And so it begins...Spinning's 12 month ascent from hell

“That which is to give light
Must endure burning.”
---Viktor Frankel

One day you wake up and you’re a skeleton.
You want to paste back on the substance that was you but you can’t find it in the ashes.
You reach in and pull out dust.
This is when you begin to understand that this is somehow the truth you were meant to find as a little girl who just wanted to be loved. This experience, this dance with the devil that scaled you down to the bones happened because it needed to. All of the things that brought you to the dance floor in the first place must be examined, turned over, and illuminated. You so want to find the light. You’ve been lost in the dark for so long...

This is when the little voice whispers, wimpers, mumbles, rumbles.
This is when you rise...

He walks across your path and you’re not ready. Not expecting it. You know a little bit about relationships—you’ve had a few of some significance—and you sort of remember what it felt like to be paid attention to.
This person is paying attention. A lot of it. More attention than you’d ever been paid and it feels a little like waking up. Something inside you stirs. You do not kow you are waking into a nightmare.
You do not sign on to be a specimen in this person’s petri dish. You are oblivious to the great experiment that is being conducted on your entire life. You don’t know you are The Next Project. The complete dissection that’s taking place just feels like the attention you’ve longed for since you were a little girl. For once you feel really, really special to someone. You don’t know that someone is The Evil Master in the ultimate sci-fi movie and that he is attempting to craft the perfect Stepford woman. You don’t know any of this because his mouth curves around so many pretty words. He lays them at your feet while he’s messing with your head, but to you it just feels like love.
This person becomes all consuming. In the meantime, you are being consumed...

Skeletons don’t make very interesting partners. There’s nothing left for the masked man to chip away at. Somehow, he makes it your fault that rather than create a perfect Stepford woman he created a zombie. Numb. Half dead. All the hoops you jumped through, all the never-ending game changes, all the confusion and the silence and the sobbing and the confounding “you-are-my-soulmate-I-can’t-live-without-yous” have your head spinning. You don’t know what to believe, but you know you don’t believe that any more. He tries, but you find there is nothing left to shock, hurt, terrorize or confuse. There is a hole in your chest big enough to drive a truck through and you don’t care. You don’t care about anything any more and you can’t hope for a miracle because you stopped believing you deserved one anyway...

...That’s when a miracle happens. The miracle is you have survived. You are alive. The evil master couldn’t steal the most precious thing; the Spirit that wants to rise and fill the gaping black hole he dug out one spoonful at a time. The Spirit of all of those who came before you, who allowed you to be here, who gave you life, who fought and struggled and fell down and rose again starts to whisper. They were fighters who overcame many horrible things. They are wispering to you, ‘Remember who you are.’ You hear it and you know you must honor them. This history of your DNA cannot be stolen. It’s locked into your cells and is yours alone. For that you realize you must honor yourself, too, for it’s a honor to be alive. And so you rise and it begins.

It starts at the stove. Every day after work you force yourself to cook yourself a good meal. Chopping the onions reminds you how miraculous food is. The miracle of a seed that grows into a plant that makes a flower that turns into a fruit that is made up of the sun and the rain and the soil of the earth. Life is a miracle and you start to cherish yours. In your ratty gray robe you chop and stir and think of the miracle in front of you. You don’t realize you’ve started to smile...

You start trying to shift the focus off of chaos and self-doubt onto the known reality of the miracles in front of you. You have to force it, literally hundreds of times a day, to stop allowing disorder and chaos to rule your thoughts and to make room for the gifts to rise to the forefront. The gift of waking up to another day. The gift of hands that can feel the soft fur of your cat. The gift of sound, your cat’s got the sweetest purr in the world and she gives it to you freely even as tears cascade onto her back. The gift of sight—the twinkling lights around your kitchen window make the room look cozy and you remember how much you love that room. It is YOUR kitchen and you can do whatever you want there now...

You go to work day after day. You can’t focus very well, but at least you’re there. You finally work up the courage to join a community you came across more than a year ago...when you first knew you were in a relationship with a Destroyer; when you realized you weren’t the crazy one and that what he was had a name, a diagnosis, and it was REAL! You didn’t join before because you were too paranoid. The vanishing master manipulator became so omnipresent in your life you thought he could read your mind and that he somehow knew your every move. You still feel that way, like joining and posting things about him and the “relationship” would be a betrayal! You laugh at the absurdity of that thought, and realize that if it weren’t for Lisa E. Scott and The Path Forward, you wouldn’t even know you had PTSD and were detoxing from six years of insidious brainwashing...

