shortylotus wrote:
How does one move past the ending of a d/s relationship when you have been betrayed? How do you stop the hate and resentment so you can move forward?
For me it helps to step (sometimes way) back and look at the big picture. Looking at the definition of "betrayal," it is a violation of ones confidence or trust. i think everyone has been on both sides of that coin on some level, one time or another. i think we are all both betrayed and betrayer. Which is not to suggest betrayal is okeedokee, but that it is a common, and not so shocking phenomena.
A few things to me that make betrayal harder to deal with are the size of it and whether or not the offender owns it and apologizes.
The first one? Size matters. For me, the more trust or confidence betrayed, the harder the blow. The 'biggest' for me is when i still love a person and feel that bond or connection. It's sort of like being tethered to someone who is kicking you. Sort of. Emotional kicks are different than physical. i think the biggest difference between physical and emotional 'kicks' is the first is delivered by the offender, but distance can prevent repeated blows. The emotional "kick?" We can relive those over and over no mater the distance, we carry it with us and use it to kick ourselves over and over sometimes. It can be complicated.
The thing that helps me most with the emotional pain, the "over and over" reliving of the offense, goes back to my original point of we all betray. That gives me perspective. i try to understand myself and others. Putting myself in the same boat as my betrayer helps. i may never have betrayed in the same way as them, but that doesn't necessarily make one persons betrayal superior to anothers. i don't expect to be able to stop my pain, hurt, but the "hate and resentment" are usually at least buffered for me with understanding. It's not denial, that is silly i think. It's more: "that was a fucking asshole thing to do, fucker." but on the other hand, it helps me to say, i can relate to having been a fucking asshole at one point or another. It makes it harder to be quite as offended. That's big picture for me.
To me, the keys to this type thing is honesty, openness, ownership, apology and forgiveness. i enter relationship expecting to be offended, over and over. And i assume i will offend over and over. If both parties get this upfront, i think it's easier to exercise grace ongoing when the fuck ups occur.
idk if any of this helps, it's not meant as advice or authority on the subject. Just sharing stuff that i apply in my own life.