The Christmas of 2000 was one of many that were very unhappy. Compounding matters was just after New Year’s Day 2001, we had engaged in another blow-out which resulted in a physical exchange. I ended up with bloody claw-marks across the left side of my face and neck and the family room being ransacked… by PEW… 5-months pregnant.
As usual, I can’t quite recall what it was we were even arguing about. We had these regularly scheduled blowouts so often that you just can’t always remember the specifics. They all seem to run together through history and I can’t recall too many that were about anything earth shattering. I’m sure this one was no exception.
While yelling at one another things escalated. PEW was 5-months pregnant with S2. She was holding S1, then 2-1/2 years old, in her right arm and we were standing close to one another. Without warning, she slashed at me like a rabid cougar with her right paw, catching me on the side of the face as I tried to rear back, turning my head. In one motion, I came back around and, with my right hand, I grabbed her firmly and angrily told her, “You had better get control of yourself RIGHT NOW!” Immediately realizing that I could have quite easily escalated to a point-of-no-return, I released her, backed away, and immediately apologized for grabbing her (with blood trickling down my face and neck).
With that, she calmly handed me S1, who I took in my arms. He was crying. What happened next was almost surreal. She walked into the family room and completely ransacked it while I stood there and watched. As she flipped every table, threw every lamp and table-top item there was, I kept repeating, “Will you please knock it off! You’re 5-months pregnant and I’m afraid something bad is going to happen!” She didn’t. She wouldn’t. So, I removed myself and S1 to the living room until she was done.
That’s what happened. We slept in separate rooms that night, though, I recall I didn’t actually sleep that much. The next day, while I was at work, she had packed some things and went to her parents with S1 “for a few days.” I cleaned up the family room the next night.
A few days later, the expected IMversation would commence. Even as I re-read this now, it makes me slightly ill – not just her usual blatant projection and her uncanny ability to completely re-write the way an event occurred, but my apologizing for my lack of self-control in grabbing her by the arm after being assaulted. This is how far one can descend when plunged into the deep hole that a BPD drags you into. I can’t think of why I did that. My guess is years of “training” at the hands of PEW and the disordered behavior. Maybe a desire to try to de-escalate the situation, a futile effort, but one I would repeatedly attempt without success. Even still, you’ll notice she is right back on the offensive. She just never stops.
PEW: i need to ask you something
LM: Hi. Okay.
PEW: i don’t know what to do
LM: Okay. Look, I made a error in judgment the other night. I can only apologize and hope you can forgive me.
PEW: is there something going on in your life that I should know about
LM: Nope. Things are fine at work. I got good grades last semester (Both classes). Work is looking up as my “bonus-projects” are nearing completion. My wife and kids are healthy… and I am excited about our new baby coming.
PEW: It’s not that I can’t forgive you, but things like this have happened before….not for a long time but it’s a serious problem
LM: I’m sorry. I just can’t take the words. I just have to discipline myself to leave the house when it starts. Since you can’t promise not to do it. I just have to. First curse – I have to go take a timeout. That’s all I can do. I love you, I really, really do.
PEW: well we’ve been together for six years and we can’t seem to get it right. i know you do and I love you
LM: Discipline. It’s all about discipline. I’ll just go in the future. Avoid arguments. It’s that simple.
PEW: but I want this to be over and it won’t ever be
LM: I don’t think it is the correct method.
PEW: I think you need help
LM: But we can’t discuss difficult topics without the insult and curse barrage. And I have to avoid it. I agree. I need help in dealing with how to control myself when you can’t control yourself.
PEW: you blame me
LM: You may not like it put in that premise… but I obviously have a problem with self control when the insults start flying.
PEW: your temper is much worse than mine
LM: I just do. Enough about my temper.
PEW: I would never ever initiate physical contact with you during an arguement
LM: You just can’t see how your words set me off. You just did!
—–
Here is where she starts the fiction. After what transpired, she claims to “never” intiate physical contact. This wasn’t the first time. It also wouldn’t be the last time.
