I'm little and quiet because I don't know you well enough to be loud, but I'm with LE here. I've been in the bad-relationship-place for a year now. And I've had all the doubts and the rationalizing. And I've had all my friends saying, "leave him and never speak to him again." Maybe you're strong and bright enough to do that and not look back. I hope so.

But if you're not. If you know on the inside that you're beautiful, and bright, and better than all of this, but on the outside you just can't quite let go? Then I know just how you feel. It is *so* much easier said than done.

So my advice is just this. Reclaim yourself little bit by little bit. Find all the things you liked about yourself that you've let go of, put away, or forgotten about because of him. Go and find them and pull them all back together. And gradually, as your life takes over, his approval and his attention becomes a little bit less important. It's been slow for me. But it's working.

Forgive yourself.