I am married to a person, who tortures me continuously and then asks for forgiveness each time. I feel he has a split personality - he is very good outside but has a wild and intolerable behaviour in the house. I feel cheated as all these facts were hidden by his family from me. Please let me know why all this is happening to me and how do I come out of it before it is too late.
-Savita 

Your question has basically two aspects. The first is domestic abuse. Through the centuries, women have traditionally been treated badly by men and wives serve as servants to their husbands. This was acceptable in the past and gradually is becoming unacceptable. We obviously see where your husband falls on this graph of change: he is backward, thoughtless, and abusive. The question is, where do you fall on this graph? We didn't know much about your background to get many clues. But rest assured, his abuse of you should be regarded as unacceptable. It may take time to extricate yourself from this bad situation, but you should take steps today, not tomorrow. The second aspect is that may be your husband is seriously sick and he needs treatment and this may also be possible that his family is also unware of his sickness. So make your mind and help out yourself.
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I am 50 years old, have been married for 30 years and I am going through much anxiety and confusion. My marriage is a love marriage, and it has always been difficult. We come from different cultures and have been different in our thinking. I was only out of fear that I have lived through my marriage. I could never discuss my problems. Now our children have left home and I feel very lonely and lost as there is nothing between me and my husband.
-Rashmi

Your letter is heartrending. The essential problem is that you never felt worthy to have your own life. You have completely adapted to another person. You became powerless and a victim in your own home. To toss your own self away is a tragedy. Your primary issue is whether you deserve to own a self, to claim your life as your own. The self is hidden inside you, waiting for you to say, "I am the owner of my life, no one else." The day you can say that will bring new possibilities to you.
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