Yeah.
I can relate to having anger management issues. I was a really crappy boyfriend to my ex. I never used to be like that, but she was a covert passive aggressive narcissist, and she used to get turned on by me getting angry at her.
She used to tease it out of me through obstructionism, underhanded sabotage, feigning ignorance and innocence, manipulation, false promises, etc. It would drive me to the point of insanity, and it didn't help that I was experiencing all of these external stressors in the other areas of my life.
We had a strong sexual connection. We would break up and make up; constantly priming the pump. I was young, I didn't have strong male role models growing up, and I had delusions of grandeur.
I later realized that I was drawn to the relationship because it offered me opportunities to act out unresolved childhood traumas. As bad as she was, I can acknowledge that it wasn't completely her fault.
I managed to break the sadomasochistic trauma bond, and I have been doing a lot of better with mastering my emotional intelligence since then.
I owned my BS and I dedicated myself to conquering the enemy within so that I didn't put myself through that situation again. I knew that if I got in to another relationship like that, I probably wouldn't survive it.
I now give guidance to guys at times I wish someone had been there for me. Some people get pissed, because they feel like I foist advice on to them. However, I would rather lose a friendship telling the truth than propping up someone else's BS. I know where that can lead you (prison, homeless, murdered, asylum, health crises, suicide, etc).
