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DD in abusive relationship-never ending

142 replies

Conniebygaslight · 16/04/2025 17:36

Has anyone struggled with their DD in an abusive relationship? No kids involved and she’s only 19 but it’s gone on since she was 14. She’s obsessed with the lowlife and no matter what we do she doesn’t want to get out of it but has no life. Any encouraging stories welcome. Desperate for any hope at all.

OP posts:
Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 11:28

Dappy777 · 04/06/2025 10:20

I'm so sorry OP, it really does sound awful. From my outsider perspective (which can be useful, as outsiders often see things differently), it sounds more like mental illness than a relationship. That may be a good thing, in a way, because at least you can treat a mental illness. It isn't simply a young girl in love. It's infatuation/obsession/addiction. You need to find some way of breaking that before she does something silly like get pregnant or buy a flat with him. The only things I can think of are:

  • Getting her away to a new environment/new country/new city
  • Getting her into therapy
  • Getting her on medication

I don't think medication is as crazy at it sounds. Years ago I was put on Paxil/Seroxat. I hated the stuff, and was glad to come off it. But, at the time, it helped me a lot. I slept constantly and deeply (after years of insomnia) and, after a spell of brighter mood, developed a kind of numbness/indifference. My sex drive also dropped through the floor. Obviously for most people numbness, indifference, constant sleeping and a loss of sex drive would be awful. But for your daughter it would be ideal. I'm not sure they even prescribe it today. Also, it would be tough to explain things to a modern GP, who has to do everything by the book. But if you could somehow find a GP who was intelligent and broad-minded, he/she might get what you mean. You know – form a sort of off the record, unspoken agreement. An anti-depressant that numbed her and reduced her sex drive would be perfect. She'd no longer be blinded by her emotions and sexual desire. Atm they are clouding her judgement.

Edited

She doesn't want any sort of help I'm afraid.

OP posts:
Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 11:37

Mudsludge · 04/06/2025 11:03

A sharp eyed colleague at work at one point noticed fingerprints bruises on my arm when I was pregnant, which was from my husband grabbing me roughly in an argument, and although I downplayed it to her face I could tell she didn’t believe my excuses and she specifically told me that domestic abuse often increases in pregnancy, that she was worried about me, and to please talk to her if I need to anytime etc.

Its good that your DD continues to work. She still has two safe spaces, two normal life contexts in which to contrast her abusive relationship experience even if this unconscious, two avenues of communication, two avenues of support, two avenues for release, two avenues for potential escape and two chunks of her life that he hasnt (yet) isolated.

Two people I know who finally left abusive relationships did it by building a confidence at work with another woman - someone who had never met the abuser and only commented independently on the objective generic actions and behaviour of abuse and coercive control (which a lot of people dont understand the details and nuance of). Maybe there isnt the tug of war feeling for the victim in these colleague relationships - they dont feel the binary dictomy of 'come home' vs 'stay with him' - basically love and judgment pulling them in both directions - and a win lose situation for either him or the family with her as the prize.

Both the women I knew left to live alone one with 5 children one with none - and it was done with a slow chipping away of seeing the light and then a slow acceptance of they need rather than the want to leave and a slow putting together of a safe exit plan (saving small amounts of money etc). There are 3 threads on here over the years - one about one woman who got small amounts of cash back on every shop, who bought all the larger sizes for her childrens school uniform, as well as extra washing powder, dishwasher tabs etc stored at a friends house so she had a financial cushion - another just the other day who has taken 7 long months to secretly find a HA prop for her DC and arrange donated furniture and will disappear once all in place - and the accounts from littleredtoothbrush who finally escaped with meticulous secret planning

Maybe this is something you could subtly engineer with her boss if there was someone new at work she slowly clicked with? Or just continue to hope that her workplace will one day present an opportunity when the stars align.

Maybe she senses your (100% justified) handwringing, desperation, judgment of him (and maybe her) from you and her family and for her this closes off communication and she is automatically subconsciously or consciously into defence mode in your company. I dont know if switching demeanor in her company would (over time) shift the emotional dynamic between you all - maybe he and her current life choices are never brought up (she already knows your views) - that the emotion when she visits is just fun and joy and ordinary life?

