Some of these story really put ‘problems’ into perspective! Im so sorry to hear them!
The hardest thing I’ve ever been through was a very violent rape at 22. It was a fairly new relationship and I said ‘no’ to sex when he came to bed after he’d been out with his friends. It was pretty brutal and impacted every aspect of my life for a long time. His two ‘friends’ were asleep on the couch downstairs and heard my screams and didn’t help. I looked them right in the eye as I left the house. I never went back. I never reported it! I was semi naked in his bed, so you can imagine trying to prove it. For years, until I moved away, I would bump into the rapist and his two friends, all of the time.
I then stumbled into a relationship with, who I thought was the polar opposite of my ex. I was with him ten years only for him to cheat on me with someone we both worked with. I had to face gossip and rumours everyday in work. Then lots of other things came out like multiple affairs, all with work colleagues and also prostitutes. This one felt even worse than the rape because at least the rapist didn’t try to make out that he was a lovely guy! I didn’t miss a day in work and would like to think I handled it with grace whilst I watched him spiral! He still tries to reach out occasionally, 12 years later!
Eventually, I met my DH. He is the most amazing human. He inspired me to seek help and get rid of some demons. I like to think that it’s given me resilience and I do it all over again, knowing that I’d meet him at the end of it.
My gran used to say, everything will be ok in the end and if it’s not ok, then it’s not the end.