I’m in the middle of a divorce after nearly 25 years together, and I believe I’ve been living through narcissistic abuse. I’m not using that label in court because I know it won’t carry legal weight, but I feel the effects every single day. He cut off my finances and constantly projects, blaming me for the very behaviors he does. Years ago, he almost had me convinced I was the problem, but deep down I know I’m still the same person I’ve always been.

Right now I’m representing myself (pro se) while trying to fight for fairness. It’s isolating and exhausting, and sometimes I feel like I’m losing my grip on what’s real. Has anyone here gone through something similar? How did you cope and stay grounded while fighting both the legal battle and the emotional toll?

For context, I’m a man, and in our marriage he was abusive in many ways, but things spiraled once our business became very profitable. That’s when violence and manipulation started escalating, and he tried to push me out of the picture completely. He almost got away with it.

I’m doing my best to rebuild my strength and confidence. I’ve started working out again and trying to eat better. I used to be a health nut before I met him, and I’m working on getting back to that part of myself. I’m also trying to pick up meditation again and stay as healthy and focused as I can so I can keep fighting back. My hope is that as I get stronger, I’ll also be able to build a real support system around me.