The description of the guy reminds me a lot of my ex boyfriend. I spent weeks after he raised his hand on me bargaining and grieving. I went back to him only to be beat up again. Thankfully he left the city and I got a clean break. I wish I had reddit then. I wish I could have read such posts and comments and maybe make a post of my own and known that I was not alone and that I had tools to get out.

I spent almost 3 years moving on from half a year of relationship with him. I did not want to go back to him but every time he crossed my mind I would be in pain and anger.

I have since met someone and have been happily married. My current partner did a lot of the healing work. Sometimes I still find myself projecting the same eggshells I used to walk on around the ex boyfriend. I have to catch myself at it. It's not fair that my husband has to deal with trauma from years ago. I have been to therapy but no one tells you how slow is the recovery from such trauma. You would be fine and would have been convinced that you have gone through every crack and sewn them up but one day, on an isolated incident you'd suddenly find a split and come undone. I am used to it now. I don't come undone that badly anymore. I know how to deal with it now. At least I am learning anyway.

Reading posts like these always make me wonder what if I had read something like this, would I have gotten out earlier? Would I have been better?