PART I: Never Mind. Seriously. Just Never Mind.

Where the hell are my headphones?  I need to retreat to a safe place!

Same shit, different day, new perspective on an old and growling beast.  I don't run from the things I have to address, but I also don't face them until I have my crap together either.  So when I find myself continuing to observe T's indifference, the disconnection despite his denial, I begin visualizing a much better life far from 'here.'  I wouldn't be the first woman to have the need from being freed from such damaging bonds.  Crap, but I feel like a caged animal at times.

He doesn't listen, which means I have to repeat 99% of anything and everything I say.  And what he hears, or says he hears, he remembers very little of, even of the most critical and important of things. No, he doesn't have a 'memory' problem--he has a SELECTIVE MEMORY problem.  Like many men, he's afflicted, and he will find himself on the outside FAST.  Well, to be honest, he's pretty much there already and is too damn self-centered and egocentric to notice. smh.  I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

So what happens when Mr. Man tunes out?  Well, the beginning part of the process is pretty self-evident, isn't it?  When a woman doesn't feel 'heard' she tends to speak "louder," though that doesn't mean volume-wise.  Ask to be heard.  Demand to be heard.  And then... eventually... doesn't care if 'he' hears or not because, by then, most likely someone else has come along who really is listening.  And before you 'go there' and think we're talking an affair, let me say THIS:  It is a human need to want to be heard, for someone to show they give a shit, and just because you find someone who listens, gives a shit... doesn't mean you're sleeping with them.

When you've wasted time on someone who doesn't bother to listen, hear, or acknowledge.. OR remember anything you say, it's only natural to stop talking to that person.  Funny thing about that, too, because it's always when you've given up, stopped talking, stopped sharing, and begin disconnecting that the other party decides they suddenly notice.  Doesn't usually fix the behavior, and it usually brings on board even more problems because that person suddenly feels 'needy' in the absence of what they once had.

On the flip-side of this is when you're dealing with a narcissist, the one who is constantly needy and making demands, unreasonable demands, while accusing you of not 'being there.'  Oh God, but that is an insane situation when it happens.  Lucky for me, T isn't much of a narcissist, and not a malignant one as I can see, but he's so self-centered that he's pretty incapable of being there for another person.  No joke.  Not kidding in the least.  He's clueless.

In my situation, especially at this point in treatment for the AIH, it would be nice to have someone ACTUALLY present.  Not sort of present, going through the motions of being present, but ACTUALLY PRESENT.  "Wish in one hand..." as my mom used to say.

On my own.  Okay.  Well, if you're not going to be there for me, then get out of my way!  Yes, I've told him this, point-blank.  He just decides that he IS there for me, though there's nothing really in his behavior that makes him 'there' for me.  I can't reconcile this at all.  Neither can he.  He can't explain, then says he 'understands,' which are simply mere words to me.  It's not like we live in separate households and have completely separated lives.  He's here, but he's NOT here.

It would be different, understandable if we lived in separate places entirely.  When you don't live with someone you have to allow them room and time to live their own life, to do what they need to do with regards to just everyday living.  That's just respectful.  But when you're in the same household and you're not there... that's an entirely different scenario altogether because you're supposed to be working together for at least some common goals, there to help one another, etc.

Give me some damn space!  Let me BREATHE, for crying out loud!  Indifference can be quite suffocating.  Has anyone ever noticed this?  Because I certainly have.  It's a lot like being trapped.  It really is.  Nothing looms larger in any room than an absent human being.  Yes, you can quote me on that.  It's how I feel, how I see it, and how I experience it.  "It" being living with someone who is completely unplugged and self-centered.  I feel like I'm suffocating...

There are times I need to talk, REALLY need to talk.  I'm still reeling from this recent diagnosis, and I'm confused and bewildered as to what to do, how to deal with the disease itself, the harsh and necessary treatment protocols, the uncertainty of the future, and I've no one to talk to about this.

Autoimmune Hepatitis is a RARE disease, so there's not a ton of people out there talking about it, sharing their stories, and so on.  There's not a ton of information on it, and even less as how to cope with it.  And here's the clincher... T has NO clue what this disease is about, how it can affect me over the course of my life, prognosis indicators... NOTHING at all.  Why?  Because he's not BOTHERED to learn anything about it.  He's absolutely CLUELESS about AIH.

What am I to think of that?.... heading to PART II to expound... and oh trust me, I feel a vent coming on...

