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July 9, 2025 at 1:55 pm in reply to: Looking for insight: emotional distancing after egg retrieval #447455
anitaParticipantContinued: You were emotionally present. She wasnât. And thatâs not a reflection of your worthâitâs a reflection of her limits.
If I may share something from my own experience: that truth echoes profoundly in my relationship with my mother. I wasâoh, so deeplyâemotionally present for her, constantly yearning for connection, offering more than my share. But she wasnât emotionally present for me at all. For much of my life, I internalized her absence as evidence that I was unworthy of love. I carried that belief like a quiet burden.
But it wasnât true. Her emotional absence and rejection werenât about me. They were a reflection of her limitsâof what she couldnât hold, couldnât offerânot of what I lacked.
You, too, offered presence. And it was beautiful. Her inability to meet you in that space doesnât diminish what you brought. It simply reveals the difference between capacity and desire. She may have desired connection, but lacked the emotional capacity to stand in it. Thatâs on herânot you.
Itâs amazing, isnât it, Ty? How those who most crave love are often the ones who reject it the hardest. Their wounds whisper, âDonât trust thisâlove will leave you exposed.â So when real care arrivesâquiet, steady, and without demandsâit disrupts everything. It shakes the scaffolding they built to survive.
Instead of leaning in, they retreat. Not because love is wrongâbut because itâs too close to what theyâve been taught to fear. And the tragedy is, their longing doesnât disappear. It remains, just beneath the surface of the push-away: a heart still aching to be held, if only it could trust it wouldnât be hurt.
T.R.U.S.Tâjust five letters, yet somehow it holds the whole world. Itâs the defining crisis of our time: distrust.
How can there be love without trust?
As I said before, Tyâthis wasnât your fault. And thereâs nothing you couldâve done to rewrite the stories and scars that shaped her long before she met you.
You shared: âWe had strong emotional chemistry and later spent meaningful time together in New York and grew into a relationship.â- That was before distrust resurfaced in her. What you shared was a quiet stillness in the stormâa fleeting reprieve, tender and beautiful⌠but brief.
Iâd love to hear what this brings up for you, Tyâwhether itâs clarity, contradiction, or just a breath of space. Feel free to share whatever you feel moved to. Iâm here, and Iâm listening.
Warmly, Anita
July 9, 2025 at 1:17 pm in reply to: Looking for insight: emotional distancing after egg retrieval #447454
anitaParticipantDear Ty:
You showed up for her in such a wholehearted wayâtraveling across the world, spending a lot of money so to be there for her, holding space, staying grounded even when things felt cold and confusing. Thatâs not easy, and the fact that you responded with care instead of resentment speaks volumes about your strength and emotional integrity.
Itâs completely understandable that you feel stunned by how things unfolded. You were emotionally present through it all, and what you received in return was silence, distance, and a rewriting of the connection youâd both built. Thatâs not just hardâitâs disorienting. And I want to say clearly: it wasnât your fault.
From what you’ve shared, your ex mightâve been navigating something far more intense than she could express. Two back-to-back egg retrievals (so I read) can deeply affect someoneâhormonally, physically, and emotionally. There are real shifts that can happen post-procedure: mood swings, emotional detachment, even symptoms that resemble a mild postpartum crash. It can leave people feeling overwhelmed, confused, and emotionally numb, especially when thereâs no support system to help them process.
Add to that the layers of her professional lifeâand what you sensed beneath it. For some, the BDSM industry offers empowerment and self-expression. For others, especially those with unresolved trauma, it can become a shield or even a reenactment of emotional patterns they havenât yet faced. If someoneâs used those roles as a form of emotional protection, being seen in real intimacy can feel threatening. That might explain why she suddenly pushed you awayâwhy the roles seemed to return, and vulnerability disappeared.
None of this excuses how she treated you, but it does offer a way to understand it. You became a mirrorâand sometimes, when someone isnât ready to face whatâs reflected, they shut it down. Not because you did something wrong, but because being truly seen is terrifying when someone hasnât learned how to sit with that kind of tenderness.
