Emotional Abuse
- Austin, you’ve written a book entitled Emotional Abuse: Silent Killer of Marriage – A 30-Year Abuser Speaks Out; tell my readers a bit about your book.
The book chronicles my journey out of the abusive lifestyle I led for 30 years and what I learned along the way. I hope by sharing my mindset and experiences as a former abuser, other people will see glimpses of their own dysfunctional relationship or marriage and perhaps find a path that leads them to freedom. The book will benefit the abuser as well as the victim of abuse.
The second half of the book details what steps I took to break free from abuse and delves more deeply into the psychology of emotional abuse that I discovered during the past 5 years of my recovery. I bring the reader into my damaged mind to get answers to the manipulation, control, and angry behavioral questions they may have, including the question most victims of domestic violence want to know – Why?
- What was your motivation in writing this book?
When I woke up 5 years ago to discover the truth about who and what I was – an abuser – I was a mess. It felt like I woke up from a 30 year nightmare and discovered my ‘real’ world was crumbling all around – my wife planned to divorce me, my relationships with my children were broken, and I had NO idea where to turn to get help for my sickness. I was alone and I was scared!
As a form of stress relief I began to journal on a blog I created to capture what I was going through. Just as in the book, I was pretty transparent about myself and my journey. Amazingly, I started getting emails from readers, both abusers and the abused, who said my ramblings helped them. It was great therapy for me because even though my world was a mess, my mess was helping others cope with their mess. After my divorce I tanked emotionally and stopped writing, yet people still kept contacting me, even four years after I stopped updating the blog!
A while ago, with a much healthier mind, I pondered how I might update people as to all of the things I experienced and learned during the previous 5 years. I thought a blog is okay, but hey, a book is better! So I wrote one. So far, the response has been very positive for my intended audience.
- You present yourself as a recovering abuser. Do you still feel that you have natural tendencies toward abuse?
Oh, sure. Abuse is a deep, dark quagmire that envelops the soul Chuck. Some tendencies left me instantly the moment I became aware I was abusive – that’s the key by the way, an abuser becoming aware of who they are. Yet, some tendencies still remain.
In the book I talk about how I had to learn to literally rewire my damaged mind. We (people in general), act and react to circumstances based on information stored in our subconscious mind. Every time we act/react the same way to the same circumstance, we reinforce that particular behavior (circuit) wired into our brain. Learning to break those automated reactions and associated behaviors takes a lot of work and a lot of overcoming failure along the way, but it is doable!
I have my ‘buttons’ that trigger responses just like everyone else, but I’ve learned to break the old, abusive patterns of behavior and replace them with positive ones. Ninety-five percent of my old, destructive patterns are gone. The remaining five percent nag me from time to time, but I look at them as a reminder. I can’t get too complacent and deem myself “completely healed”, not yet anyway.
- You speak about how your abuse manifested – please share with my readers some ways emotional abuse manifest and how to recognize it.
Good question, I need about 1,000 words to give a summary answer – hehe. To help your readers understand abuse a little better, I’ll answer in general terms first and specifically answer your question second.
We abuse because something traumatic happened to us during our past (normally under the age of 13), that froze our ability to develop emotionally. Our childhood trauma can prevent chemicals from being released into our brain that enables us to think abstractly as we mature; so we walk around as an adult on the outside yet a child on the inside.
Emotionally I thought, reasoned and acted as a child. I was scared to death in my ‘world’ as I progressed through life as an ‘adult’ and took on adult responsibilities. Think how a small child reacts when something doesn’t go according to their expectations, they get angry and throw a temper tantrum, right? That’s exactly what I did when my expectations weren’t met, I threw an adult-sized temper tantrum.
I used anger and manipulation to control my surroundings because I didn’t know how to operate in them as a normal adult would. I scrambled to control whatever portion of my world I could, just to feel safe. I was in a constant survival mode to try to cope with my world and surroundings.
Yet, at the same time, I put on a mask to appear as if I had it all together. After all, I was in an adult body. I had to keep everyone at a distance from me emotionally, out of fear they would peer beneath my mask and expose my inner-child. Anger was the tool I used to keep people at a distance from me.
There are a few more important components at work, but your readers will have to buy the book to find out what they are. [shameless book plug complete] Book can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/UT1myn
How did my abuse manifest? I couldn’t accept responsibility for my actions; I always had an excuse for my behavior and my decisions; I blamed those around me (mostly my wife) for my circumstances. I had zero conflict resolution skills since I wasn’t capable of thinking abstractly, so I’d either blow up in a rage or shut down and sulk during an argument.
I used anger to control because it was the only tool I learned how to master and yet, it ended up mastering ME after a few years; I was a 5-star ‘Ninja-master’ at the art of manipulation. I was angry about something nearly every day of my life and I had a Jekyll / Hyde personality; I could be the most delightful, charming man you’d ever want to meet one minute (kind of the way I am now), and a raging manic the next if something didn’t go EXACTLY the way I thought it should. And, I walked around with this “Me Tarzan, you Jane” attitude 24/7.
