forget, the Devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he doesn't exist. Their BRAINS are different and they are INCURABLE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyE7SCK_OBQ He's found the SYMPATHY PLOY he needs now, Leah - that you might just BELIEVE he can get help. He can't. And even IF he could - he wouldn't stick with it. So stop stop stop! More for you to read: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com/2006/11/couples-counseling-marriage-counseling.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/
Jun 7 - 11AM
quietude (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Leah

Marriage counseling doesn't work for abusers/narcs. Barbara has some good information as to why this is. They're never in a rational state of mind, they only appear to behave to others just long enough to fool them or get their narc supply. What you're feeling is normal, we've all been there. Hope that by some miracle our narc is special and is able to change. The sooner I realized this was not possible, and educated myself as to why, the better off I was in progressing in my healing. The direction of accepting it's over is the right path to be on...hugs to you!
Jun 7 - 10AM
RenewD
RenewD's picture

Getting help

Nope Leah. They are incurable. They'll go to counseling to make it look like they are trying, and attempt to win you back. They may even fool you enough into believing they are "cured" that you go back to them. But they WILL return to their own behaviors, just as a dog will go back to it's own vomit... Lisa writes in her book about how her exNH went to counseling. The counselor told her that he will never be cured, but will only learn what is acceptable behavior. In order for a change to be made, their reasoning and thoughts behind the behavior must be changed, and that can never happen with an N. They can never learn to empathize, so they cannot sustain their good behavior or be healthy for anyone to be around. ~Denise~
Jun 10 - 10AM (Reply to #2)
Barbara (not verified)
Anonymous's picture

Wake Up From the Nightmare After Divorcing A Narcissist

Being married to a narcissist is a painful emotional experience with someone who always puts his/her needs above everyone else. Some spouses know that it was a mistake from the beginning. They cannot pinpoint that this person with whom they share their life is a narcissistic personality. In the beginning most of us are dazzled, almost hypnotized by the narcissistic partner. He or she is often highly accomplished professionally. He has finely honed social skills, radiant self confidence and tremendous drive. There are always clues to the real personality beneath the very attractive package that most people overlook---the self absorption, obsession with the perfect outer image, flashes of rage when you disagree with them, a flurry of demands, cruel remarks thrown out at random. The manipulations, betrayals, lies, subterfuges build up over the months and years. There is a wish on the part of the partner to make the marriage work, especially if children are involved. The non-narcissist keeps looking at herself/himself for fault or deficiency. Finally, the great divide along the marital road appears. Out of nowhere the narcissistic spouse announces that the marriage is over, the divorce papers have already been filed and he has made specific plans for new living arrangements. The abandoned partner is hit with a massive body blow. The emotional shock is breathtaking. A cycle of disbelief, numbness and confusion begins and mercilessly repeats itself throughout the hours, days and weeks after the divorce. Some people feel that they don't know who they are anymore. They fear that they have lost their identities. Others believe that this is all an illusion and the narcissist will return and all will be well. Ultimately, reality hits its mark. He is not coming back; he is gone. Each person awakens from the aftermath of divorcing a narcissist in his or her individual way. One of the most important steps is to be compassionate and patient with yourself----no recriminations or judgments about what you could have done to save the marriage. You were involved with a person who is incapable of having any intimate relationships. This is your loss and your grief, not theirs. Allow yourself to cry and to grieve this great loss and to be angry, even enraged. Find expression for these powerful feelings through skilled professional therapy, support groups, and close friends who are capable of empathy. In some cases, family can offer valuable support. Become aware of your basic needs for rest, sleep, and healthy food that will sustain you. Use positive escapes (movies, books on tape, music you love, experiencing Nature. Do not rush. Slow down--pay attention to your breath: inhaling and exhaling in the moment.. If you are physically healthy or have clearance from your doctor, find a mode of exercise that works specifically for you. What are the essentials of your day? Write them down. If you cannot complete them at first, start with small steps. Say to yourself: I am doing my best. Making the effort counts. I will not make judgments about my performance. Waking up after a life altering event like a divorce is a process not a product. As you move through each step, you are redefining yourself, re-creating your own unique identity. Linda Martinez-Lewi, Ph.D. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free articles & information for abuse victims: http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com Effective Coaching for Victims of Pathologicals http://one2one4victims.webs.com/