I (52M) have chased acceptance and love my entire life. I am aware of it. Painfully so. I can’t remember my childhood particularly, but I know I was trained to do that. Prioritizing others needs and wants over mine is how I learned I would be loved and wanted. I’ve been that way with my family. I was like that at work. I’m like it in my marriage. I do speak up, respectfully, make comments or initiate conversations, but it has always ended the same way. Irritation turns into anger and finally rage and then there is no going back. It makes me unhappy that I should have to demand to be treated with nominal respect. It irritates me that my pleasant nature is always identified as weakness and therefore ripe to be exploited. I am tired of it now. Really tired. So my question is: how do I break this cycle? What do I need to change to change this? I know that communication will be suggested. Been there, tried that. Maybe counseling? Requires both parties to recognize the problem and agree to go. My fear is, I’m reaching my rage point. It hasn’t ended well at any other time in the past. I’ve become less able, or willing, to fight or even bicker. I have mental health issues and chronic health issues that leave me a bit weak. I don’t have the mental or physical strength to fight against or to ignore or tolerate it any more. Anyway, Merry Christmas, leave some opinions for me, options, I’m not real sure where to turn.