I have found that the first step in surviving a sociopath is to repeat the mantra, “I’m not the crazy one!”
Then continually repeating it over and over and over and over… because the sociopath will be trying over and over to convince you and others that you are plumb crazy or the cause of all their woes.
Our son had been in prison for a year before we found the strength to visit. We went with great trepidation for we were still healing from the many wounds he has left us with. We also went with hope and a prayer in our hearts that we would find a boy who was finally starting to take responsibility for his actions.
Alas, we were disappointed once more, as he again laid the blame for his conditions at our feet. I found my stomach was in those old familiar knots and my mind was whirling with confusion. I’d nearly forgotten how he could create such turmoil within.
As we left the prison, we sucked in the cool fall air, savoring the taste of freedom. We sat in the car and began to talk, trying to regain our mental and spiritual footing. We reminded ourselves repeatedly that we couldn't possibly be the guilty party or we wouldn’t be the ones free to leave that place.
We knew we couldn’t go home to the other children in our current state of mind, but we found a little trip to Ikea for some retail therapy and Chocolate Overload Cake worked wonders.
Of course the best way to survive a sociopath is to avoid a sociopath, but that isn't very feasible when it's a close family member.
