Life Improved After Separating from PD EX

[BefuddledClarity]

Hello everyone!

I haven't been online for a long time now, but wanted to give a quick update.
I FINALLY separated from my pd ex about 2 weeks ago.

I've never felt happier! I feel free.
I can't believe I used to make excuses for his erratic behaviour in the past and think it was "OK" and that he was just "having a hard time".

I'M FREE!!

My brothers have introduced me to their best friend and we've been seeing each other for a little bit after I broke up with my PDex.
It's like night and day differences between my gentleman friend vs my ex.
[Ex. A recent example...my gentleman friend mentioned that he felt tired today and I felt anxious at first. When my PDex was "tired" he'd be angry and take his anger out on me and either speak derogatory to me or ignore me completely...But with my gentleman friend, he just smiled and said he got me and my little one some food. We talked about each other's days and laughed it off. He asked me to text him to make sure I got home safe.]

Also, my gentleman friend had similar experiences with his PDexes that we can relate.
We're taking our relationship REALLY slow and want to become friends first and hangout.
I don't have to be scared anymore or feel like I'm walking on eggshells.

My PDex has attempted to rekindle with me but I shot him down... [He doesn't know I'm with gentleman friend either... I don't want my gentleman friend to become his "new target" or PDex lying saying that I "cheated" on him when I didn't...Useless drama for no reason, and we're not even official yet...]
PDex showed up at my work a day after valentine's day and gave me gifts telling me he "loves" me.
I didn't respond and took the gifts while walking away.
He's been angrily texting and calling me and flip-flopping between "I love and miss you" to "Whatever, have a nice life" to "You better hit me back up".
Now, he's telling lies to his family such as me "hacking" and removing him from seeing a shared photo album of our child...Which is something I didn't do. I even have proof and screenshot it when his PDsis questioned it.
[Currently, I blocked PDex because he was making me too anxious and scared. The only reason I used to not block is for documentation purposes, but he is making me too uncomfortable...I let my gentleman friend know too what's going on...He's been very supportive of me.]

ALSO!!! I should have my son back home soon!
I've been doing the required referrals and such.

I'm going to cut off PDex along with the rest of his PD family(sister, father, bio mom, step mom etc).
My phone number will be changed, they won't know my address(temporarily staying with my brother until I get my new place soon!), and I may change stores for where I work, despite enjoying the store I work at --- Just to be safe or at least I'll let my store know to let those people know I'm "not working here" anymore to leave me alone.

PDex's family drive me all insane and his PDsis currently has my little one...I have to be cordial with her for the time being.
[PDex's PDsis blames me for my son getting taken away and for "provoking" her alcoholic brother saying she "loves" me as "family" but that she doesn't agree with all my choices. She has her husband torture my son by pinning him down and putting his hands on his knees so he can't get up and cries their for 30mins straight to "discipline" my son...They're fucking sick people. I can't do anything about it either, but I sent over my family support specialist, I think she put a stop to it since the CPS/DCS said if I have any complaints, my son will default to foster care...But with someone that's a mandated reporter to CPS and knows how to parent children stopping them and telling them they're wrong helps. PDex's PDsis also lies about my son bullying her daughter when it's the other way around. ]

My past posts explains them a bit better if you check my profile.
I may or may not make new posts to rehash some info, but I don't really care to talk about the PDex's family much anymore unless it's something new or relevant.

Besides that...My relationship with my brothers have improved as well after leaving PDex[since he always complained about my brothers and made excuses whenever I wanted to go out with them, saying we don't have money for gas, the house isn't clean and needs to be cleaned before going out, etc].
I used to look at things too negatively, but now I feel close again to my brothers and feel OK.
I also am removing that negative cloud from my mind after seeing how amazing and positive my gentleman friend is.
I used to be an extremely optimistic person---and that person is coming back!

I have a job I enjoy a lot as well and have potential to make a lot of $$$.

Thank you everyone for your help and support!
Apologies if I came across as crass/defensive in some of my posts/responses in the past...
I was deeply brainwashed, and I know that's not an excuse...I just want to move on and do/be better!

Thank you again!

[1footouttadefog]

Glad to read your life is happier now.

I hope you get your kid back soon.  As someone who was tortured like he is being I really hope so.

I to this day get random panics if I find myself confined.  Most recently was when I was visiting some caverns and there was a small tunnel where you could go view something.  I started into the tunnel.  There was a very heavyset person in front of me.  The decided to leave and smoothed by me then they came back in and I was sandwiched between them and another person if the same size.  There were like a dozen folks ahead of them and they would all have to squeeze by on their way out. Problem was the heavy woman behind kept pressing forward and pressing on me into the person in front.  I was like nope it was impolite to be bumped into another person in front and way to stuffy.  I was already in a dark pocket with no air flow and then having to be smashed up against the wall between the others like a flesh sandwich while we waited in line, I lost it and told the woman behind me I needed to go through up so she would let me oass quickly and I left and returned to the main path.

I was so panicked I went back toward the opening until I found an opening with a breeze and stay for a while then returned to the main way through the cave. 

This can happen in an elevator or car also.  Any where I get confined.  All because of what you describe and other nasty tricks my older brothers though up.