—–
PEW: well I think I’m leaving. they are excuses
LM: It’s not excuses… it is an obvious problem.
PEW: you don’t think this situation is directly related to your upbringing
LM: I can’t control myself when insulted. You wanted to ask a question.
PEW: i think i’m going to have to leave….I’ve thought about it and thought about
LM: You psychoanalyzing me will only result in more disagreement.
PEW: i can’t stay or you can’t stay….one of us is going to have to leave and since you don’t admit that you need proffessional help, I’m going to have to do something. this will happen again and again and again
LM: Excuse me… would you kindly scroll up and see the part where I said, “I have a problem.”
PEW: my leaving last time didn’t obviously impact you enough to prevent this
LM: I’ll wait. At what point do you admit that you have a self-control problem?
PEW: yes…you said your problem is that you can’t control yourself when I can’t control myself
LM: At what point do you take responsibility for the hurtful things that you say? You act as if your words should have no impact on me.
—–
This is more of the same failures on her part to ever accept any responsibility for her behavior. It’s always about me, my fault, my behaviors. She is responsible for none of it. However, it’s worse than that. When she does acknowledge doing “something,” it doesn’t matter what she does, her expectation from me is to not react as I do.
—–
PEW: well, when you are saying to me…..” I asked you a question, ANSWER THE QUESTION PEW”…. ANSWER THE QUESTION PEW…. ANSWER THE QUESTION PEW….
LM: I didn’t yell that.
PEW: the first thing that comes to my mind is that you are an asshole
LM: In fact, I believe I turned and calmly asked the lamp the question that you weren’t answering.
PEW: and I say it because you act like one
LM: You are rehashing the argument… and it serves no purpose. My disagreeing with what is “comfortable” or “not uncomfortable” does not warrant insults. That is what happened.
PEW: well LM, it’s not illegal for me to call you a name
LM: PEW… this isn’t about what is “legal” or not.
PEW: but it is illegal for you to touch me in a violent way. and if you do the drill seargent thing… i think that you are getting violent
LM: This isn’t a Q&A it is another one of your inquisitions. Can I be left alone now, since you are repeating the cycle again?
PEW: well I just want to know where we go from here?
LM: I don’t know. I’m sorry.
PEW: because this isn’t going away?
LM: But I will not sit here and have you lump the blame on me. You got violent. You got insulting.
PEW: so I take it that you are not leaving? no you got violent?
LM: And I simply will not sit by and tolerate your revisionist history. I have nowhere to go. I am not leaving.
PEW: my father does not have a history of physical violence…yours does
LM: Sorry. Please, my father has nothing to do with this.
PEW: so I’m not the one who initiates violence. i don’t
LM: Your father has a history of verbal abuse and perpetuating mental anguish on his spouse and children. There is no excuse for me grabbing you.
PEW: well if you called me a “fat bitch” or a slut or anything, I’d take that over what happened the other night
LM: That does not mean that you are without blame for how things transpired. I understand that. That is why I said that in the future… as soon as you curse me… I will leave.
PEW: no you won’t
LM: I need to discipline myself to do that.
PEW: you won’t. you need to see a proffessional
—–
This appears to be another characteristic of the borderline. At least, it’s the experience of those I know via support groups and forums. A common theme is their insistence that you (the non-borderline) need professional help, a psychiatrist, anger-management classes, or similar. PEW is no different in that regard.
—–
LM: But again… I see you making no promises on the steps that you will take to prevent an escalation of things.
PEW: i don’t scare you?
LM: Yes, you do.
PEW: or intimidate you? please
LM: Yes, you do. I don’t care if you don’t believe it.
PEW: you’re the one with the guns
LM: But you when go into your routine… it scares me, and I lash out. Oh please.
PEW: you’re the only one who’s threatened to kill yourself and burn down the house
LM: I did not threaten to kill myself.
