"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
My life's history is clearly exhibited in various reports, court transcripts, and diary entries. Especially evident via a psyche report in which Dr. Marc T. Abrams, a forensic psychologist, summed up his professional opinion during my divorce proceedings. If you think "survivors" are only those who outlived the horrors of a concentration camp, I ask you to think again. Along with American history comes much tragedy. There was slavery. There is domestic violence. For those of us fortunate enough not to be destroyed by horrifying human conditions, we are in fact survivors.
Sometimes, you don't need to add a description to a photograph to make a statement. This is one of those times. Below is a copy of a legal exhibit, submitted by my ex's attorney, Mona D. Shapiro, which consists of statements made by Dr. Abrams (only one of the psychologists assigned to evaluate us during my divorce)...Dr. Abrams comments about my ex, Robert Levine, about me...and my sons, Jason and Jared. The contents of this one piece of paper sum up what I have had to deal with and what I live with on a consistent basis. Legal abuse has taken the place of the beatings I received. Mr. Levine continues to manipulate the courts as he uses the legal system in continuing his abuse. He no longer needs to use his hands on me.
Although I have scanned in the document below, I will transcribe the sentences for easier reading. If you haven't walked in my shoes, don't judge me. Don't ask my why I stayed for almost 20 years in an abusive situation (I tried to leave several times, and it only made the violence escalate). Don't tell me to let go of my pursuit of justice (what would I be teaching my sons if I said "Uncle" again?). Read the personality I have had to deal with, that of my ex husband - the psychopath who wears an Armani suit and drives a Bentley convertible. I am surviving my personal terrorist.
It states:
1. "Mr. Levine's personality is consistent with a high functioning, sociopathic (also referred to in literature as psychopathic) personality."
2. "This personality configuration is characterized by narcissism that is directed towards the direct manipulation of others so as to meet ones own needs, regardless of the consideration of others or of any moral considerations of ones actions."
3."When this type of personality configuration results in a patter of illegal behaviors that displays a disregard for the well being of others, and moral considerations, then it is labeled 'antisocial.'"
4. "There is historical evidence to support the labeling of Mr. Levine as having antisocial personality."
5. "Mr. Levine is also the type of man who seeks to portray a machismo facade his relationships with others appears to reflect a self-centeredness that results in other people's interests being placed secondary to his own. He has the capacity to appear charming and self assured and is likely to maintain this facade as long as his narcissist needs are getting met."
6. "If his narcissist needs are not getting met, his response may range from sophisticated maneuvers to manipulate to blatant and aggressive acts of control."
7. "He can then become attacking and demeaning towards others in an attempt to place himself in a position that he considers superior to others."
8. "(He) engages in actions that reflect a callous disregard for the well-being of others and the conscious disregard for the moral considerations of his actions."
9. "She married a man, who in the professional opinion of this examiner was psychologically, physically, economically, and probably sexually abusive to her."
10. "This examiner believes that Mrs. Levine was left to raise her children essentially single handedly, until the boys were in their late latency years."
11. "This examiner is of the professional opinion she does suffer from Post Traumatic Stress disorder and has episodes of Major Depression, which are a direct result of the chronic abuse that Mr. Levine directed towards his wife."
12. "This examiner perceives Mr. Levine to be a poor role model. It appears as though he uses his son's psychological alignment with him to support and back-up their father. Even at the expense of their own integrity. This examiner is of the professional opinion that the boys have observed their father being psychologically and physically abusive towards their mother."
13. "This examiner is doubtful of Mr. Levine's capacity to engage in a a mutually satisfying long-term relationship with another woman. this examiner can only hope so for Ms. Torre's sake and for the sake of the children."
14. "...this examiner considers Mr. Levine to be a relatively morally bankrupt individual."
15. "This examiner perceives Mr. Levine to be a genuine sociopath who engaged in a pattern of physical and economic abuse of his wife."
Enough said:
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