Whew! Well okay, that about covers a single day in my life as an abuser. Seriously, this is just a fraction of the abusive traits I exhibited over a 30 year time frame. All these behaviors caused my wife and children to walk on eggshells around me. They never knew when I might become angry and explode. I was a train wreck waiting to happen Chuck and because of it, I psychologically damaged my wife and children. All the while, I was completely blinded to my affliction. I thought I was a ‘great guy’ and a master communicator.
- With relationships destroyed…is there a way once you find healing that you can heal the damage done by earlier abuse?
Another excellent question. The short answer is “Yes,” over time wounds can slowly heal and the trust restored. Our mate lost all ability to trust and have confidence in us long ago. I suppose the answer lies within the humility and repentance level of the former abuser, along with the willingness of the victim to forgive. Keep in mind, the victim’s heart has been mercilessly stomped on and shoved back into their chest without a glimpse of remorse for many years. It takes a tremendous amount of courage, faith and time to heal the wounds.
Speaking about my own situation, following my divorce, I gave everything to the Lord to heal and repair Chuck. I became aware of my abuse and transformed into a new man for the last 7 months of our marriage, but my wife lost trust in the changes she saw in me – she didn’t think they were real. However, I saw a great capacity in my wife to forgive me during our 24 year marriage.
Only time will tell, but I’m an old-fashioned sort of fella – I hold out great hope in that magical, mystical thing called love. I do believe it conquers all… we’ll see.
- You talk about codependency – share how you see codependency manifest and what can someone in a codependent relationship do to awaken to that relationship challenge?
It’s important for your readers to understand as I answer this, I do not buy into the notion that a victim of abuse somehow ‘enables’ the abuse by their behavior. An abuser abuses because they are broken – nothing a victim did “turned on” the abuse and nothing they do will stop it.
In general terms, a codependent is relying on someone else for his or her happiness. Their thinking and focus centers around the other person and they begin to react to that person’s external cues rather than their own internal cues. Normally, a codependent has a hard time with setting personal boundaries. Emotional abuse starts subtly and progresses to full-blown control and manipulation over time. It’s these subtle progressions that a codependent has a hard time recognizing as their boundaries become more and more transparent.
If someone reading this interview or my book notices in their mate any of the patterns of abuse on a consistent basis, an alarm needs to go off. More than likely, they are in or are headed for an abusive relationship. The mere fact they were unaware of the situation until an external cue (this interview) was presented to them is hopefully a wakeup call to what is going on in their own life.
Here’s a fact – the abuse will NOT go away on its own. If one mate thinks they need to ‘try harder’, or ‘do more things right’, or ‘love a little more’, they run the risk of slowly being suffocated in the quicksand of abuse at the hands of their soul-sucking mate.
I would suggest this person immediately get professional help if they have the option, or at least get some good books on codependency and setting boundaries. Chances are, something happened in their own childhood that caused codependency roots to grow. The only way for them to heal is to get at those childhood roots and remove them.
As weird as it sounds Chuck, as time goes on, manipulation, control, and abuse all become ‘normal’ to the abused. That’s the goal of the abuser and they are very good at what they do.
- You mention soaring to new heights. What was the catalyst for your “Second Chance” and how is that working for you today?
As a motivational speaker Chuck, I’m sure you’re familiar with the pain-pleasure principle; people will normally do more to avoid pain then they will to gain pleasure. Pain is a great motivator. When I heard my wife say, “I want a divorce,” that was my ‘pain’. I knew I failed at the one thing I wanted most in life – a great marriage, and it broke me completely as a man, husband, and father. If my wife had not had the courage to say she wanted a divorce 6 years ago, I may still be trapped in abuse today.
Soon after hearing those words, I woke up one day and became aware of my abusive lifestyle. That was the day I began the rest of my life!
I had many trials during my time in the valley as walked through my healing experience, but I’m sure glad I made the trip. Through the pain of losing my marriage and family relationships, I slowly began to emerge as a new man. I found out we can’t get to that mountaintop view unless we’re willing to trudge through the valley first. The valley contains the fertile soil needed for growth.
For the first time in my life, at the age of 49 (5 years ago), I was able to say I liked myself as well as the man I was becoming! It’s difficult to express in a few sentences what it was like to live for 33 years under constant fear, while having to manipulate and use anger to control my world. I never had peace nor contentment – it was all a façade.
Today, I live a quiet, abuse-free life. I strive to help other men and women understand emotional abuse as well as ways to overcome it. I am blessed beyond measure because I am FREE!
This truly is my “Second Chance”; I intend to live it to the full!
