☺ I recommend the book Psychopath Free. Also love your multiple mentions of calling your best friend. The honest to goodness single thing that got me through (okay there were 2 things)- my best friend who tirelessly let me talk through it over and over and over…because when someone has seriously messed with your reality, that disbelief will hit you like grief…from out of nowhere and right in the gut. It was invaluable having someone there who told me from day one, when I said “eh. 6 months in, 6 months out.” that she wasn’t so sure. She figured it might be considerably longer. Most people don’t want to hear about it on repeat so that person is important.

The other person told me, “one day you’re going to get to thank him for the gifts that came from this.”

I laughed. And I will never tell him. But she wasn’t wrong about gifts. I got to know myself like I never had.

Anyway, this ended in September 2013 and some days I don’t even think about it…on the days I do, some don’t hurt. But I’m not there yet. So, awhile.

Good luck and if you ever need to rant or need validation let me know. Not a club anyone asks to join, but the playbook is pretty much word for word.

They’re simple that way. No original ideas.