Elisa Donovan

But they are not drawn to weak people or people with low self-esteem.

So I think that's a huge myth that people interpret.

So once someone has experienced this kind of relationship, then how do they rebuild that trust in themselves?

It's really hard.

It's a really long, long process because not only do they have to.

I think one of the saddest things I have ever heard from a patient after she got out of the relationship was she said to me, she's like, I got to be honest.

She goes, I have no idea who I am.

I feel like a shell of my former self, which we hear all the time.

She goes, I don't even know what kind of ice cream I like.

Yeah, like it breaks you down so much that you don't even know what music you like.

You don't know what kind of movies you like.

You don't know what's your favorite color.

You don't know how you like to dress.

And so you have to totally rebuild yourself.

And it's a really long process and you doubt yourself and you don't trust people.

And it really is a level of trauma that is really, really deep.

And I don't think people understand that.

And I think the worst-

I don't know if it's, I guess it's the way you look at it.

Those are intimate relationships.