- A number of my readers are in the media, so as we conclude this interview – what two things would you want them to know about the uniqueness of your book?
First, my book is written from the perspective of an abuser – that’s unique in the marketplace. Second, my raw and transparent look into my experiences and damaged mind is helpful to the abused, trying to find answers and hope, as well as the abuser trying to break free from their tormented life.
I am here to say there is hope! Hang in there!
I’m the author of the book “The Detrimental Effects of Emotional Abuse”, a book which educates everyone on how to identify perpetrators of Emotional Abuse and how to end the cycle of abuse. While Austin F. James and I were exchanging a few tweets on Twitter about his new book and while I was asking some questions and making some observations about his simply unheard of and sudden transformation from 30 year abuser to healer and preacher, I was cut off. I’m being blocked. And he did have his account protected for a short while in a panic. I would like to assume that I became a real threat to Mr. Austin and to the sale of his book. The action he took merely confirms my suspicions about him: Mr. Austin hasn’t reformed at all but has now found a new victim – the public – to prey upon and he doesn’t want anyone to know that.
Perpetrators of Emotional Abuse pretend affection and sincerity and garner people’s sympathy by playing a victim themselves while they simultaneously go about victimizing innocent, good people – in this case, would-be buyers of his book. It’s a fraud and a scam, just as he is. There is no such thing as a “reformed abuser”. In purchasing the book, you will simply be helping him get rich by paying him to validate your experience with Emotional Abuse that he knows so much about but it won’t lead you anywhere closer to knowing how you can protect yourself from falling victim to one, like Mr. Austin.
You can find more information about Emotional Abuse by visiting my blog guntakrumins.tumblr.com or you can follow me on Twitter under my name Gunta Krumins.
While I appreciate Gunta taking the time to comment on my interview, I would like to clarify why I blocked her on my Twitter account.
Her above comment, “There is no such thing as a “reformed abuser”” shows her closed-mindedness and unwillingness to believe anything she has never heard of before. She simply refuses to accept one can heal from being an emotional abuser.
Secondly, she claims (in a private Twitter Msg to me) that abuser’s abuse out of ‘choice’. Gunta, despite being a self-proclaimed “expert in the field of Emotional Abuse”, clearly does not understand the deranged mindset of an abuser – take it from someone who used to be one.
Lastly, she claims to have read “my blogs” and the ‘fact’ that I am claiming to actually be a ‘victim’. I have no public blog on the internet. I have no other website… not yet anyway. I have NEVER claimed to be a victim, and frankly, take offense at such a statement.
She of course is entitled to her beliefs, but her accusatory method of expressing those beliefs to me were becoming upsetting. She continues to post untruths and attack me personally on Twitter, goodreads.com, this interview, and now my videos on Youtube.
Frankly, the frequency and veracity of all this are beginning to border on stalking (as well as abuse) in my opinion. So, I exercised my right to block her on my Twitter account. Simple as that.
I will stand by the book reviews from former victims of abuse, both on goodreads.com and Amazon as to whether I am broken of my abusive behaviors and healing (a lifelong journey I suspect), and therefore sincere in my efforts to help the abused as well as the abuser. Or if I merely found a new victim, “the public”, to prey on.
I have no problem letting you, “the public”, decide. I state as much in the Introduction of my book.
I don’t know Gunta’s motives. I don’t know why she is so angry and belligerent against a former abuser who is willing to share his story, in transparent, gory detail, and proclaim – “There is Hope! Abuse CAN be overcome. Healing CAN take place.” I don’t think that’s a bad message to declare in this day and age of epidemic-scale abuse.
Frankly Gunta, in my opinion, you are doing nothing more than exposing your ignorance on the very subject you claim to “be an expert” on.
Sorry to drag this into a public forum, but I could not allow someone to post half-truths and occasional lies about me, my motives, or my book, and not defend and attempt to set the record straight.
Thanks,
Austin
Mr. James – You don’t sound like a gentleman here at all. In fact, you sound very abusive to me.
Before you cut me off on Twitter, I tweeted you a statement. I’ve never made any personal attacks against you. I’ve always only asked for your opinion. To get back on track, I’ll repeat the last one I sent you. Would you care to comment on this now?
“How an Emotional Abuser deflects probing Q’s / threats: They make like victims & then turn bck & take aim at prober again & discredit them.”
If you want the public to decide what’s what, why don’t you open up Twitter between us again so we can discuss other things? Why would you want to keep your followers in the dark about what we talk about?
This is a very touchy subject. I have been on all sides of this coin. I can’t wait to read the book.
Austin James and Gunta Krumins,
I am taking a moment to comment on the above correspondence between the two of you to state my opinion and a little of past and present daily life challenges.
