Should I go?

[StripeyCats]

I need a bit of a pep talk I guess.

I have recently come out of a very controlling and very manipulative relationship. I have never really dealt with this or had friends or family deal with it so don't really have anyone to talk to. I've tried so hard to put it behind me and while at the start I felt very strong I feel like im feeling worse every day and new feelings come out.

I've seen that today at my local womens centre there is a drop in where they will go through services such as the freedom program. It says online that it includes mental and emotional abuse but I'm terrified that my situation isn't really serious enough for a women's centre as there was no violence or threats etc, just a lot of manipulation and 'punishing' me mentally etc. Never being outright told I'm not going out, but being manipulated into thinking I shouldn't go out. I'm a bit scared that as it wasn't very direct, maybe I'm overreacting.

Should I go? Or is this something I'm better dealing with in other ways? I'm so nervous.

Honest opinions, I would much prefer to hear it online than to show up and hear it to my face. I just want an outlet really and some help to make sure I never end up in this situation again.

You sound like a person who would def benefit from going!! I know someone who has done the programme after an abusive relationship and she is a much more assertive, confident woman. Hope you will be too!!

I have no experience directly but it seems clear from everything you read on MN that you are exactly the sort of person these sessions are aimed at. It is said many times here that emotional abuse, which you have plainly been suffering, is at least as damaging as physical abuse. Please pick up courage to go, it sounds just right. Good luck!

Everyone has there own tolerance for bullshit level. Just because you may find that others have suffered much worse than you does not mean that what you have gone through is any less real or had any less of an impact. It sounds like you would definitely benefit from going along. You may even find that your playing down what happened to you and you don't even realise your doing it. What have you got to lose? Good luck

Go, go, go

Of course you should go, everyone needs a bit of help sometimes. It's just talking.

Definitely go.

I would certainly attend this drop in session.