I say this very gently but I think your demeanor on this thread can come across as a bit blunt and harsh (I understand your emotional depletion and desperation) but if there is any of this tone sensed by your DD it would not be helping her - even if you are not speaking just demeanor. Maybe subconsciously she feels you dont 'see her' just see her always in the context of this relationship which is to you is negative and needing rescuing. This may undermine her sense of self and automony (which is already eroded by her abuser but she cant see this yet).

I have sensed a destraught nearly victim blaming despair in your words describing your daughter - which is totally undertsandable with what you have been through over the last 5 years with effectively your young teen child - she was only 14 and I doubt her emotional age and therefore capacity has grown since then - but I dont think this demeanor is helpful or will shift her perspective - more likely to entrench it.

There are chinks of light for your DD - she still comes to you - she is still working and has the potential for a trusting or influential friendship with a colleague - can you hang on to this hope and maybe try shift your mindset for your DD and intentionally aim for 'light' positive 'normal' fun interactions with your DD as a unique and celebrated self rather than the (complict?) victim in a horror story (which of course she is for outsiders looking in but she cant see this yet).

You mentioned the Drama Triangle but I wonder if you have read about the Empowerment Triangle which shifts the roles of persecutor, victim and resuer in unproductive communication dynamics to challenger, creator and coach and fosters growth and postive communications. This might be helpful for you to maybe step aside from the reactive communication you have with your DD and into a more intentional responsive one?

I also want to comment on the shouting down of suggestions of neurodiversity and depression and their managment by PP on this thread which concerns me.

There is lots of literature that evidences the greater vulnerability of neurodiverse women to abuse. The additional fact that your DD was bullied at school prior might also suggest something. Girls are hugely underdiagnosed - and without support (lifetsyle and / or medication) its no surprise their struggles with the NT world lead to depression (as would abuse on top to either any NT or ND woman). Although the abusive relationship is front and centre it wouldnt do any harm researching and reflecting whether she had any undiagnosed ND traits which, if so, might provide another avenue of how you could shift how you all communicate with her to connect more constructively.

Are you getting any professional emotional support for you and / or do you have capacity to build in additional self care to sustain yourself for the next few years whilst you watch and wait through this marathon? Can you allow yourself to hope/believe that this will have been resolved by the time she is 25 rather than today, tomorrow next week? Or is that too painful? Prepare for the worst whilst hoping for the best. If you could accept the likely long game might be another way to shift your energy.

Do you have access to any direction from any DA services who can help you navigate and sustain this connection and relationship with your child as we know in these situations the normal standard rules of life and communication just dont apply and may even be detrimental (to all of you).

Lastly after you have cared for yourself are you able to intentionally nourish and enjoy your marriage, your other DCs and your friendships without guilt? These can all take a back seat and be inadvertently blighted when they are critical for not just sustaining you day to day but bringing your some purpose, joy and relief in life.

I dont know if the core AA approach "detach with love" would help - the idea is that you recognise that you can't control or influence their choices and how you are (understandably) behaving - emotional, reactive, desparate, trying to fix - may inadvertently be enabling to the abusive relationship by bring too much of the wrong energy - fraught / intrusive - which closes her emotional space down from the other side in the tug of war. If you 'drop the rope' (deciding ahead on your own playbook of how you respond (not react) to incidents / communications with her and then get on in contructively building out your own life positively - she maybe has more emotional space to find herself, reflect and work things out for herself rather than rejecting every word that comes from your mouth.

I am hand wringing, I go through every emotion as we all do and at the moment I'm feeling hopeless and a little detached. . I do tell her how much she is loved and how much we're here for her. She definitely still wants a connection with us but can only see us for a few minutes or so and has nothing really to talk about. She refuses to engage in any support of any kind regardless of how gently i approach it. She doesn't want to do anything to be free of him as that thought terrifies her. I've spoken to her about being free of the hurt and pain but she cannot differentiate between the emotional turmoil and him. She knows to feel better she needs to leave him but that feels worse to her. She isn't ND. She was bullied at school for being her, bright, beautiful and kind. (she was in those dreadful popular toxic friendship groups). Her new job involves working with one of his friends who they also live with so she isn't at risk of any support there either.