—–
Strong projection. Here is a person who has repeatedly talked of suicide throughout her life (I would come to find out) who projects that onto another. I assure you I have never threatened to kill myself. Also, it’s not just the suicide threats – it’s the not taking responsibility for creating this chaos. It’s the delusion that she “never initiates” physical contact, when in reality – she always did.
—–
PEW: that’s not emotional abuse? you did too
LM: I wish you would stop saying that. Okay. Enough.
PEW: i’ll leave then
LM: Obviously, you haven’t had enough of arguing, and can’t discuss things rationally.
PEW: have you heard from my Dad
LM: So, if you have nothing meaningful to offer except more blanket accusations and justification for your verbal abuse, can we end the conversation?
PEW: have you heard from my Dad?
LM: Why should I be hearing from your Dad?
PEW: well he is upset
LM: That sounds reasonable.
PEW: you don’t just choke a woman that is 6 months pregnant and expect people to love you for it
LM: What purpose would his involvement help? I did not choke you.
PEW: it wouldn’t and I told my mom I didn’t want him to call
LM: I am so sorry you told them I “choked” or “strangled” you. That’s a shame.
PEW: you did
LM: Sure. Strangled with no marks, while I sit here with claw marks across my neck. Interesting.
PEW: please LM….you are kidding yourself…I’m wondering what you would have done if I wasn’t pregnant
—–
There I go again! Trying to explain reality to someone who has a compulsion to break from reality. It’s as if she has an ability to not only block out what she did, but actually recreate a new account of what actually occurred.
—–
LM: You are so grossly dramatic.
PEW: that’s why if there is something else going on with you…you should tell me
LM: How did you explain a “strangulation” with no hand prints?
PEW: grossly dramatic?
LM: Yes.
PEW: i didn’t say you strangled me
LM: “Choking” and “strangulation” are overly dramatic.
PEW: you choked me
LM: You said I “strangled” you last night. You say I “choked” you today. Yet, you have no marks.
PEW: there was also a bump on the back of my head
LM: A bump? From what? ME?!?!? You must be joking?
PEW: this is no joke. our son was there
LM: And what, pray tell, did I do to cause this bump on your head?
PEW: that didn’t even stop you
LM: It didn’t stop you, either.
PEW: well I’ll leave and when you are rehabilited, I’ll come back
LM: Amazing that you can sit in an accusatory position, and fail to acknowledge unleashing a verbal assault on me in front of oru child.
LM: Throw stuff all over the room. Physically assualt me.
PEW: because you pulled the drill seargent thing on him
LM: And you can sit there and act like you are right now.
PEW: i did not physically assault you
LM: Sure.
PEW: i grabbed your neck after you grabbed mine
LM: These scratches on my neck appeared out of thin air?
LM: No, when I yelled at you, you swung at me.
LM: Then I grabbed you.
PEW: you pulled away after I grabbed your neck. bull shit. liar
LM: Okay. So… we disagree as usual. I’m sorry for that.
PEW: after you get proffessional help, I’ll come home
LM: Did you physically assault me?
PEW: proffessional help. no i did not
—–
This is what drives people insane with a borderline. In the same “breath” (so-to-speak), she acknowledges “grabbing” my neck while a few replies later says she didn’t physically assault me.
—–
LM: You didn’t scratch up my neck?
PEW: i was defended myself while i was holding our son
LM: Did you verbally assault me, and again, repeatedly insult me and my family in front of our child?
PEW: when you grabbed my neck, I reached out for yours…that’s when you pulled back….hence the scratches. no i didn’t insult your family
LM: That is physical assault, PEW. Yes you did.
PEW: I called you an asshole and a jerk and a dick
LM: When I brought it up to you last night… You said that they were all assholes… again.
PEW: well for the most part….they are. that’s the truth. Sorry.
LM: Okay… enough.
PEW: you know it
LM: You can’t stop yourself. You have nerve telling me that I need help.
