I visit YaHoo Answers frequently, and time and time again, I respond to a lot of questions that revolve around women who find themselves stuck in bad relationships, but cannot find the courage to leave despite their on-going misery. The topics read like a bad Jerry Springer episode: He cheats on me, but I love him; he has had other children outside the marriage, but I love him; he beats me, humilates me, has no job, he’s a horrible parent and given me VD, but I LOVE HIM!! I don’t understand this. I mean . . I have had my share of bad relationships, but if I even got a hint of something funny going on, I was outta there. I just wasn’t having it!! I don’t know if this is an issue of my self-esteem or because I had a host of strong women in my family that instilled in me in at an early age that I was worthy of being loved. Honestly, I think if there was a piil that allowed women to get over the heartache, I think they would be leaving these types of men in droves. What do you think?
This question is not meant to suggest that bad relationships do not happen to men, but it is mainly directed toward women because through my observations, women seem to feel more emotionally trapped or better yet, financially trapped into staying in bad relationships. Fear is a prime motivator to stay– fear of not finding someone else or fear of being alone, especially if the woman has children or perhaps is not confident about her appearance, weight, or finds dating difficult.

Tags: 100 Women, appearance, Beats, courage, droves, fear, Heartache, jerry springer, jerry springer episode, job, marriage, misery, prime motivator, relationships, self esteem, strong women, yahoo, yahoo answers

2 weeks before my wedding my husband told me he didn’t want to marry me (had to go through with it cause of the $$ and people involved). I have went through emotional abuse, drinking, physical violence, controlling issues, and sexual issues with this man. There was absolutely nothing right in our relationship. I finally decided I wanted a divorce and I walked out. Had finally gotten enough self esteem that I didn’t need him and that I could make it on my own. I have a good job and can financially support myself. For temporary – I went to my parents house to live and my dad has cirrohsis…and after all he has been through I came home to him and my mom fighting because he was drinking again. I moved out young because of this problem and I ran from it again because I didn’t want to be there so I went back to my husband. I don’t love my husband at all. But he promised that he would start taking meds and change the way he treated me. Things have changed a little but I still have so much hatred built up for him for the things he has done to me. I met a guy on a work trip back a few months ago and we talk every now and then. We both really like each other but he lives pretty far from me. I get butterflies when I think about talkin to him. I fell out of love with my husband so long ago because he never treated me like he cared one bit and now I feel so stupid for sittin around and letting it happen. I want my life back! I am 25 yrs old and a really good person. I just want to be happy. My husband is trying to manipulate me into staying and saying I can fall back into love with him. I have been goin to therapy to try to get all this figured out but personal experience or opinions would be appreciated.

Tags: butterflies, Cirrohsis, dad, divorce, emotional abuse, good job, good person, hatred, job, love, meds, mom, parents, personal experience, physical violence, relationship, self esteem, sexual issues, work trip

well i completely ended it with my boyfriend about a week ago. He just has been kind of distant and hes cheated on me before and it really got to me. I regret it because i feel like i need him and im absolutely miserable not talking or seeing him. Also im pregnant with this child but im getting an abortion next week because thats what he wants. Im so hurt and my self esteem is just so low. any advice how to get over this or what to do?

Tags: abortion, Ex Boyfriend, hes, self esteem

I have been married for 10 years and had an emotional affair after the birth of my second child due to lack of attention and self esteem. We had a one time fling as well. My husband found out about it and has been very up and down with his emotions about it. First love, then hate, then love….I just want to know if it can ever be the same? Can he love me again? He says he loves me but he isn’t in love with me anymore? What do I do?

Tags: 10 years, emotional affair, emotions, self esteem, time fling

Also, my self-esteem has gone down the drain.
I just broke up with my boyfriend and I feel so crummy. There were lots of reasons but one of them being that he always mentioned his ex. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when we were talking about physical beauty and he said I was an "8" (on a scale of 1 to 10). Then, for some reason, his ex’s name came up and he said that he thought she was closer to a 10. He even told his friend that I was an "8". I know this sounds trivial and vain but it truly bugs me. I’m hurting a lot. What can I do to go on with my life and not constantly think about him?

Tags: camel, physical beauty, self esteem