| People seeking to break the cycle of abuse know | | | | them, verification that you love them... It is a "fix" |
| the bullies, babies and lack of boundaries in abusive | | | | that says, "Through something you give or show me, |
| relationships. What they long to understand is, "Who | | | | I'm okay." It's their emotional dependency that gives |
| are these people, and where do they end and I | | | | them their baby-like characteristic. |
| begin?" | | | | Where are the Boundaries? |
| Who are the Bullies? | | | | Now here is the part that gets you, as a survivor, in |
| The bullies are those that want what they want | | | | trouble. Here is what gets you enmeshed in the cycle |
| when they want it. And most important to them is | | | | of abuse with your bully-baby. |
| that you are expected to deliver. You heard me. | | | | When your bully-baby reaches out aggressively and |
| They want it from you! | | | | abusively, you internalize the aggressive abuse. It |
| So, on the outside looking in, one may initially see | | | | pours in...and colors your day and defines your |
| them as empowered in their aggression. But the fact | | | | moment. And, in some cases, it may even define |
| is that these aggressions don't emerge out of a place | | | | you. |
| of invincibility. To the contrary, they emerge from | | | | The same thing happens when your spouse's |
| vulnerability. | | | | vulnerable baby-like persona shows up, too. It oozes |
| Who are the Babies? | | | | out from him/her, spilling over into you. It is as |
| They come from a place of longing what they have | | | | though there are no boundaries individuating you |
| vested in you. They are the baby part under the | | | | from your partner, much less your partner from you. |
| roar. They are the hurting "little one" seeking their | | | | Your recognition of the bullies, babies and lack of |
| "fix" through you. | | | | boundaries in abusive relationships could be your first |
| The so-called "fix" could be reassurance that you are | | | | step in breaking the cycle of abuse. |
| not leaving them, confirmation that you care about | | | | |