PEW: well I’m very upset that once again, me and my child have to be uprooted because you are not man enough to NOT STRIKE OUT IN ANGER
—–
More projection. She admonishes me for allegedly “striking out in anger” – when in reality and by her own admission during this exchange (and subsequent denials) having done just that. This is what makes the non-borderline’s head spin in honest confusion. You truly begin to question your own sanity, sometimes to the point of questioning whether or not things happened as you recall them.
—–
PEW: don’t come home here at lunch
LM: You can’t control yourself either.
PEW: i’m packing and getting ready to leave
LM: Just because you do it verbally doesn’t make it right… and last night you did it physically, too.
PEW: I was defending myself. I never strike out at people in anger…unless then strike me first. i may throw a book or tip over a table, but hitting other people is not my thing
LM: Call it what you will… my grabbing you and saying “You better get control of yourself” and then letting go is not “choking” it isn’t “strangulation” is wasn’t even “scratching.”
PEW: that’s not the way I was brought up
LM: Well, you did so last night… and you did it before, too.
PEW: bullshit. Liar. you are a liar LM
LM: I know… the truth is tough to acknowledge. You never kicked me in the chest for “yelling.” Right? You who never lashes out? You didn’t scratch my neck for “yelling?” Right? I did everything first is your claim, as always.
PEW: i pushed you away with my foot once when you were screaming in my face after you pushed me onto the bathroom floor. then I kicked you
LM: Excuse me?
PEW: and you punched me in the leg. that was the day before we got married
LM: You kicked me so hard in the chest that my left side turned GREEN. Whew. You are amazing with your revisionist history. Absolutely amazing. Well, this served no useful purpose. Sorry.
—–
Another situation that happened years before during an argument is what she is describing here. She was laying on the sofa. I was standing down one end, where her feet were and we were engaged in another yelling match. Without warning, she reared up and karate-kicked me square in the chest. As it was happening, I swung my arm to attempt to deflect the blow, but I was too late. I fell back into the entertainment unit. Not long after that, my entire left pectoral muscle on down into my rib cage turned green, yellow, and purple from bruising.
—–
PEW: then there was the time you punched me in the arm and the chest because you were screaming in my face and I pushed you away
LM: Please, PEW, please stop making stuff up.
PEW: that was the time I said I wasn’t going to do the mortgage thing because this house would never feel like mine
LM: I hit you in the leg defensively when you karate kicked me in the chest.
PEW: ahhhh the happy memories we have. bull shit
LM: Yes.
PEW: you are a woman beater….just like your father. you just have a little more control
LM: I know you that you won’t acknowledge it, but you were laying on the couch, and I was yelling in response to yet another patented verbal assault by you, and you mulekicked me right in the chest.
PEW: excuses, excuses
LM: And I hit you in the leg.
PEW: and if I stay with you….our sons will be abusers too. please LM
LM: You are harassing me in work again. Like I asked you not to.
PEW: no…it’s the only safe way I can talk to you
LM: Next will likely come the harassing phone calls… like I asked you not to.
PEW: otherwise you would be screaming in my face
LM: You mean, it is the safe way to continue to perpetrate your vicious mouth, isn’t that it?
PEW: if I don’t talk to you on line or by phone we’d be doing the whole scenario all over again. please??!!!
LM: No we wouldn’t.
PEW: we would. you can’t have a normal relationship
LM: Please nothing… go re-read the venom you’ve spewed in this very discussion. Yes I can. I just didn’t think I was marrying a verbal abuser.
PEW: let me ask you this…. Did you have problems like this with your first wife?
LM: One who could continually be so mean and insulting and never stop doing it.
PEW: did you ever put your hands on her? I think you did. I think I might call her
LM: Enough.
PEW: i need to know if it’s me or you
LM: Sorry that you continue to rage out of control. Bye.
—–
More of the same dance.
The Christmas of 2000 was a particularly miserable experience despite my always mistaken belief that I had done everything “right.” The next few exchanges to be posted will detail the diametrically opposed view of this particular holiday.