Copyright © 2003
Dear Annette,
I have begun hitting myself in the face, and punching
myself in the face. I also fly into rages and throw things. I get so
angry and rageful that I feel like breaking everything around me. I
attribute this a lot to the lack of help I am getting around my house. A
litter box that hasn't been cleaned in over 2 months, clothes piled so high that
it takes up an entire bedroom, the acrid smell of animals (we have dogs and
cat). I work full time and have a husband and two preteen boys. The
boys help out somewhat, but my husband never completes a task - I have been
waiting for over a month now for him to put new toilet paper roll holders up on
the wall - but they remain unattached and unfinished. The shower broke,
the toilet has clogged -- so what does he do? He uses the other ones that
work, and leaves the broken ones ignored.
I am at my wits end, and I feel like I am only going to get worse with my
rages. Please help me! Whenever I ask my husband for help or
especially when I am at the "breaking point" and I blow up, he just
gets mad at me and we get into a big fight. ANY and ALL advice is truly
helpful. I want to be the happy, fun person I used to be. Thank
you.
Angry & Hurt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Angry & Hurt,
Let’s start with the obvious. I believe you and I agree that hurting yourself is not normal
and cannot continue. The reason for
this behavior lies in one of two reasons. Either
you have a chemical imbalance in the brain, which causes you to do unreasonable
things or you choose to do this behavior. If
it is the first, then you need to see and psychiatrists, who will be able to get
you the medication you need to be as close to normal as possible.
As this behavior seems to only exist because of this isolated
situation, I believe, from what you have told me, that the answer is the later
of the two reasons.
A behavior exists because it gets the person something s/he needs or wants. So, what are you getting out of this behavior? Dobby, the house elf and indentured servant to the mean wizard, Malfoy, in Harry Potter, hurts himself because he believes that he is punishing himself for bad behavior. Are you hurting yourself because you get a release of anger that you have let built up toward your children and husband? If this is the case then, you must find a healthier outlet for your anger. A punching bag comes to mind or screaming into the wind or your pillow. Whatever stressor there are in your life, you will need to practice better coping skills to help you get through them. Beating yourself is not a good way to do this. See: Coping Skills ß(Click here)
Assignment
1
After reading this article chose several things you feel comfortable with doing when you are stressed over this matter or any other, and DO as may as it takes to get back into control.
Assignment 2
Another thing you really must do is find incentives and/or giving consequences to your able-bodied children to get their chores done. You and your husband need to shut yourselves in your bedroom and come up with the job expectations and an accompanying consequence for not getting it done by its deadline. Then, both of your must agree to consistently follow through with this decision or it will not work.
See: Taking Control of Your Family ß(Click here)
This article first suggests that you need a more stable and
personable relationship with your husband.
This may also help with getting him to do his part.
However, you must remember this basic rule… You cannot change anyone,
only how you relate with them. Another
words, you can the only behavior you can change is your own.
Obviously, the way you relate with them now is not working, so you must
change your behavior, which forces them to behave differently because of your
change. With the children, this
article outlines exactly what needs to be done, to motivate them to get their
work done. DO IT!
Here are three other excellent articles that if you
practice their tenets, will help you parent your children better!
Helping
Our Children Overcome Bad Behaviors
A Parent's Guide for Raising Children
Assignment 3
Motivating a husband to do his part is another thing entirely, because you cannot exactly use the same actions to get them to do what you need them to do. You must ask yourself
Negotiation may be the key.
See: Five Problem Solving Methods
Brainstorming
Inventive Options for a Win-Win Outcomes
Hints
for De-Escalating Conflict
Techniques
for Breaking an Impasse
What to Do if They Won't Negotiate
If this does not work, then use natural consequences.
For example: The plugged toilet – natural consequence: If you don’t fix
it, somebody else will have too, only it will cost you money.
Sweetly say:
“Honey, since you are too busy to fix the toilet, I will help you by
calling a plumber to fix it. I’ll do that on Monday (a reasonable deadline).”
He will probably say: “ I
can do that!” Then say: It
really needs to be done. If you can’t
get it done by Monday, I’ll call the plumber.
Remember: You can catch more
flies with honey then vinegar. This
means you can get your husband to do more if you treat him sweetly instead of
vilely, even if he deserves it.
Getting your husband to do his part will work better if you are taking care of your relationship, instead of ignoring it. There are too many divorces, because couples believe that the marriage will take care of itself. This is not true. If you are not actively working on keeping close, you are growing apart. This is part of the problem.
Designate a special night each week as date night and go do something with your husband, alone. Do this consistently each week! If the marriage is important to you both then it is worth taking care of.
See: Married
Couple's Date Night
Here are three other articles that are important for you to see and implement into your marriage.
Emotional
and Psychological Abuse Continuum
The
Forgiving Marriage: Overcoming Anger & Resentment and Rediscovering Each
Other
Five
Dimensions Related to Success or Failure in Marriage
All four assignments need to be put into play immediately. Yes, this is more work for you in the beginning, but it will pay off big dividends. You may even like your husband and children again. Your home will be clean and a haven of peace instead of a pigsty and a contentious angry place.
Please do these things.
If you have given it two consecutive months and see no positive
difference in everyone’s behavior, then seek help from a competent counselor
to help the entire family to work out the problems they have let
themselves fall into. These
problems are not just yours, but the whole families.
If the problem is to be fixed, it has to come from a change in everyone.
The key here is your husband and you BEING CONSISTENT in following through, every time! If you BOTH are not consistent, none of this will work. In fact the children will run right over you.
If you have any more questions, please write me again.
Sincerely,