With an MLCer, you do not want to, and really probably cannot really even imagine the pain that they are in.
Yes, they can outwardly seem happy for a long time during this. But when they are alone, the monsters that come out to play, are horrible. For those of us who get a glimpse of it, we will all tell you it is not a pretty sight.
And you CANNOT do anything to try to take her pain away. With MLC, this is something that they have to go through on their own in order to become complete, whole, and healthy adults.
WAW, I do believe they hurt as well. But the major difference, IMO, is the ability for real continuous rational thought. They can separate their emotions from the situation a bit and make the choices that they make.
A perfect example of a WAS, is someone who plans for the eventual time that they can leave. Saving money, finding a place to go before they leave, having a real and concrete plan. And although the loss if the dream of a “forever” marriage is sad to them, it is not quite the same.
"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation. It means understanding that something is what it is and there's got to be a way through it."--Michael J. Fox
