- What Can I Do To Help My Abused Fiancée?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I came across your website while looking for information that might enable me to help understand my fiancé.
The material that I have already read, about the effects of child abuse, said that people who are abused as children have a lot of problems trusting people and discussing their emotions. And that is so true of him. He never wants to talk about how he feels, especially when he’s upset or angry, and we have a slight problem with trust. I was just wondering if you would take the time to give me some advice on how I can help him overcome the effects of being abused as a child.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
ANSWER:
1) He needs professional counseling – especially before you get married and the intimacy fears cause marital problems. 2) He needs his diagnoses treated, whether from the BPD, PTSD, etc. The screening test I use for my patients may be of great help to both of you.