OP posts:
Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 11:43

Dappy777 · 04/06/2025 09:30

I can see how difficult it would be. Has she ever spoken about a particular place/country she dreams of visiting? Maybe you could tell her that the best way to win him back is to go away somewhere – then he'll realise how much he misses her (any old nonsense). It might not work, of course, but she sounds like an addict. Like she's under a spell. Parole officers often advise addicts not to return to their old town, if possible, because they quickly slip back into old habits. If they can get away somewhere – a new town, a new country – they see their old life in a completely different light. People and places that loomed so large in their mind shrink to nothing. If you could get her to Australia, for example, and get her swimming in the sea, drinking cocktails, watching the sunrise in the outback, etc, this repulsive little cretin would seem very different. I really think the key is getting her into a completely new environment with new people – ideally where she'd have the opportunity to meet a new man.

Your ideas are coming from a very caring place @Dappy777 but in truth, no one will “get” this young woman to do anything until she either grows out of him, he dumps her or goes to prison or some trauma occurs.
He is the problem, not her.

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 11:51

Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 11:43

Your ideas are coming from a very caring place @Dappy777 but in truth, no one will “get” this young woman to do anything until she either grows out of him, he dumps her or goes to prison or some trauma occurs.
He is the problem, not her.

Thankyou. I'm really glad you've recognised that. She will not entertain the idea of going anywhere despite us offering to take, pay or etc. She doesn't want anything to take her away from him and she certainly doesn't want to think about having fun. He's ground her down and abused her that much she believes he is the only one who can fill the hole he creates. Typical abuse and trauma bond. I'm really hoping that age is on her side and that she will eventually mature but god it's so hard.

OP posts:
ConstitutionHill · 04/06/2025 11:54

I'd try a different tack. Clearly she knows you don't like him so continue to make it clear she always has a place with you and you will always support her, then pretend to step back.

When you ask what she's been up to and she says nothing, driving loser around etc, say "oh that sounds pretty boring, we're planning x,y and z" act more "puzzled" than concerned.

Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 11:59

He could have an accident … my mum and grandma at the time were fully prepared to beat my daughter’s abuser up, and my husband had to physically restrain me once from trying the same. Obviously that’s not a serious or lawful suggestion but that’s the frame of mind that loving parents get into.

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 12:01

ConstitutionHill · 04/06/2025 11:54

I'd try a different tack. Clearly she knows you don't like him so continue to make it clear she always has a place with you and you will always support her, then pretend to step back.

When you ask what she's been up to and she says nothing, driving loser around etc, say "oh that sounds pretty boring, we're planning x,y and z" act more "puzzled" than concerned.

I haven't clapped eyes on him in 4 years and he sent me a message saying 'Fuck You' he is like a troll in a cave who screams and shouts at her and takes all her money so it's pretty obvious we don't like him. When we ask what she's been up to (Very breezily) she always replies 'Nothing' we are very loving towards her. We invite her to everything but she doesn't come because she's scared to leave him for a moment as he punishes her for having a good time. She only lives with him because she is worried if she doesn't he will cheat on her....she has a lovely home but lives in a glorified squat that she tries to make homely.

OP posts:
Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 12:03

Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 11:59

He could have an accident … my mum and grandma at the time were fully prepared to beat my daughter’s abuser up, and my husband had to physically restrain me once from trying the same. Obviously that’s not a serious or lawful suggestion but that’s the frame of mind that loving parents get into.

We've considered this but worry that will make him even more of a victim and someone she has to fix.

OP posts:
OkimADHD · 04/06/2025 12:23

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 11:25

I was reluctant to do a Clare's law as she wouldn't do anything whatever she might learn from it and I'm afraid her reluctance wouldn't put her in a good light if anything does happen. I.E the police could say 'You were aware but didn't act'

No they wouldn't.
Police are aware how vulnerable women are and how and why they stay.
She may not seem as if she's listening or taking it all in but she will be. (Im ex police). Evidence just might give her a jolt . God I wish you all the best. I think inmay have problems like this with my daughter when she's older as she is neurodiverse and lacks self esteem.

