In her book, “The Emotionally Destructive Marriage,” author Leslie Vernick writes, “It’s crucial that you not lose your empathy and compassion even in a destructive marriage…
One of the things that kills empathy and compassion for someone we once felt love is the buildup of negative emotions, especially resentment.”[i]
I must assert from the get-go my strong disagreement with Mrs. Vernick’s basic operating premise that our “positive” emotions are to be embraced while our “negative” emotions should essentially be squelched.
emotions surfaced: a constant fear of what new tactics my abuser might employ to torment me now that I was no longer within easy reach, fears with regard to the kind of future my children and I might face, and on top of it all there was the heartbreaking realization that some people whom I considered friends clearly could not accept the reality of what was going on my life.
of weekly articles designed to “save your marriage,” headed up by Jimmy Evans at Marriage Today ministry.
“Strange game. The only winning move is not to play.” WarGames