I recently just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship that lasted an entire year. I know a lot of people have been in one for years and years. But the damage is the same. You begin to see yourself as how they told you you were. You believed everything they said because you thought well.. it must be true they know me the best. Or it must be true or they wouldn't say it. In my case when I asked my ex why he said the terrible things he said about me his answer was "because it's true" and he said if I wasn't those things he wouldn't say them. He said he was trying to help me realize what I am so I could change them. But the put-downs were not things one would work on... such as calling someone an alcoholic because they drink too much. He would call me Stupid, and not Normal, and a cunt. I never knew why he said those things. But I began to believe them. Everything was ALWAYS my fault all the time in any situation. If anyone outthere knows what this is like please join my support group because as much as I need the support, I want to support others as well.