Looking for that Anchor

I'm not completely unaware of my surroundings.  Everything around me lacks technicolor, true, but I'm still aware of what's here, and what's not here.  Having the awareness only changes how I approach any given task, every thought, every choice I have to make day to day.  Once I forego the usual self-talk and begin to listen to the silence the scenery changes a little.  But just a little.

Indifference continues to be the backdrop to life with T.  In a strange way, I've come about to a place where I'm more than okay with this.  He isn't going anywhere.  He's happy in his strange bliss.  He panics if I try to talk to him about how things really are, how I feel, what he's doing and how it affects my life in significant ways, and not good ways.  He panics in the sense that he isn't unhappy.  Weird, to me, how one person can be so unhappy while the other is... well, happy.  How does that even work?

Okay.  So I'm not going anywhere.  I do have times where I would give anything to be free of all of this.  And then there are times I'm happy.  Yes, yes.. it's not like I'm miserable 24/7 or anything.  Far from it.  I deal mostly with the AIH symptoms, the medication symptoms and withdrawal symptoms and all that involves.  But that's not what I'm talking about here.

I'm adrift and looking for an anchor to secure me in place.  I don't have my bearings right now.

So with 5% power left on this machine I'm leaving the conversation for another shot at it later, maybe when my thoughts are a little more cohesive.

....more coffee.  Yes, that's what I need right now.  More coffee....

I'll be back later, and hopefully I will make more sense than I have now. smh.

Overcast

So how's the weather?  Yes, at times this is probably the safest question to ask me.  When I don't have answers for myself, when the question concerns something that is beyond ridiculously difficult, I'm not always willing to dive in face-first and have a happy little discussion about it.  At the moment, if anyone asks, my standard response is akin to a shrug, really.  Honesty, because I have nothing to add to the discussion.  Trust me, I'm doing you a favor when I do this.

Don't push for answers--please; I most likely don't have any.  It's not that I'm at a loss for words, but who the hell wants to listen to me prattle on in contemplation over something I've yet to wrap my head around much less have answers for?  Yeah... you're reading this entry and feeling it now, aren't you?  Yeah.  I won't apologize for being sick or its effects on me, but I will say to anyone who's felt or sensed my withdrawal of late--this should resolve in time, and thanks for hanging in there.

So today's weather---overcast.  And for some reason I find that immensely soothing in ways I cannot possibly explain.

It's all self-explanatory, really...

You have about 2 seconds before you get throat-punched

Just kidding.  But really, today is "Not mess with me" day, just in case anyone needs to know.  Prednisone irritability in full-swing, and honestly... the indifference and selfishness is grating on my nerves like metal nails clawing down a chalkboard.  OMG, someone kill me now!

On any other given day, under normal circumstances, I may be able to grit my teeth and work up some tolerance for the indifference and selfishness.  Oh, but not today.  And I'm freaking stuck here in the middle of it ALL... DAMN... DAY... LONG.  God, really, how am I going to handle this entire day without completely losing it?

I miss home.  I miss Mobile, AL.  I miss my life.  I miss ME.  I miss freedom, peace, tranquility, and the ability to breathe in my own surroundings.  O. M. G. but I would give my left leg for that life again... free from disrespect, indifference, and a general foundation of being treated like the maid every single given moment.

I'm on edge today.  Can you tell?

All I want is to breathe easy--figuratively speaking.  I can't relax.  Has anyone ever noticed just how much anxiety comes with being around someone all of the time who is completely unplugged, out of it, really rather... not there?  *sigh*

Please, God.  Give me my life back.  Give me my health back soon so I can get the hell out of here once and for all.  I'm not going to make it in this environment without spending the remainder of my life sick, anxious, depressed, and longing for a REAL life, a full life.

I suppose this is the first time I've vented to this extent.  I don't care at the moment.  ALL the filters have slipped out of place and the raw feelings are flooding through, unencumbered.  Maybe it will help.  Hope so.  REALLY hope so.

*sigh*

Dammit.

Blogging and alter egos... a reminder.

I'm posting folks, for those who've reached out.  And the posts are being recorded in the different blogs according to the content, mostly.

http://abusebondsbroken.blogspot.com

The above is just one location where I post.  Content usually changes from blog to blog as I've separated the focus as much as possible.

Complete list below, as well as the menu bar on the side...

http://gothicwell.blogspot.com

http://boosjuicybits.blogspot.com

http://autumnwhisperstome.blogspot.com

http://abusebondsbroken.blogspot.com

Gas lighting

NOTE:  I will occasionally state a reminder that when I'm referring to narcissists I will usually use the words "he" or "him" etc., because that's my experience.  Unless I'm referring to my mom, of course.  But do know that I know and understand that narcissists can be either male or female.  My stating things in terms of 'he' is only speaking to my own personal experience.