...You screw up your courage and click on join. You toss off two frantic sentences about why you want to join and pick the only name that seems fitting... “spinning.” You don’t even capitalize the first letter because you feel so small and weak. When you’re accepted, you start to Get it Out. You post and another miracle happens. People hug you with their words and keystroke symbols. People tell you things that make you feel better. People tell you things that make you feel worse. You listen to it all because you know you need to hear all of it. You pay attention. You learn. Before you know it, you’re shouting ALL IN CAPS that the SICK MF’ER TRIED REALLY HARD BUT HE COULDN’T TAKE YOU DOWN and you realize that you are, indeed, rising...
********
My dear, brave and committed sisters and brothers in healing and strength, if you have made it this far I thank you. This is my first “blog” attempt, something I began writing 12 months ago when I realized the choices I had were to either survive or evaporate into nothing. With the help of my sister (who had been in abusive relationship 20 years ago), my few but faithful and trusted friends, Lisa E. Scott and The Path Forward and Goldie and the Moderator Team, I haven’t just “survived,” I’ve begun to thrive. In the coming weeks I’d like to share my experiences with healing, the things I forced myself to do to get where I’m at today...this most significant day...12 months plus one day No Contact.

The “man,” as it turns out, did me a favor. The D & D was the best thing he ever did for me in the entire six years of hell I endured with him.

It is my hope that everyone here will one day look at the experience as necessary, healing, and a catalyst to true freedom, clarity, self-love and self-knowledge.

Most sincerely,
(determined to never again be) spinning

Jan 5 - 9AM
Sparrow
Sparrow's picture

Spinning beautifully!!!!

Spinning, this post is beautifully written, with love, honesty, and compassion. I enjoyed reading every word of it! Beautiful, simply beautiful!
Nov 25 - 7PM
fraidythecat
fraidythecat's picture

Small World

Such a small world we live in that so many of us have experienced what feels to be the same emotions. It's comforting, in a strange way, to not feel alone in them. And it's encouraging, in a good way, to see there is light on the other side. Thank you for your posts.
Nov 24 - 7AM
greengirl91
greengirl91's picture

Beautiful..I can`t describe

Beautiful..I can`t describe how your post made me feel, but I know one thing for sure..it gave me HOPE. Hope that one day, I will discover my wings and learn how to fly again. Ha, just like the song Blackbird from Paul McCartney :) Thank you so much for sharing, you are an inspiration!
Nov 19 - 8PM
Crazy Train
Crazy Train's picture

Love you, Spinning.

Thank you for sharing your personal journey. I am so happy that you are writing a blog. I have always followed your posts and am looking forward to the future ones. Congrats on making it through to the other side. Hopefully with help from you and the other kind folks on this site, I will be there this time next year. Hugs! Crazy Train
Nov 15 - 4PM
Dolphin
Dolphin's picture

Kudos!! Excellent

Wow, As I try to reply through my tears, all I can say is thank you for sharing and it is like you walked in my shoes. You put words to my feelings and have given me more reason to continue this fight for me. You are an inspiration!! I will visit and reread this post everyday if you dont mind. I still find myself with all the emotions although I am able to function which is a long way from from where I was. I fight my thoughts daily and am learning that the little girl in me who thought there was good in everyone and that no one delibrately hurts another was so wrong. The light in me is still there it is just really dim right now but every day of NC it gets a little brighter.It is kinda ironic, he use to tell me all the time "I am the light, what you seek is fire." He did try to destroy me and came really close, but thank God my inner strength and voice kicked in and I found this site. Looking forward to your next entry :)
Nov 13 - 4PM
brinamarie
brinamarie's picture

Brought me to tears

beautifully written. you're inspiring.
Nov 11 - 2PM
Pride and Shame
Pride and Shame's picture

Beautiful Spirit

Your beautiful spirit is singing in this piece. I hear it - others hear it. You have much to say, I can't wait to hear it! Please tell us about your healing. What do you do to quiet your mind? To hear your truth? What do you tell yourself? How have you de-programmed and de-toxed? How you have come to live and love your life and honor yourself so well? Congratulations, spinning. Your words are inspiring!!
Nov 10 - 2AM
freaked
freaked's picture

