Anonymous asked this question on 4/2/2000:
What is going on in my boyfriend's head? On one side, he is very sweet and expressive and tells me he loves me constantly. Then, is explosive, controlling, verbally abusive. For example, spend two days with him and everythings great, then, when he comes to my house to show me answers to my questions on my computer, takes over without letting me show him what I've been doing possibly wrong, so he can explain it the correct way. Suddenly says, "shut the f*** up! Gets angry before I know what's going on, grabs my glasses on my face, bends them and pulls them off my face. He hits me twice, on the chest, but not hard enough to hurt me. He has gotten mad and explodes all the time but always calms down. I tell him he needs medication, and counseling but he rejects that notion. His mother was very controlling he says and his father very gentle. I believe that. There is no excuse the way he behaves. When this happens, I won't see him for a while and he always gets me to come back to him by telling me he over reacted and loves me. I want to tell him I don't won't him to call me again until he has gotten counseling for a year and knows he was abusive and has learned to conrol his temper. Other that this terrible side of him he is a great person. He is 59 years old. I tell him he will grow old alone because he won't change. Is there a good book out there to read that gives a person insight into abusive behavior? I need to move on because I deserve better. I need to know if therapy changes people like this permanently if they choose and what is the success rate?
Artemidoros gave this response on 4/15/2000:
Dear Anonymous, Your boyfriend has a serious problem and you are quite right to propose him to have soma therapy. I equally agree on your talling him that you don't ant to see him if he doesn't make something to solve his problem. There are alot of therapies dealing with (agressive) behavior problems, it all depends on the reason underlying. In a lot of cases there are good results but it takes a lot of time. One thing that orries me is that you look at him ith too much admiration. Why is that? I hope that your boyfriend will not misuse your admiration and confidence. I also hope for you ( and for him) that he doesn't suffer from any severe mental problem such as personality disorder or psychosis.These conditons also accur to clever people and to people ho have a lot of positive personality traits, nevertheless living with them is difficult. Ask for more direct advice!
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