So glad I kept a journal

[roselis]

I have reached that mindset recently too. XH and I are getting along really well right now. I started missing the "what could have been" again. All I have to do is go back and reread old emails, old blog entries, journal entries.. I know that even if he wanted to, we could never get back together. I could never trust him again. Our marriage had to end. And his new gf.... I'll be honest, I'm just waiting to hear that one of them was unfaithful. .

You aren't alone. And that is a great reason to have that journal.

[Bernadine]

Keeping a journal was one of the best things my counselor recommended to me.

[onesweetworld]

I better start a journal. I'm feeling all desperate today. Day 4.

[doriswe]

Oct 9, 2012 7:25:08 GMT -5 onesweetworld said:

I better start a journal. I'm feeling all desperate today. Day 4.

I strongly recommend it! I have looked back on what I wrote when things were really bad and am really proud of how much I've changed and grown!

[marigoldgirl]

I have always had a journal and it was always helpful to revisit them sometimes. It does help me keep everything in perspective. I also always feel better getting things out of my mind and onto paper. I tend to censor everything I say and sometimes even think around people and in my journal I never do that.

[prettyinpearls]

I didn’t keep a journal but I kept a blog that recounted my experience. I didn’t start it until after the divorce proceedings were just starting, so some of my entries weren’t captured “in the moment”. However, forcing myself to reflect on my marriage and the events that lead to our divorce was one of the most therapeutic things I did for myself.

I’m glad you were able to reflect and realize that you’re in a better place. Try not to stress too much about what’s beyond your control (your XH treating women badly in front of your DS, etc.). All you can do is provide a positive and awesome example for DS on your own – he’ll love you for it as he gets older!

[kc18]

This was the #1 thing that helped me while I was going through the process of leaving my cheating husband and making the decision to move out.

I pull them out from time to time and give myself a "reality check" - it is SO helpful for my mental state to have pages upon pages of the agony that I went through by trying to stick around and work through it. The pages since I moved out have been much much happier and more stable

[usedtobebear]

I agree with everything you said. I think keeping a journal was one of the best decisions I've made so far with my situation. Sometimes I think the same way, I'm being dramatic, or making things seem worse than they were, and then I go back and read my journals from April/May when shit started hitting the fan, and I'm amazed at all the craziness. I documented every text message and it's actually hard for me to read them. But, I'm still at an early stage in this process, I know as time goes on I will continue to be grateful to have my journal.

I'm sorry if it's hard seeing your ex-dh move on, I'm glad that reading your journals help solidify you made the right decision!

[BookLover]

I wrote s journal during the abuse. It helped me when I moved back and he was hounding me to get back together. I kept reading and he would say he didn't do anything, I would pull out things I had written down and he would shut up and leave me alone for a while. I then started to document instead of journal with my calender every time he contacted me so I could present it during court. It was very helpful.

[achase123]

Sometimes we ALL need a good reminder! Fortunately for me I'm reminded almost every time I see EX-H but sometimes it's hard because he's in a relationship so it makes me feel as if somehow I'm missing something in my life (even though I know I'm not).

Journaling is so cathartic-I'm glad to hear that it worked out well for you and was able to reinforce that you did the right thing.

Stay strong!

[Deleted]

Good for you on keeping a journal. I began journaling intermittently when we started marriage counseling. I have looked back at it and realized how bad it really was and how stressful it was to be abused. I'm so thankful now that I finally made the step to get the hell out! I'm glad you did too. People don't change! And yes, the poor next women will have to deal with it eventually too. They have no clue what they're in for...but then again, neither did we.