So here is my story in a nutshell. l am 27 and when l was 20 l got married. l was married for only a year and a half. During my relationship with that man and during the marriage l was constantly verbally abused. On a few occasions close to physical abuse. Everything from being called stupid, fat, even being embarassed in front of friends and family on several occasions. One memory in particular where he was drunk and drove us home..l fought to get the keys away but he forced me into the car. This happened 7 years ago!Ever since then l have suffered from depressed and OCD. The depression comes and goes. It is like for a good 6 months l will be so depressed that l can hardly get out of bed..and then one day the depression wo not be so bad and l will feel energized and start working out etc...l just do not know what to do or where to turn. l just feel so blah all of the time. l hate my body and the way that l look. Everytime l get around someone with a strong personality l feel intimidated and back down like a little girl or something. It is weird. l have met a wonderful man though that is very kind and gentle with me. He is also very patients and he is been wonderful about all of this. l do not tell him all of it just because l do not wanna worry him so. Any advice would be great on how to cope. Thanks!

Your experience is really upsetting to me. What you're going through now is probably due to post traumatic stress (stress that wo not go away after a traumatic event) and you may get to experience full time happiness with the help of medication and psychological treatment. l was sexually assaulted a few years ago and the wounds are still fresh to me. I've been seeing a doctor who is quite a guy and has been handling my medication efficiently. Hope my advice helps, and stay strong.

l know this sounds cliche, but therapy would really help u in this situation. Your self esteem, & even trust have been broken through ur bad experience, Now it is time to pick up the pieces, & that is going to take some work.
Finding the right therapist is work too though, so do not think that ur first experience will necessarily be the beginning of the end.
You have been wronged-and the sh!ttiest part is that u will have to help yourself now all because of some low life $$hole.you can do it though.
Best of luck.