After trauma, I became the abuser — I’m trying to stop
A reader says therapy revealed that childhood trauma and an undiagnosed neurodivergence have led them to become verbally and emotionally abusive in a new, otherwise healthy relationship.
Dear Eric: For years I was in a toxic, abusive relationship. Fortunately, I ended it and my family and friends supported me along the way.
Now I’m in a new relationship with a healthy person but the tables have turned. Through couples and individual therapy, I have realized that, due to an undiagnosed neurodivergence and childhood trauma, I have become the abuser (verbally/emotionally).