You canât heal what she wonât name. But you did your part, with grace. You stayed grounded, stayed kind, and kept showing upânot as a savior, but as someone willing to witness the truth. Thatâs rare. And incredibly brave.
Warmly, Anita
anitaParticipantDear Alessa:
Your message left me speechlessâin the best way. I copied the whole thing for safekeeping, word for word. I want to frame it and hang it on the wall. Truly, itâs the most beautiful and validating message Iâve ever received on tiny buddha. The way you saw me, stood beside me, and spoke the truth so fiercelyâit felt like something in me finally exhaled.
Iâll be meditating on your words here in my thread sometime soon, while doing my stream-of-consciousness journaling. Your care created a space that feels safe enough to process, to reflect, to heal. Thatâs no small thing.
Thank you for showing up with such bold compassion. I hold your message close, and Iâm so grateful to you. â¤ď¸
Anita
July 9, 2025 at 9:27 am in reply to: Gf’s Dad passing was the final straw into ending our long distance relationship #447433
anitaParticipantHey Alecsee, nerves are totally normalâespecially when something matters this much to you. Itâs okay if your notes feel messy right now. You donât have to organize everything; just focus on whatâs most important to share.
Hereâs a simple way to structure it:
Start with one truth: Why you’re choosing to talk to her nowâwhat shifted, or whatâs been on your heart.
Pick 2â3 core points you want her to hear. Think of these like guideposts, not a script. What do you hope she understands by the end of the conversation?
Keep one grounding phrase readyâsomething you can say if emotions get high or you lose your train of thought. It could be as simple as âThis is hard for me to say, but it matters.â
You could even jot these on a small card or note on your phone. Not to read from, but just to help you stay connected to your intention.
Itâs okay to be nervous. It just means this is real for youâand thatâs what will come through the most.
With care, Anita
anitaParticipantI just lost a LONG journaling post (10 pm, Tuesday night, dark, no sound of birds).
I talked about the terrible loneliness, the isolation without and the isolation within.. isolation for so very long, an ETERNITY, so it felt.. for so very, very, very long..
The unrelenting loneliness, day in, day out; night after night.
This Excruciating-Alone existence.
…This longing to be FOUND, to be SAVED.
A longing intense: SEE ME. FIND ME. SAVE ME!
Fifty- sixty years of this kind of longing.. it takes time and space to be fully heard by me… by you..?
Anita
July 8, 2025 at 7:53 pm in reply to: Should I Forget about him, or was he the one that got away? #447415
anitaParticipantDear Emma:
Thank you for sharing all of this so openly. Your reflections are so rich and honestâitâs clear youâre doing deep inner work, even when it feels heavy or confusing. I really admire your courage in facing these patterns head-on.
Reading about your relationship with your mother, I felt such a strong sense of recognition. I was also deeply enmeshed with my mother growing up. She overshared with me constantlyâabout her pain, her regrets, her relationshipsâand it left me feeling like I had to be her emotional anchor, her confidante, even her therapist at times. There was no space for my own feelings. I had to grow up fast, and like you, I often felt like my inner world didnât matter.
So when you described your mother sharing about her ex, her struggles with your father, and how hard it is to draw boundaries nowâI truly get it. That kind of emotional entanglement can shape everything: our sense of self, our ability to take risks, even the kinds of partners weâre drawn to. Iâve been there. And I want you to know: itâs possible to untangle from it. Itâs possible to reclaim your space, your voice, your choices.
Given how much we seem to share, and the healing Iâve done so far around enmeshment, Iâd be honored to walk alongside you in this if it ever feels helpful. Sometimes just having someone whoâs been through it makes the path feel a little less lonely.
I also really felt your sadness around Philip. It makes sense that he felt like a mirror to a part of you youâre still trying to claimâyour boldness, your power, your potential. And itâs okay to grieve that. But I also believe that the part of you that saw something in him is the same part thatâs waking up now. The part thatâs ready to take risks, even if itâs scary.
Whether itâs painting furniture, teaching, or exploring shadow workâyouâre already moving toward yourself. And thatâs something to be proud of.
