Some people are understanding, I have a few friends that understand and are still there for me...for now anyway. The counselors at the DV shelter of course were awesome at being understanding and supportive. But more times than not I am met with looks of horror or told "OK, STOP right there. I don't want to know anymore, I just ...it's too much." To me it is my life, stuff that I went through that in my world was the norm. I guess I should feel validated by their shock and horror since I used minimization as a coping tool on a regular basis from the time I was a child, for me it's been the only way to survive things and not end up in some state mental hospital. But really most of the time I kinda feel like a freak show or that people don't believe me. In my head I hear "STUPID! Why did you talk about that?! You should just learn to keep your mouth shut!" Even in the understanding atmosphere of this forum I don't think I ever will be able to talk about certain things that are swimming around in my head.