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Computer Aided Dating

Him (ptsd related)  

senfully 55F  
618 posts
12/2/2021 6:14 am
Him (ptsd related)


Him
written July 8th, 2021

This is painful stuff, for to post. I need to get this out of my "In Process Notebook" and into the "Finished Notebook." For part of ptsd is avoiding anything about the trauma. I don't even want to him my father, but that is who this is about. There are not graphic details of trauma in this writing, but there is some graphic language. I would avoid it if words can trigger you. Please feel free to skip this one and move on to something else.

-----------------

The other day, I stood in the kitchen, and had velveeta on saltines, a snack indelibly associated with, him, like the big hershey bars with almonds, that he kept in the cupboard over his junk drawer filled with screws and nails, with the shoe polish for our Sunday shoes kept below.

I can smell the shoe polish, unexpectedly real, that drawer and the shoe polish, and my soul recoils, instinct to flee as far away as I can get. There are memories, of him, that I have practiced remembering, until I don't flinch, at the thought of him, in my home - in my mind - in me still.

This isn't one of them. This one comes crashing through me, like a tidal wave, the love and the hurt. If it was just one, love -or- hurt, it would be bearable, perhaps, but that is not what this is, one or the other.

Love and hurt, together, shatter me, over and over, and I am broken glass, on that kitchen floor, all over again. I resolve, to practice this memory, practice him, until I can walk over the glass of these memories, keeping the smile on my face, and not want to flee.

senfully 55F  
443 posts
12/2/2021 6:15 am

Him
written July 8th, 2021

This is painful stuff, for me to post. I need to get this out of my "In Process Notebook" and into the "Finished Notebook." For me part of ptsd is avoiding anything about the trauma. I don't even want to call him my father, but that is who this is about. There are not graphic details of trauma in this writing, but there is some graphic language. I would avoid it if words can trigger you. Please feel free to skip this one and move on to something else.

-----------------

The other day, I stood in the kitchen, and had velveeta on saltines, a snack indelibly associated with, him, like the big hershey bars with almonds, that he kept in the cupboard over his junk drawer filled with screws and nails, with the shoe polish for our Sunday shoes kept below.

I can smell the shoe polish, unexpectedly real, that drawer and the shoe polish, and my soul recoils, instinct to flee as far away as I can get. There are memories, of him, that I have practiced remembering, until I don't flinch, at the thought of him, in my home - in my mind - in me still.

This isn't one of them. This one comes crashing through me, like a tidal wave, the love and the hurt. If it was just one, love -or- hurt, it would be bearable, perhaps, but that is not what this is, one or the other.

Love and hurt, together, shatter me, over and over, and I am broken glass, on that kitchen floor, all over again. I resolve, to practice this memory, practice him, until I can walk over the glass of these memories, keeping the smile on my face, and not want to flee.


MrWrong4RghtNow 57M
2439 posts
12/3/2021 12:48 am

Being haunted by an abusive parent is such a frightening thing. So many factors and triggers can throw you back into that time.
I found strength and solace by accepting what was done to me and refusing to continually blame my mother for any mistake I made in my adult life. Yes, she caused the fractures within me but it became my choice to remain in pain.
That was and is my way: No one will decide my fate but me.
Yours is different simply because there is no wrong way to coming out the other end.
I hope your healing process continues. Hugs

My name is MrWrong and I approved this comment


senfully replies on 12/3/2021 6:12 am:
Thank you for taking the time to share this. Yes. Your words show me one way to approach things. We're so fragmented here it's hard to get everyone on the same page. Working on it! Hugs.

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