Funny thing about the parallels of abuse in life.  Right now we have a tightly-wound political climate in which history, though a dark version of itself, is being made by the worst president to have ever held office in US history.

What is Gaslighting?  Well, first of all, let me say first the term comes from an old b/w movie starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman... where she ( was being systematically driven crazy, or made to think she was, by her controlling conman of a husband.  Oh, but it goes far deeper than that, really.  Far deeper.  It's an insidious tool used by all masters of emotional/verbal abuse.

Gaslighting or gas-lighting is a form of mental abuse in which information is twisted or spun, selectively omitted to favor the abuser, or false information is presented with the intent of making victims doubt their own memory, perception, and sanity.

OMG, but have I experienced this first-hand, and it's THE worst form of emotional abuse someone could endure.  How did I know this tactic was being used on me?  Because I had to seek counseling to recover from a relationship in which gaslighting was routinely used on me.  I had no idea, until it was shown to me by a therapist who immediately recognized what I was describing.  Thank God for her!

All the pieces fit.  I saw everything fall neatly into place as my therapist explained to me what gaslighting is, what it does, and how damaging it is for the receiver.  I was stunned as she spoke, a little numb as I read the handouts she gave me to look over, and more recently... shaken a little as I watched the movie ("Gaslight") where the term actually came from.  OMG, I thought, I'm watching so much right there on the screen.. so much that I actually went through.

But it's really more than that, folks.  You have to be aware of gaslighting and knowing where you are in the narcissistic supply food chain.  Once you recognize you're with a narcissist, you can get to the task of knowing where you stand so you can find your way out.  Remember, you've been conditioned to believe that the narcissist is the only person who will want or have you, that they're a true gift from God himself, and that you are damned lucky to have them.  Don't you believe it!

So many red flags, so little time.  But if you remember that you're solely in that person's life for THEIR benefit, then you will be able to spot the red flags and they reveal themselves.

You're not important to them except as a source of supply.  Your needs don't matter, and anything they do for you isn't for YOU but for their ego.  It's a lot like the farmer feeding the calf to fatten it before slaughter.  Once you're consumed, your emotional remains are no longer necessary, needed, or wanted.  Time for a new calf to fatten.

Over time the joys you find in life become a burden to your narcissist.  Why?  Because it's about YOU.  And trust me, it can NEVER be about YOU.  There is only one center of his universe.... and trust me, babe, it's NOT YOU.  And it never ever will be.

Some of the rules you'll have to follow include being available 24/7 in case your narcissist needs you.  It won't matter if your tired, working, hungry, taking a shower, sleeping, eating, talking to friends or family, or just spending some time for yourself by watching tv.  You BETTER be available or pay the price.  There is ALWAYS a price.

I can't tell you how many times I lost sleep, stayed up until 2am or was woken at 2am when I had to be up at 5am or 6am... just so I wouldn't be stonewalled and ignored for days or weeks by my narcissist who didn't respect me OR my time.  I skipped meals, taking a shower at another time, because the narcissist claimed I was being 'selfish' for doing those things instead of talking to him on the phone.  He also didn't allow me to do anything WHILE talking on the phone, so necessary tasks that needed done either had to be put off so I could sit stock-still in one location so he didn't hear any other sound coming through the phone.. to alert him that I was doing anything more than listening to him.  He claimed that if I were doing anything else while on the phone with him I was being disrespectful and not giving him my full, undivided attention.  Thing is... I would hear CRASH, BOOM, BANG, and the cacophony of explosive sounds of paper rattling as he went through all the things he does while on speakerphone with me.  Double-standard... another narcissist classic maneuver.

Not sleeping, eating, having constant anxiety filling your gut, body full of adrenalin... all these things can kill you.  All of these things WILL wreck your health, and they did wreck mine.

You know you're dealing with a narcissist when your health stops mattering, when you lose sleep and they don't care, when being at their beck and call 24/7 means your life isn't your life any longer. When all of your free, waking time and then some is manipulated and filled to the brim with unrealistic demands, constant criticism, massive episodes of gaslighting.... beware, because you're going to withdraw out of necessity for your health and life and your narcissist, if he hasn't already begun doing so, will be looking for his next source of supply.

More to come...

I see what you did there, Obama, and I'm not okay with it.

I warn people there's a RANT ahead.  Consider yourself warned, my friends.

No matter where you live in the world, I'm betting you know we're not in full-swing election mode... and the butthurt is strong.  Hey.. it's politics; can't really come out of the other side unscathed, so you have to put your big-girl (or big-boy) panties on and grow thicker skin.  Nature of the beast, my friends.  Nature of the beast.

