I stayed with my AH for 17 years, til he left the family. Now I cringe when I think I'd probably still be there if he hadn't left. He was never physically abusive, but he was so emotionally and verbally cruel that I blocked alot of stuff he's said and done out, and I'm now remembering things I had pushed back in my memory from years ago. Walking on eggshells with a knot in my stomach became normal. I can hardly believe I ever lived that way, and I'm so grateful my HP got me out.