My Past

There are so many things that have happened in my life which have shaped the person I am today. However, few things have had as much of an impact on my life as my first marriage and subsequent divorce. This is largely due to the fact that it's something I've had to deal with ever since...because we had two children together. I'm sharing my experience on this blog for two reasons 1) because it gives a lot of background information about things that I might write about in the future, and 2) because my situation marrying and eventually divorcing someone who behaves as a narcissist echoes the experiences faced by many others in similar circumstances.

I've realized that it's incredibly therapeutic just to be "allowed" to tell your story...especially in the face of so many conflicting accusations. A narcissistic ex-spouse will never understand or genuinely admit their faults and they'll be able to tell convincing stories that contradict everything you say. You can only speak the truth, you can't make others believe it. You have to speak the truth for YOU. But sometimes it's nice to know someone out there is hearing you. For all those who have been there, know that you are not alone.

I've learned a lot from my past. It has helped me grow as a person and has shown that I can overcome and persevere. And most importantly, it has encouraged me to find what I truly want in life...and what I don't.

For easier reading (and because there is a LOT to talk about), I have broken this story into parts:

Part 1: The Marriage
Part 2: The Divorce
Part 3: The Legal System
Part 4: The Change in Custody
Part 5: The Remarriage

**disclaimer: To my knowledge, XH has not been diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder; I am simply giving my OPINION of how the symptoms of narcissism seem to be relevant based on MY experiences.