Mudsludge · 04/06/2025 12:39

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 11:37

I am hand wringing, I go through every emotion as we all do and at the moment I'm feeling hopeless and a little detached. . I do tell her how much she is loved and how much we're here for her. She definitely still wants a connection with us but can only see us for a few minutes or so and has nothing really to talk about. She refuses to engage in any support of any kind regardless of how gently i approach it. She doesn't want to do anything to be free of him as that thought terrifies her. I've spoken to her about being free of the hurt and pain but she cannot differentiate between the emotional turmoil and him. She knows to feel better she needs to leave him but that feels worse to her. She isn't ND. She was bullied at school for being her, bright, beautiful and kind. (she was in those dreadful popular toxic friendship groups). Her new job involves working with one of his friends who they also live with so she isn't at risk of any support there either.

I am hand wringing, I go through every emotion as we all do and at the moment I'm feeling hopeless and a little detached.

Have you read these parenting styles from The Maudsley for families in crisis?

https://avedcaregiver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Maudsley-Animal-Analogies.pdf

Its understandable you are fraught - but maybe when she senses your intense emotions its inadvertently not helping her? In the moments you are with her can you fake it to make it? Are you able to access specific professional support to process your own hopeless and helpless mood which must be exhausting and derailing for your own life?

I do tell her how much she is loved and how much we're here for her. She definitely still wants a connection with us but can only see us for a few minutes or so and has nothing really to talk about.

This is precious. Quality not quanity for now. Maybe she doesnt want to talk about anything but needs a serene calm accepting environment now and then just to collect her own thoughts - in contrast to her hectic lived experience with him. Can you provide this - no expectations to discuss progress just let her be and provide physical and emotional space for her to chill. Does she come home when you are not there - can she let herself in etc? Could she take a bubble bath, sit peacefully in the sunshine in the garden, help herself to some healthy food etc? Can she do this whilst you are home getting on with other stuff in another room? I am thinking of your home being a physically and emotionally nourishing (silent?) retreat where this bright young woman can have the time and space away from the chaos of her current living conditions - even when you are not around?

She refuses to engage in any support of any kind regardless of how gently i approach it. She doesn't want to do anything to be free of him as that thought terrifies her. I've spoken to her about being free of the hurt and pain but she cannot differentiate between the emotional turmoil and him. She knows to feel better she needs to leave him but that feels worse to her. She isn't ND. She was bullied at school for being her, bright, beautiful and kind. (she was in those dreadful popular toxic friendship groups).

She's not ready - yet - for this type of support. Can you accept that and maybe even demonstate respect for her choices at this time by stepping back and not having these conversations unless and untill she initiates them? Sounds like you have said all there is to say - repeating it wont help her - and she has said that she knows cognitively what needs to happen - its now just her emotional side trying to catch up. So you are currently doing everything you can for her at this time and what she needs at this time - comfort, access, communication, unconditional love etc. Keep faith that one day she will be ready. Its like inching along a high diving board - one day she will take the leap. She doesnt know when this will be.

Her new job involves working with one of his friends who they also live with so she isn't at risk of any support there either.

She may well meet another peer over time - young people are more informed than we were to see signs. You never know even the abusers friend might be the one to support down the line. She is beautiful, kind and bright - colleagues will want to be her friend.

https://avedcaregiver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Maudsley-Animal-Analogies.pdf

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 12:53

@Mudsludge Of course she can access her home whenever she wants, you are writing as though she wants serenity and calm that we are more than happy to provide and do offer her. The reality is that she is so distressed and worried when she's away from him that she daren't be away long enough to have a bath or sit outside or have a meal with us. She's even chosen a job that means she can get back to him in a heartbeat should he block her as he often does. When i say she doesn't have anything to talk about, I mean her life in general. We don't press her in anyway to talk about him.