Warm wishes, Anita
anitaParticipantDear Alessa:
Thank you for letting me know. Please donât worry about replying right awayâtake all the time you need. Iâm really sorry to hear youâre going through a PTSD episode. I hope youâre able to find some calm and comfort soon, even in small moments.
Sending you warmth and care. Iâll be here whenever you feel ready. â¤ď¸
Take good care of yourself, Anita
July 8, 2025 at 7:26 pm in reply to: Looking for insight: emotional distancing after egg retrieval #447413
anitaParticipantDear Ty:
Thank you for sharing so openly. What you went through sounds incredibly painfulâshowing up with care, only to be met with distance and then blamed. That kind of emotional reversal can leave you questioning everything, including yourself.
But from what youâve shared, itâs clear you acted with patience, respect, and integrity. You didnât pushâyou gave space, stayed grounded, and honored her process. If she rewrote the story, it likely says more about her inner conflict than anything you did wrong.
The connection you felt was real. So was the confusion. But only one of you stayed emotionally present through both.
You deserved honesty and acknowledgment. Even if she couldnât offer that, you can still give it to yourself.
You showed up. You cared. That matters.
Warmly, Anita
P.S., I am wondering.. what do you think/ feel about the BDSM industry and how it affected her?
July 8, 2025 at 6:50 pm in reply to: Gf’s Dad passing was the final straw into ending our long distance relationship #447412
anitaParticipantDear Alecsee:
Thank you for sharing so honestly. I can feel how much this relationship meant to you, and how hard it is to let go when you still care so deeply. Itâs clear youâve been reflecting a lotâon what went wrong, what you wish youâd done differently, and what you still hope for.
If you do have this final call, maybe donât see it as a last chance to win her back. Instead, think of it as a chance to speak from the heartâwithout pressure, without trying to change the outcome. Just be real. Share what you feel, what youâve learned, and what she meant to you.
Sometimes relationships end not because the love wasnât real, but because the timing, needs, or growth didnât line up. Thatâs painful, but it doesnât make the connection any less meaningful.
Whether or not she wants to continue, you can still move forward with more clarity and strength. Youâre not brokenâyouâre grieving. And that means you loved fully.
Take care of yourself, Anita
anitaParticipantDear Lucidity:
Youâre so welcome. I really appreciate your openness and the care you put into your response. Iâll definitely be watching your new video when it comes out, and Iâll be sure to share my thoughts with you here againâsince Iâm still not able to sign into the platform to comment directly.
I admire your courage in sharing your healing journey so openly. Thereâs a quiet strength in the way you speakâgentle, but groundedâand itâs clear that youâre not just finding your voice, youâre offering it as a light for others. Thatâs no small thing. Even the imperfections, like the sound quality, donât take away from the heart of what youâre doing. If anything, they make it feel more real, more human.
As for how Iâm doingâjust a few minutes ago, I was reflecting on a message from Alessa (in my thread). She said something so fiercely protective about the child I once was, and as I read it, I imagined her stepping into my past, standing up to my mother in a way no one ever did. It was such a vivid momentâlike a piece of my story being rewritten with strength and care. It left me feeling.. well, happy! Itâs amazing how words, even now, can reach into old wounds and offer something new.
By the way, I was wonderingâhas anything changed with your sister? If you feel like sharing, Iâd love to hear how things have been unfolding.
Thank you again for sharing your path so generously. Iâm really looking forward to your next video.
With quiet admiration, Anita
anitaParticipantDear Alessa:
â¤ď¸ â¤ď¸ â¤ď¸
As I read your words, something unexpected happenedâI imagined you stepping into my childhood, as if you had traveled back in time. I saw you standing there, facing my mother as she berated me, as she so often didâloudly, cruelly, for what felt like hours. No one ever intervened. Not the neighbors who could hear through the walls, not the strangers on the street who saw her shove and kick me as I walked beside her, small and defeated. No one ever stood up for me.
But in my mind, you did.
I imagined you turning to her and saying (in that English accent I like so much): âHow cruel and selfish can a person be? Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. Disgusting!â- And for the first time, someone was there to confront her. To name the truth out loud.
