Originally Posted by
skippernlilg 
I've had an 'open door policy' up until now, and I thought I would be fine with it. Brush it off. You know.
It's like picking a scab off of a wound over and over. Been there, done that, got that t-shirt many times.
When I left my violent psychotic EXAH (now deceased), I didn't go no contact. I would answer the phone because that was back in the day before caller ID was in existence, but I wouldn't get off of the phone either while he chewed me up and spit me out.
My sponsor suggested one day that perhaps I hang up on EXAH, that I did have the choice
not to engage with him.
It was so incredibly difficult the first time that I did that, and I sat there horrified thinking I should call him back and apologize for hanging up. Fortunately I sat on my hands and did not call him back.
It got easier each time and eventually he quit trying to contact me.
I have no problem these days filtering emails from toxic people straight to the trash, including my own dad.
You have a choice to keep engaging or not, and that does include reading emails from him.