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Catsandcannedbeans · 04/06/2025 13:09

I was in a several year relationship when I was 16 with an absolute waste of space. My family made it clear he was a loser and they didn’t like him, but also made sure I knew I could come home whenever. It ended because he got in a physical altercation with my dad and he basically got his ass handed to him by a 65 year old man. He started the fight and pushed my dad several times before he retaliated. Something in my brain just snapped when I saw that. I vividly remember thinking “oh my god he’s a fucking loser”. It was a weird snap because before that I was obsessed. He was dragging me down into loserdom with him, and once I saw that I just snapped. Absolutely not suggesting your DH batters this boy, but hopefully your DD will have a moment of realisation. All you can do is make sure she’s on contraception and make sure she knows you will always accept her home and love her. From the sounds of it, therapy would be a shout, but you’ll have to convince her to go.

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 13:15

Catsandcannedbeans · 04/06/2025 13:09

I was in a several year relationship when I was 16 with an absolute waste of space. My family made it clear he was a loser and they didn’t like him, but also made sure I knew I could come home whenever. It ended because he got in a physical altercation with my dad and he basically got his ass handed to him by a 65 year old man. He started the fight and pushed my dad several times before he retaliated. Something in my brain just snapped when I saw that. I vividly remember thinking “oh my god he’s a fucking loser”. It was a weird snap because before that I was obsessed. He was dragging me down into loserdom with him, and once I saw that I just snapped. Absolutely not suggesting your DH batters this boy, but hopefully your DD will have a moment of realisation. All you can do is make sure she’s on contraception and make sure she knows you will always accept her home and love her. From the sounds of it, therapy would be a shout, but you’ll have to convince her to go.

Thank you, that must've been awful to witness. Can I ask how old you were when you realised?. (She won't entertain therapy of any sort)

OP posts:
Catsandcannedbeans · 04/06/2025 13:21

@Conniebygaslight it was pretty weird to witness because I’ve never seen my dad lose his temper, he is a jolly kind of guy it was like watching farther Christmas in a scrap. I was 18 and 7 days, it was at my birthday celebration… I went to therapy a few months after we split up and it did help, I genuinely wish I’d done it sooner. I thought I was over it because I’d had that mental snap of “omg he’s a loser”, but actually I wasn’t over it. It will be hard to get her to go but if I was you I’d keep pushing it.

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 13:26

Catsandcannedbeans · 04/06/2025 13:21

@Conniebygaslight it was pretty weird to witness because I’ve never seen my dad lose his temper, he is a jolly kind of guy it was like watching farther Christmas in a scrap. I was 18 and 7 days, it was at my birthday celebration… I went to therapy a few months after we split up and it did help, I genuinely wish I’d done it sooner. I thought I was over it because I’d had that mental snap of “omg he’s a loser”, but actually I wasn’t over it. It will be hard to get her to go but if I was you I’d keep pushing it.

Thank you. It really helps to speak with someone who's been through it. I'll keep trying to encourage it.

OP posts:
Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 14:12

@Dappy777 i can see you’re trying to help and please don’t take this the wrong way. But this is the nature of abusive relationships. They make the “victim” behave in ways that seem unbelievably against their own interests. They may look like they’re suffering from a mental illness, they may take to drink and drugs, but the problem is the abuser, not the person that’s being abused.
The OP has explained that she’s tried pretty well all the suggestions here but this young woman cannot be “got” to do anything she doesn’t choose to. The suggestion of getting some sympathetic GP to put her on an antidepressant (which would never happen in the way you describe) is a really poor one.

Conniebygaslight · 04/06/2025 14:14

Flamingfeline · 04/06/2025 14:12

@Dappy777 i can see you’re trying to help and please don’t take this the wrong way. But this is the nature of abusive relationships. They make the “victim” behave in ways that seem unbelievably against their own interests. They may look like they’re suffering from a mental illness, they may take to drink and drugs, but the problem is the abuser, not the person that’s being abused.
The OP has explained that she’s tried pretty well all the suggestions here but this young woman cannot be “got” to do anything she doesn’t choose to. The suggestion of getting some sympathetic GP to put her on an antidepressant (which would never happen in the way you describe) is a really poor one.

Thank you ☺

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