We choose a side and sometimes change that stance as more information comes to light, GIVEN that the information isn't a steaming pile of political dung.  Media, oh yeah, they're somewhat the great shovelers of said dung, and given THAT... a smart individual will take everything with a grain of salt and seek out the most COMPLETE version of the story.

I support Donald Trump.  I won't apologize or explain my choice, because at this point there's no need.  The man's entire life has been in the public eye nearly ALL of his life from young adulthood and up.  Nothing new to see, nothing new to find, except that it wasn't popular to hate Donald Trump UNTIL he scared the crap out of the establishment and decided to run for the presidency.  Wow, right?  Hate-born of nothing more than a choice to run for office; a by-product of left-wing lunacy.

But my point here isn't to talk about the why I made my choice and am sticking with it 100%.  The point of this entry is to express my complete and utter bewilderment at the hate that spews from people, liberals, who are scared shitless that their free handouts might actually not be free for long, or that they'll somehow be required to do something utterly insane---like WORK for a living.

So the hate spews forth, and instead of focusing on supporting who they WANT to win the nomination for their side, they choose instead to bash the most likely opponent.  Um.  Really?  How does that help exactly?  It doesn't.  In fact, many liberals/democrats have switched sides because they no longer want to be affiliated with what, for every measure, is a chaotically organized hate group.  Sorry, but not sorry.  It's the truth.

What's even worse are is the BS from people who don't even live in this country, are not US citizens, and who have absolutely NO SAY in who we elect.  No offense to anyone who's a non-US citizen who reads this, but we know what's best for our country.  You can't bully or shame us into doing what you want.  It doesn't work that way and never will.

The current administration is a travesty, a fraudulent front of epic proportions.  Obama has all but destroyed our country and has taken GREAT pride in pushing his agenda of diversity.  Every month, sometimes every week, there's yet another BS move planned on his part to do whatever he wants to do without restraint, without listening to what the people want, without batting an eye at the long-term consequences of his wielding of power that he has virtually stolen.  He doesn't have the power he's using---he's TAKING it.

All the establishment talking-heads, all of them flailing about as the money rolls in from super pacs, all of them turning from real boy to pinoccio as the puppeteers pull and tug on the strings, while they dance and flail below the maniacal smile of ownership.  They are owned.  They accept the millions given to them and they're bought and paid for.  It's how it works.  They're loyalties are tied snuggly to those who handed them the goods, and the greed is the cement in which they step, willingly.

Donald Trump can't be bought.  He's self-funded, and he doesn't take any shit from anyone.  Few who hate him know anything about him.  Based on nothing but what they may have read on FB memes, or maybe cut, clipped and distorted comments, they don't bother to read his books, listen to the rally's he's given (can stream them or view them afterwards on youtube).  Based on BS they allow the lies to infest their already hate-filled minds and hearts and... they become blinded, enraged, and out of control.  All sense of order, logical and healthy thought-processes...GONE.  Just like that.

They've drank the blue kool aid willingly.

Most importantly, the hate is rampant in this country.  I don't mean just towards candidates or sides, but people have turned their hate on one another.  Division--brought about my Barrack Obama and his sociopathic ideals, tendencies, and needs.  Even as this country falls into disarray the libs continue their propaganda of hate, intolerance, and even self-loathing.  They can't seem to help themselves.  They just can't seem to stop.

This is the democratic machine in perfect working condition.

People refer to this as a sickness, illness, even lunacy.  Maybe they're right.  And I'm not saying everyone on the right is sane, mind you.  You'll find lunatics in just about every corner and facet of society.  Humans.. what can I say?

So what about this lunacy?  Well, it's barely controlled rage, really, hatred dug in so deep that they're literally blinded by it and fail to see anything even remotely reasonable.  Such as supporting a candidate who's lied her entire career, repeatedly, tried to cover up the truth by destroying evidence (and got caught), and was responsible for the deaths of soldiers (Benghazi).. for starters.  This candidate, Hillary Clinton, IS the so-called "war on women," as she defended her husband, Bill Clinton, when he was accused of raping women, etc.  So much for her fight agains the 'war on women.'

Their other main choice of the libs is Bernie Sanders--and they're supporting him while attempting to call Donald Trump a "Fascist."  Um, well, first of all... I'm embarrassed for them, for starters, because they've NO idea what fascism is.  I can only shake my head at this.  Bernie the socialist, the guy who they like because he promises them money for nothing, promises to give, give, give and claims it will all be.... free.  Free?  There's no such thing as FREE anything!  Someone pays for it, and it's the working class citizens who do.