That imageâof you standing up for me when no one else didâbrought a new kind of smile to my face. It gave something to that younger version of me that she never had: protection. Witness. Fierce love. You gave that little girl something she never had: someone who stood up for her.
Thank you for seeing not just the child I was, but the woman Iâve become. Your words are a kind of healing I didnât know I still needed.
In gratitude, Anita
anitaParticipantDear Thomas:
Thatâs a really important question. Setting emotional boundaries with a parent who leans heavily on you can feel like walking a tightrope between self-preservation and guilt.
The self-preservation part is the voice that says: âI need space to breathe.â âIâm exhausted from always being the strong one.â Itâs your healthy instinct to protect your energy, your peace, and your emotional boundaries. And itâs essentialânot selfishâfor your mental and physical well-being.
The guilt part says things like: âBut what if they feel abandoned?â âTheyâve done so much for me.â âI donât want to hurt them.â Guilt often shows up when you begin doing something newâlike saying no, asking for space, or not responding right away. Especially if you were raised to prioritize your parentâs emotions over your own, guilt can feel like a warning sign⌠even when youâre doing something healthy.
So yes, itâs a tightrope: trying to care for yourself without feeling like youâre betraying them. And thatâs hard. It takes practice, self-compassion, and sometimes griefâbecause youâre letting go of the role you were taught to play.
Here are a few ways to begin:
* Give yourself permission- setting boundaries isnât cruel, itâs necessary. Youâre not turning your back on them; youâre turning toward your own well-being.
* Use soft, clear language- instead of confrontation, try: âI really care about you, and I want to be present when we talkâbut sometimes I feel overwhelmed and need space to recharge.â This frames the boundary as a way to preserve connection, not sever it. (this soft approach may work.. or not)
* Expect guiltâ guilt, in this context, doesnât mean youâre doing something wrong. It means youâre doing something new.
* Limit emotional labor, not love- you can still care without becoming your parent’s therapist. Try gently saying: âThat sounds really tough. Have you thought about talking to someone who could really help you through it?â (again, a gentle approach may work.. or not).
* Build support elsewhere. A friend, therapist, or support group can help you stay grounded when emotional backlash shows up.
Youâre allowed to protect your peaceâeven from someone you love. And the fact that youâre asking this question shows how much thought and care youâre bringing to the process.
Here are a couple of affirmations you might return to when guilt creeps in: âI am allowed to take care of myself, even if it makes others uncomfortable. My needs are not a betrayal. I can love someone and still say no.â
âItâs okay to protect my peace. I donât have to carry what isnât mine. I can be kind to others without abandoning myself.â
You can write one down, repeat it when you feel that tightrope tension, or use it as a grounding breath practice.
I want to close with something personalâfrom my and my sisterâs experience with our mother. Like the title of this thread suggests, she used emotional exploitation as a form of parenting, often with heavy guilt-tripping and frequent threats of suicide. I was deeply intimidated by those threats. I tried to be her emotional caretaker, her therapist, her savior. I approached her with softness, with gentleness, hoping that kindness would heal her. It didnât. She kept going.
But my sisterâwhen she was in her twentiesâresponded differently. One day, when our mother made another suicide threat, my sister said firmly, without fear: âThen do it. Stop talking about it.â And that was the last time our mother ever made that threat.
There was another moment Iâll never forget. My mother used to hit me from time to time. I never fought backâI just looked at the floor and waited for it to end. But in my early twenties, something shifted. As she tried to hit me, I instinctively raised my arms and blocked hers. I didnât hurt herâI just matched her force and stopped her from reaching me. And something strange happened: her arms went limp. She stopped. She retreated. And she never tried to hit me again.
Of course, I know your situation isnât identical. But I share this because some parentsâespecially those who rely on emotional controlâdonât stop because theyâve had a change of heart. They stop because the dynamic changes. Because the person they once saw as prey now appears too strong to overpower. Like predators in the wild, they donât retreat out of pity. They retreat when the prey no longer looks easy to consume. A mountain lion wonât back down because a deer looks softâit backs down when the deer looks powerful enough to defend itself.
