| May
      27, 2000 Dear Dr. Irene:
 I just wanted to take two seconds to thank you.  With your help I
      have come a long way since I first entered this site.  I have posted
      anonymously, changing my name every time (I guess I had a weird paranoia..
      what can I tell ya, the brain was a little weird when I came on board). 
      :)
 I have posted to Outside
      Influences-His Mom, If Only the House
      Was Clean and most recently, I am Proud of my
      Husband.  I think you knew it was me who wrote these in spite of
      my tricks of anonymity.  At any rate, things still could not be
      better.  This house is a new house and most recently even friends and
      family have commented on how my husband is a new man.  You see, his
      change isn't just towards me and the kids but with everyone around him
      that he is in contact with.  It is so nice to see him even just
      sitting with my sibs chatting, which was something he never did.   
      But I owe this all to you because you were the only "therapist" I had! 
      Following your advise, reading interactive e-mails where you stated what
      to do and what not to do put me in the proper thinking mode so that I
      could change myself - obviously causing him to change - if he wanted to
      continue the marriage. You owe me a tiny,
      little bit; you owe "all this" to yourself for having the wisdom
      to seek solutions - and then imposing the requisite internal changes that
      were necessary for you to apply suggestions you thought were reasonable! It is so frustrating because I still read the
      board and want to just jump right in there and help these people. Go for it! I
      know that almost anyone could change with the proper situation because my
      husband was very bad.  Worse then you can imagine and the complete
      change in him is so rewarding.. you will never know.  It saddens me
      not to be able to help the others...if only they could just get to that
      place inside of them where their strength is.  It is there, because
      otherwise they could not have withstood living in these conditions without
      snapping as many have lived this way for years. Yes.  Anyway, whatever you did for me, I will never
      forget it.  This was the best thing you could have done...putting
      this site over the internet.  I know I would still be sitting in my
      old situation had I never tripped over it way back when.  Anyway,
      thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I wish their was a way I
      could give you something back in return.  You just did!  Not
      only do I feel wonderful reading this, but your letter is inspiration to
      many others in difficult situations; if you did it, so can they... Take care and I
      will still visit regularly as I know I must always keep thinking this way
      when married to someone like Bert.  It has to be a way of life...Yes! And it's healthy for both of you!...but
      at least now it is a good life.  Thank you, thank you, thank you...   Katia
 Wow! Thank you; thank you; thank you!
      This is music to my ears! Yippee! Hug, hug. My very best wishes for your continued success. Dr. Irene |