Spinning dearest...i have

Spinning dearest...i have goosebumps as i read through this post... omg... you have put in words the exact feelings i was getting... exact same sequence of events...the idealisation...how i succumbed..and then the cheating, lying, stealing....and the rest of the story. the best thing that happened was the d&d... strangely i was thinking the same last week. your post sends out positive thoughts and i thank you for helping me become mentally stronger. HUGS
Nov 10 - 1AM
lillymarch
lillymarch's picture

I love when you wrote: "You

I love when you wrote: "You have to force it, literally hundreds of times a day, to stop allowing disorder and chaos to rule your thoughts and to make room for the gifts to rise to the forefront." It's so true. 100 times a day. I'm down to about 10. Those first few months was a constant battle with my mind. I still can't believe how badly they tore us down. How life seemed so painful. How death seemed a gift. Its the minds focus. It's holding on to something, anything you can grasp to keep you in life's arms. And then everyday, every endless day, we get closer and closer to our true selves. Even though I'm still dealing with some unfinished financial and custody business with the N, I'm so much a better person. I'm stronger, happier, peaceful. I love life! I'm living. Thank you for this post! Such truth written in a beautiful way.
Nov 10 - 12AM
Lesleyeb
Lesleyeb's picture

Good for you

Dear spinning, I read my life in what you just said. It took me 20 years to finally realise (even though I knew in the beginning) that I was with a MONSTER. For the last 12 months took its toll on me, but today I am happy, content and in a good space. I'm surrounded by people who love and respect me. People who have always been there but weren't allowed to be part of my life. I'm grateful for them. I've moved on and it feels good. My MONSTER on the other hand is lost and is surrounded by elements who validate his total being/existence. So, I don't hate him (like I did in the beginning) I pity him. Good for you...
Nov 9 - 11PM
Lisa E. Scott
Lisa E. Scott's picture

Wow

OMG, Spinning - this is so beautiful. I am tearing up with goosebumps right now! I love this: "Before you know it, you’re shouting ALL IN CAPS that the SICK MF’ER TRIED REALLY HARD BUT HE COULDN’T TAKE YOU DOWN and you realize that you are, indeed, rising..." Yes! Exactly! They tried, but they could not take us down! We are here, aren't we?! Together, we will help each other rise. We have been through hell and back, but we are now rising. We are WAKING UP and we are enlightened. Knolwedge is power. We are no longer denying our reality and hiding from life, but instead embracing it and enjoying life the way we deserve! Thanks for sharing this, Spinning. You have such an amazing way with words! xoxo ...and Happy 1 year Anniversary of No Contact!!!!! That's huge! Please share more with us on how you made it one full year!!!
Nov 9 - 8PM
las730
las730's picture

Love it!

Thank you! I look forward to your next blog :)
Nov 9 - 1PM
wannaletgo22
wannaletgo22's picture

Wow...amazing story. Thank

Wow...amazing story. Thank you.
Nov 9 - 10AM
nancyh
nancyh's picture

Spinning, congratulations on

Spinning, congratulations on your brilliant and heartwarming first blog posting. "You've come a long way baby!" Your posts and comments (& now blog) have helped me immensely on my own journey & have lifted me up in moments of despair. I love you like a sister. Nan.

Nan

Nov 9 - 12AM
newtothis
newtothis's picture

Spinning

I just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful and heart felt words. I cried for the first time in weeks, i felt stuck emotionally. Reading your brilliant words reminded me that i am worth fighting for, to continue going forward toward the life i deserve. Again i say THANK YOU. HUGS, Newtothis
Nov 8 - 8PM
Journey
Journey's picture

Absolutely beautifully

Absolutely beautifully written blog post Spinning! (I capitalize your name cause you are in no way small and weak!) Thank you for sharing this and for being who you are - such a wise and caring woman! Journey on... xoxo

Journey on...

Nov 8 - 8PM
rosedewittbukater
rosedewittbukater's picture

Spinning I celebrate with you!!

My God I feel like everything you wrote came straight out of me! I have thought every single thing you have written here, some many times over!! And what an eloquent and captivating writer you are. One year plus one! This is so amazing and I am rejoicing with you! Your words remind me of one of my favorite lines from a great movie, The Shawshank Redemption. There's only two things you can do. "GET BUSY LIVING OR GET BUSY DYING" Thank God you rose and chose life. All the best, your sister Rose :)
Nov 8 - 4PM
Mary90210
Mary90210's picture

Wow - beautiful!

