Marc1961's Journal

I am starting to see some things.

A couple of things have happened over the last little while that have caught my attention and made me seek some help.

revpatty made an interesting observation when I posted my ‘Lighten up’ discussion to the “Physical & Emotional Abuse Support Group”. That as a victim of abuse, that I would have abusive tendencies and that I need therapy, I had never have considered it as I see myself as a survivor, I knew I had problems, some of which I was aware were linked to the emotional abuse. I did not know how harmful these tendencies were much less how to address them. I have had counselling over the years but none of them had directly addressed these problems.

I have hurt my best friend very badly recently and the discussions that we have had, and the content I have been reading have made me look at myself and see that I am abusive.

I need to change.

I have now obtained counselling in abuse which starts July 30. I have ordered the book that revpatty suggested (The Verbally Abusive Man: Can He Change?) and had a look at the website she recommended (www.youarenotcrazy.com). This is a very interesting website I recommend anyone who may suspect (or been told) that they have issues in this area, take a look at, if you are honest with yourself you will want to seek help.

My son is struggling recently with bullying, failure and loss.

Bullying from a boy who does better at maths than he does and who delights in Jacks failures. And an unsupportive teacher who (I feel) does not understand Jacks issues and is trying to force a solution that is inappropriate to his needs.

Loss from the death of his grandfather a while back and my leaving the family home.

I have obtained joint counselling this weekend (July 26) for my son and myself regarding his sense of loss over his grandfather and me from the family home. This is with a very wise counsellor that I have been seeing for a while now. Rowland Croucher. If you’re in the Melbourne area, I recommend him highly.

His mother and I have asked for an appointment to talk to his year coordinator about what to do about the bullying and the teacher and what support we can get for Jack with his math skills.