So if your parent is emotionally exploitative, the shift may not come from their kindnessâbut from your strength. Not from confrontation (dramatic arguments, emotional outbursts, or aggressive pushback), but from quiet, steady resistance: saying less, but meaning more, no longer explaining yourself over and over but holding your boundary calmly, even when they push, and choosing not to engage in the same old emotional dance.
Quiet, steady resistance is often more effective than loud confrontation with emotionally exploitative people. Itâs not about punishing themâitâs about protecting you. And over time, it sends a clear message:
âIâm not available for this dynamic anymore. I donât need to argue about it. Iâve simply stepped out of the role.
And that shiftâsubtle but firmâis often what changes the pattern.
If anything I shared resonatesâor if you want to talk more about your experienceâIâd be honored to continue the conversation. These things are hard to untangle alone, and you donât have to carry it all by yourself.
With care, Anita
anitaParticipantJust like that, completely dark, no sound of birds. Complete silence. They will be back in.. six hours, right???
anitaParticipantIn regard to the title of my thread: “Life Worth Living”- life that is worth living is a life where you FEEL alive. A life where you are in the center of it, LIVING. The way I “lived” so much of my life.. honestly, it wasn’t worth it.
Life is a matter of quality (REALLY living), not a matter of quantity.
And.. I am living the quality right now, these months, these few years.. increasingly so- Q.U.A.L.I.T.Y.
Listening to B. B. King, The Thrill is Gone.. totally danceable!
Now, listening to the Bohemian Rhapsody.. “Momma.. didn’t mean to make you cry… Momma…. I wish I was never been born at all”- my sentiment… See how important MOTHERS are..?
The Billie Jean, live performance, 1997 (I was 36, he was 37 or 38), NO GREATER TALENT, no doubt! The dance moves.. W.O.W… The moon walk.
Sinea’d O’Connor (born 6 years after me, died 2 years ago), “Nothing Compares… ”
Whitney Houston, “I will always love you” (born 2 years after me, died 3 years ago).
Not yet dark outside, birds alive and singing. It makes me feel good to hear them!
Anita
anitaParticipantjournaling-
For those of you (my.. many readers, ha ha) who wonder why I journal- the reason is the deep disconnect I lived through for so long- a stranger to myself. The stories I tell here about my early life, because of the disconnect, I haven’t been able to find myself in these stories. So, I kept telling my stories trying so to find ME in the stories.
I went missing from my life at a very early age.
My stories didn’t feel real.
I have been so very confused, for so very long.
And in all that, in my disappearance-act, my MOTHER was a looming presence, like a.. Goddess of Misery.
So histrionically miserable (those endless episodes of how-miserable-I-am-and-I-will-tell-you-all-about-the-many-many-many-miseries), that there was no space for me, no right to have my own space.
Had to cure her misery first.. then maybe, maybe there’ll be some space for me.
Failed.
It is recently that I am reclaiming my lost, stolen space.
I do it here, in my threads, and I do it on the dancing floor- 70s-80s free style, always after a few drinks.
And when it happens, like it did last Saturday, a band was playing on the stage outdoors- I started to move to the music (Tom Petty’s music), and MAGIC!
Dozens of people could see me, and they did, and I didn’t mind. I moved to the music and felt so very ALIVE.
..My mother would have never allowed me to dance.. not as long as she was Miserable.
I would be BAD if I danced while she was miserable.
Captive By Her Misery.
So, I danced last Saturday.
After the dancing (a shy smile on my face right now), two men approached me, separately, and suggested to get to know me better. Seems like they found my dancing.. attractive? The second man seemed sincere, told me he watched me dancing and was.. intrigued, don’t remember his exact words, was tipsy. He seemed like a decent older man, sincerely interested, he really tried to get his message across.
So, well, I declined.
My dream is to dance The Billie Jean.. well, I already did, a bit, his moves, well, a few of his moves.
To summarize it, I suffocated in my mother’s misery, cared too much, couldn’t, wouldn’t allow myself any happy, not for as long as she was so deeply miserable.
D.A.N.C.I.N.G
Anita
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 