Yo Tick,
This woman hit you, and she hit you HARD. And you went down...but you DIDN'T go "out". An ultimate AFC would still be at the stage where he's wallowing around on the floor in complete self-pity-------but YOU are not.
Sure, you can blame her for a hell of a LOT of it----and you'd probably be right. But your inner-maturity is shining through to many of us here evidenced by your growing acceptance of the role you also have played in your own misfortunes. But take heart, because this is indeed the beginning of a distinguished road you are on...this fukked up, raggedy-assed pathway to a hopefully, "better" life.
Yes, for now, you have reached the level of ANGER. And not "just" anger, but righteous INDIGNATION. And let's look at the word "indignation" for a moment. The spelling of the word itself gives us clues to it's meaning:
The prefix "in' means NOT, while the compound-suffix that comprises the the rest of the word "dignation" seems to speak to the action or the "condition" of being DIGNIFIED. So in a sense, your anger stems from a recognition, an epiphany, no-----A REVELATION that you have now become fully AWARE that how you were being treated while in relationship with this woman was NOT DIGNIFIED.
And only a MAN who is on the path of truly FINALLY loving "himself" respects himself enough to begin drawing lines in the sand----in a concerted effort to protect HIS OWN best interest for a goddamned change.
I commend you for taking that step, soldier. AND you should commend YOURSELF, as well. And as the other brothers have said, ANGER is not the realm for you get so comfortable with that you are tempted to relax therein FOREVER, but rather, ANGER is a tool you can use. It is a WEAPON-------hot to the touch----hot enough for you to use it's fire like a fuel, OR A FORGE, to shape, form, and fashion a BETTER life for yourself-----one in which your ex-wife WILL NOT play any significant role.
You see, when a woman (THE WRONG WOMAN----especially those in the totally self-serving, manipulating, castrating, Biitch category) loses respect for you, she will only see you from that point on as a toy to be used and played with for her own savage amusement.
And BECAUSE you had a past lapse in judgment and decided to be open with a woman like this unwisely-----WITHOUT her having legitmately earned the right to know who you are "inside", basically what you have mistakenly done is emotionally UNDRESS in front of an emotional RAPIST.
MOST of us have made this mistake at some point or another----LEARN FROM THIS, but only choose to learn this mutherfukking lesson ONCE.
Because now, with your ex-wife's TRUE nature having been revealed and running rampant, her ONLY aim seems to be to keep poking, prodding, and pushing your buttons----keeping you in a state of constant confusion due to being on an emotional rollercoaster. And I wouldn't doubt that on a certain level, she is ENJOYING seeing you flail about helplessly out of control.
STOP BEING HER FUKKING TOY!
YOUR mission is to use the fiery feelings inside of you (this ANGER) NOT to launch an ATTACK, but to plan a strategic RETREAT.
And it BEGINS by consciously making efforts to decisively, desensitize, and dismantle the "buttons" that your ex-wife has been so routinely "pushing" for years. You must begin to de-program yourself from "reacting" to her.
And you do this by mentally and emotionally linking so much PAIN to the very idea of being with her that you can hardly STAND IT---all the while, simultaneously linking so much PLEASURE mentally and emotionally to the very idea of your new single life WITHOUT her that you are absolutely fukking GIDDY with excitement and joy.
Because when you can CHANGE the way you think of her, you will change what she means to you. And when you have successfully CHANGED the way you view your life without her into A LIFE filled with images of self respect, positivity, and HOPE-------then a brave, AND BRIGHT new future for you has BEGUN.
Peace to you...one day----and SOON.