My sister reached out to me this morning to tell me that her very good friend just discovered that her husband is likely a sex addict. She asked me if it is possible to experience second-hand trauma by walking through trauma with others, first me and now her good friend. She is struggling today to keep up hope that there are good men in this world. I fucking hate how vast the effects can be of one person's addiction and choices, infecting an entire family. No one deserves this. Certainly I did not deserve what I experienced, and I will likely spend the rest of my life healing. But the anger I feel at the ripple effects of my ex's actions. It burns so deep. Hurting me is one thing. But hurting me so much that my sister, by simply supporting me over the past decade, now struggles with PTSD symptoms as well? It sends waves of deep rage through my bones.