I can honestly and truly admit that I am currently in an extremely emotionally and mentally abusive relationship with the man that I have been engaged to for the past 7 years. This relationship began after I divorced my ex-husband of 18 years. The first 2 years that “M” and I were together, I was on cloud-nine and this man made me feel so loved and important! Since he had been a long-time acquaintance of my and myself, he had personally witnessed much of abuse that I had gone through in my previous marriage. To this very moment, I am still in shock over the fact that I actually believed every word that “M” spoke to me!! “M” use to say to me often, “I PROMISE you that I will NEVER hurt you in the ways that your ex-husband hurt you”. I am here to tell you that I currently live in hell and I dread each and every morning as soon as my eyes open, knowing that I am stuck here (hopefully not forever) in this hell with this man that I entrusted my entire heart and soul to. This man can not admit anything that he says or does wrong or incorrectly in even the most minor and unimportant of human mistakes! I know that I absolutely have to leave this hell I live in but it has proven to be an impossible task so far. He is so controlling and manipulative. I have no job, no money, no access to money and no vehicle.
I am stating the facts of my life here because even though I am living with a very emotionally abusive man, when I read about Austin James book and about his past 30 years of being an abuser, I felt in my heart that he was honest and sincere about his reformation and his ability to admit to the word of his past behaviors and to take the hard road he must have traveled to better himself and become the man that he emits to the world to be today. I highly admire and respect Austin’s courage and humility for taking the steps he needed to take
My opinion after reading your above messages back and forth tends to agree with Austin. It does not sound like Gunta has been open to his willingness to change his ways.
I look forward to reading your book, Austin and I know that with our Lord’s guidance, Strength and Support, one day I will be free from the pain I deal with on a daily basis!
God Bless the both of you and I pray that you continue the path of true and honest inner spiritual change
~Amy
Amy,
Thanks so much for the kind words and your willingness to be transparent in your abuse struggles. My heart goes out to you with all that you have had to endure for a very long time.
Just remember – NONE of this has ANYTHING to do with YOU. You didn’t do anything to cause the abuse and you can’t do anything to stop. Your fiance is broken and he will STAY broken until he reaches a low enough point and he cries out for help. I’m proof it can happen but no one knows exactly what it will take for an abuser to reach that point unfortunately. Emotional pain is the only motivator for him at this point.
By your closing two paragraphs I see you are a godly woman. First, I’ve started a prayer list with the names and situations of all the people who have reached out to me who are in or recovering from the trauma of abuse.
I will add your name but more importantly, I WILL pray for you and your situation. Due to some circumstances post-abuse and divorce (not covered in the book) I have turned into quite the prayer warrior. I figure it’s time the enemy pays back what he stole from me and my family all those years!
Second, there is a book that I highly recommend – “Prison to Praise” (it’s on Amazon) for you and your situation (and faith). It’s a pocket book and a short read, but one of only two books (besides THE BOOK) that I can say changed my walk w/Christ and therefore my life. I am still working on getting it’s principles from my head and into my heart but it WILL happen if I yield and trust.
I would actually recommend this book ahead of my own if finances are tight.
If you have ANY questions my email addy is in the front of my book; I will certainly help in any way I can. I’m also on twitter @austinFjames.
God bless,
Austin
In my opinion and experience (22 year marriage with an abuser) abuse is a CHOICE. As soon as you make your other half aware that they are hurting you by screaming obscenities in your face, raging, name calling, pushing, shoving, spitting or silent treatment, ignoring, dismissing etc etc etc and he doesn’t STOP that behaviour then he is CHOOSING the hurt you. He KNOWS it hurts but he CHOOSES to continue. If he doesn’t immediately get help to stop his behaviour when it becomes clear he cannot do it on his own then he doesn’t CARE that he is hurting you either. So in the end you have someone who CHOOSES to hurt you KNOWINGLY and doesn’t CARE that he is doing it.
Abusers also tend to stay ahead of your radar by switching manipulative and abusive techniques around often so the instability he creates keeps you off centre and confused about whether you are even being abused. He likes you to think you DESERVE him raging upon you and also that you should take it because he ‘doesn’t know how to stop’ or ‘he can’t control himself’. He CAN control himself – if I was a big burly footballer and said the same things that bring his rage or disdain down upon me eg” How did you sleep” or “Are you sure you don’t hate me?”, his reaction would be entirely different. Abusers are bullies and cowards reserving their worst behaviour for those that forgive and are physically weaker then they are. They hide behind closed doors because they KNOW that they are doing something wrong. They would never treat anybody bigger, stronger or more powerful than them the same way.
Can they change? Who knows. I believe that an abuser who utters the words “I didn’t choose to abuse” even though during a long marriage must have been told how hurtful and scary he was, has not fully admitted to himself the full culpability of his actions and until the admission that despite numerous warnings and a refusal to get help he continued to knowingly hurt someone who loved him and therefore in fact did Choose to abuse, then no, the change will not be permanent.