My thanks to Guest/whoever started this thread.

My partner and I are going through some very rough times due to a constant barrage of external harrassments (the consequences of my partner leaving a marriage-with-children that was fairly soul-destroying). It leaves us with very little emotional energy to deal with the "working through" part of our normally delightful relationship. And of course brings up the old baggage we all seem to carry, though it does give us opportunity to become more aware of it and work with it) We talk on the phone with a counsellor just about daily, which has been an enormous help.

But some days, when we have been harrassed for days on end and are exhausted by the stress, lack of sleep and the constant "fighting of fires", and we become afraid even of one another, and we unintentionally hurt each other, as people who love each other sometimes do, I wonder if we will be able to make it through these horrible times and still protect the deep love we have for one another.

One thing my partner and I do as soon as we can is to remind the other that any hurt we may have cause has been unintentional, but that we deeply regret any pain that we have caused the other. The pain is real, even if caused unintentionally.

When there is time to roll with the punches we are able to ride out the pain, exhaustion , and stress.

I am grateful for the reminder that once this harassment is resolved (if it ever is...) there may be some physical repercussions to deal with in the form of illness... This tells me that I need to make quite sure that I eat well, and get enough sleep to go along with the dancing, squash-playing, and yard-work in the fresh country air.

Thanks again for this thread, Guest!

~ Jande