soulforge said:
also i realize how stupid i was for putting up with bad behaviour.. this is a mistake i never ever intend to repeat again,
On one hand, our situations seem very different, almost opposite and yet the root of our pain all comes down to how our egos have been manipulated.
In my case, my ex has built my ego beyond anything I've ever known. She made me feel like the most amazing and attractive man in the world...hell she even told me that. She made me feel loved, supported my goals, hung on my every word and craved my company with all her heart, was blown away by the sex and how attracted to me she felt. I made her so happy, I was the centre of her universe and she wanted to tell the world how she felt.
That's one hell of a high for my ego! It made me feel so loved and appreciated...it made me feel like a god! It was beyond any drug I've ever tried. Life was so beautiful! But like most drugs, when it wears off, the come down is fvcking unbearable! It feels like nothing life has to offer will ever come close to that experience again and so everything in life just feels pointless.
The obvious problem is that I became dependent on her for that high feeling and therefore she became the centre of my universe, my whole reason for feeling good about myself and about life.
However, in your case, she has damaged your ego and made you feel worthless, made you feel like you cannot handle life or being with anyone better...and made you dependent on her. You can do better, we know you can and on a rational level you know you can, but it's going to take time for you to rebuild your ego and you confidence so that you believe it.
Many years ago I was obese. I was picked on, ridiculed and women found me repulsive. I've overcome it now and got in very good shape, people are attracted to me and respect me...but there is still part of me that is uncertain and still thinks like that fat kid I used to be. And that's how it is for you. Part of you still feels like a doormat, because you lived that way for so long.
We must both understand that it all comes down to our wounded egos and we need to rebuild ourselves as individuals, from the inside out, rather than trying to find external means to give us that ego high or relief.