I was married to a verbally and sometimes limited physically abusive man for fourteen years. We separated three times for up to five months, I always let him come home. He left a month ago, and he is seeing someone new-he denies this but I know it is true. Why does this hurt me so much? Why do I want to call him every minute of the day? And why most of all do I even want him to come back? All we did was fuss and everything and I mean everything was always my fault. He hated that I took the kids places at night..soccer, dance, etc. because his dinner was not cooked ( I hate cooking and rarely did even when I was home) He hated that I did not want to have sex..who would when you are called a everyday? He hated my job, my family, my church, my everything. He was a lousy dad-never went to anything the kids did (though he was not abusive towards them) Why then do I feel like I have to have him in my life? When did he gain control of my thoughts and start making me believe that I am actually going crazy-I know I am not. But honestly I could be holding a red apple and he could look at me and tell me it was green and have me believing it was green even though I knew it was red--he made me think everything he said was true. For example I had ten dollars in my purse and it disappeared-he did not take it he said--I knew it was there five minutes ago, I looked all over the house for it thinking maybe I was mistaken--he actually convinced me that I really did not have the money I knew I had. How could I have let him control my beliefs-I am very educated, have a masters degree? When did I lose the ability to be me, and how can I find it again? I am all ready in therapy and my couselor says I should be angry that he accused me of cheating when he was the one doing it--but still I think, maybe he did not mean it, maybe it was just a friend of his-I want to tell myself the truth--he sucks and I deserve better-I just do not know if I can convince my self.