Free stuff:  Now for the record, let me make one thing perfectly CLEAR: Conservatives have no problem with giving social aid to people who actually NEED it.  I'm not EVEN going to go into the millions of people who literally ride out their entire lives, able to work, but choosing not to in order to get free money, food stamps (EBT), and free medical.  All the while those who are struggling to make ends meet continue to work to pay for those who refuse to work.  NOT okay.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

Donald Trump has spent his entire life giving opportunity to people, including women... who hold most of the highest paid positions in his companies.  His goal is jobs, income, returning the jobs back to the American work force so people can reach for the 'American Dream,' which Obama has spent his time in office trying to completely destroy.

Most of us are pissed off, fed up, and are speaking out.  Many of us have had a change of heart because our eyes were finally opened.  I'm one of those people!  I was raised in a Republican household, but I chose the democrat side early on.  I even voted for Obama THE FIRST TIME because I was utterly stupid.  I can admit how easily I fell for his pack of lies, false promises, and his ability to schmooze people.  I had that glass of kool aid right up to my mouth, too.  Difference between me and most liberals is that I FREAKING WISED UP!  I pay attention, and I'm good at it.  But I was brainwashed into the whole liberal agenda when I was younger and voting age, and it came about mostly because I have a soft heart and hate to see people suffering and in need.  I grew up very very poor, so I understood the struggle and hated it with all I was.  What I failed to understand is that there was another way of thinking, one that put ME in charge and not the government.  Better late than never, here I am in a complete turn around.  I can thank Obama for that one!

I also admit that prior to Obama running I'd become completely disillusioned by politics, politicians, and even the voting process.  I believed that my vote didn't count for anything, and that not a single politician had my best interest at heart.  I didn't see or hear anyone speaking to or for ME.  I didn't vote, and I told people this: "I'm afraid that who I vote for will win."  Says it all, doesn't it?  I didn't trust anymore.

When Obama schmoozed the public with saying and doing ALL the right things, acting in a fashion that people called "Presidential," I began to wake up and pay attention again.  When he spoke of 'change' I erroneously believed him.  He was very well practiced, had superb speech-writers, and I chose to believe that those had to be his own personal words and that he meant them.  I woke up, but I didn't know it was to be in a nightmare that would span 8.. very long years.

The bewilderment set in when the promise of health care looked like a real possibility.  I was sick, very sick, and I eventually was unable to work.  Long story short, "Obamacare" did NOTHING to help me at all.  Ending up in a hospital twice meant my credit cards were maxed to the limit to cover the bills.  Out of work with no savings I struggled to pay them off and, a few years later, I'm almost there.  My health insurance actually came about due to a marriage.  yeah.. Obamacare helps no one really.  I was broke and unemployed, sick and had dangerous heart problems no one could or would help me with.  Obamacare for most people.. is a complete failure.

But we have bigger problems than the Obamacare disaster.

Obama, in his last couple of years in office, has set his sites on dividing and destroying this country, and he's incited the weak-minded people to take up this fight FOR HIM.  He doesn't need to do anything but light the fire under the already smoldering ground...

And he did.  And he continues to do so.

In the background, around the rest of the world, people are clueless as to what's really happening here.  But I know.  We all know.  Those of us in our right minds anyway...

In a full turn-around from a little over two years ago.. I switched parties to Republican/Conservative. I won't be going back.  The poison is now out of my system and I see things for what they really are. Funny thing, too.. a lot of other liberals have switched.  We can at least thank Obama for being stupid enough to open our eyes.

Yes, I know this is a long entry, and for those of you who stuck with it and read... thank you!  It had to be said.  I had to get this off my chest.  I'm tired of the same ole same ole, as many of us are.  We're done with politicians, done with the insane hate from the left, done with the rest of the world bashing us because they think they know what's happening here.

If you do live in another country, beware of the media lies, the deceit, because we DO NOT have unbiased media here in the USA.  It's always been slanted, but over the past couple of years, and especially with this run for presidential nominees... the media has literally been turned into chaotic works of FICTION.

Please, before you decide to hate Americans, or to hate Donald Trump, KNOW that you CANNOT trust the media 99% of the time.  Remember Trump has been in the media eye, the public eye, for nearly ALL of his life, and that it's only been since he decided to run for president that he's become popular to hate... with the left-wingers.

It's a good rule of thumb--- "Hate what you KNOW, NOT what you THINK you know!"

If you've made it to the bottom of this... thank you...