I come here to read and be reassured. Today - I am inspired. Thank you, spinning!
Nov 8 - 11AM
darling.girl
darling.girl's picture

Simply beautiful. Simply

Simply beautiful. Simply true. I will show this to those who cannot understand what I went through. Finally, the words. Thank you.
Nov 8 - 2AM
Jelickuk
Jelickuk's picture

Thank God for this post

Thank God for this post today. It is my wedding anniversary and I feel such despair and self hatred...but your post was so very true and reminded me of the moments and minutes and even hours of peace I know now. Thank you
Nov 7 - 7PM
GeorgiaGirl
GeorgiaGirl's picture

Amazing!

spinning, I have read this 3 separate times since you posted it. Each time a different part has touched me. What a moving tribute to your 366 days of freedom! You have been a such a soothing voice to me during this excruciating process. You have brought reason, sanity and reality to my world every time I reach out. Thank you for being you, spinning (never again and an amazing contributor to this site)
Nov 7 - 4PM
Goldie
Goldie's picture

GREAT things come to those who wait

AND....I have been waiting for your first blog and while I was sure it was going to be a doozie, you have MORE than supassed my wildest imagination. Oh my dear sister in recovery, you are a gifted, brilliant, writer and here's to many more of your beautifully written words of widsom, encouragement, and real raw experience. Thank you for this and may I equate this with our futures and finding the right path for all of us. The right love for ourselves, the right love for another, and at long last keeping the toxic relationships out of our lives so that we as women, can live up to our OWN potentials and realize our OWN dreams. Thank you for this, it reached and touched me where the sun had lost it's shine. God bless, Goldie
Nov 7 - 3PM
Tigerlily
Tigerlily's picture

Spinning, this is wonderful!

I`m speechless (rare occurrence with me!). Moving, real, true and BEAUTIFULLY written. You could publish it! Great stuff. Did you know that in Mediaeval times if a serf ran away from his master and managed to stay free for a year and a day, he became a free man by law? SO glad you`re not spinning any more. xoxo Tigerlily
Nov 7 - 2PM
Winter
Winter's picture

I am so happy for you!

I wish you hapiness and joy, I wish you all the best that you can ever imagine. You are an inspiration. What I admire the most in you is your ability to stay strong, loving, generous, helping and empathic despite all the bad things you have been through. Congradulations with your huge achievement! Love Winter
Nov 7 - 1PM
Done sourcing
Done sourcing's picture

Congratulations on this

Congratulations on this milestone event in your life. It has been illuminating watching you grow as I have been here on site for the past 6 months or so! The work required to move on sometimes feels impossible and un-reachable by us mere mortals, but the huge effort pays rewards every single time. Not always in our time, nor in ways we could have possibly foreseen, but the willingness to walk through hell not knowing what it will look like on the other side is awesome to witness. Devastation is just a long word for being stripped clean, and made new. We all have the ability to start again, and it is so empowering to witness it in another kindred spirit! Love and lightness of being be there for you always, ds
Nov 7 - 7PM
Layla
Layla's picture

Oh my gosh I cryed all my mascara off at work!!

Spinning this is just beautiful! YAY YOU! 12 Months free! Thank you for sharing this with us and YES! I look forward to your future blogs!!! You can never know how thankful I am to you and this forum, I will never be able to express it!!! love~ Layla
Nov 7 - 12PM
Alissa
Alissa's picture

Beautiful Blog, Spinning! I

Beautiful Blog, Spinning! I could've continued reading on and on... !! Thanks for writing, Alissa
Nov 7 - 11AM
enough for me
enough for me's picture

Thank you

Your blog touched me so deep, I had to break half way through to recover and finsih reading, thank you for posting this. Thank you for staying and helping all of us in the beginning stages of healing.
Nov 7 - 11AM
Hunter
Hunter's picture

Spinning ,my beautiful

Spinning ,my beautiful friend.. We walked this path together.. And we survived .. Beautiful words of strength from a beautiful strong woman.. Hunter
Nov 7 - 10AM
Used
Used's picture

spinning

That is so POWERFUL, SO MOVING SO AWE INSPIRING.... The spinning i first knew on this board is going, the new spinning is here.....welcome welcome welcome.... sisters in need....sisters in deed.... love used xxxxxx