I truly relate to this story & there are so many women out there in the same situation today.With men & women we have to step back a lot more & listen to our gut not our hearts.I have not been in that situation for over 19 years now & what is important to me is my 2 grown girls & a lot of humor. You deal with it , get up & move on with humor & strength.

Posted on 9/11/08 4:30 PM.

This article really spoke to me, having been the "victim" of a controlling man. He subtly destroyed my self-esteem, and it took several months of therapy after the relationship ended for me to see how destructive his behaviour was to me. But I learned a valuable life lesson from it. It has taught me to listen to my inner voice from now on.

Posted on 9/11/08 4:31 PM.

I have just put that book "the manipulative man" on hold at my public library. Boy I sure could have used this when I was in my teens!! Better late than never I guess. Thanks for the insightful article!

Posted on 9/11/08 4:31 PM.

The article was pretty similar to my experiences with my ex. Electric first attraction, deep emotional attachment for me almost immediately, but as in the article, I began to realize I was being used by her. It began the same way, with her making "suggestions" about what to do, etc. After three years, I finally began standing up for myself, and not giving in to her every time. Once she realized I was not the pushover I used to be, she left me for a chain smoking, alcoholic man old enough to be her grandfather. It hurt a lot. But time has passed, and I look back on it as a learning experience, and now feel I know a lot better what I am looking for in a relationship.

Posted on 11/11/09 6:30 PM.