Help...

[Aion]

Grey rock sounds like being passive aggressive.

Well in any situation such as this you can either be passive, aggressive or a combination of the two. Being passive would mean just taking the abuse. Being aggressive would mean fighting back in turn. Passive aggressiveness has a bad social connotation only because aggressive people want to fight head on and passive people want to avoid any fight at all. The fact is that it is just as regular of a defense mechanism as aggression or passivity. People who are passive aggressive usually give a negative connotation towards those who are purely aggressive or purely passive. There is no 'right' way to respond to a situation but there are different effects from different approaches. This is something I actually work with a lot in my own practice and my own self-development is learning about the difference in these approaches. I have learned that each really has its own place. Sometimes aggression is needed in order to get things moving. Sometimes passivity is needed to clear the way. Sometimes passive aggressiveness is needed in order to stand your ground.

Absolutely all of these things can be turned in to tools for manipulation, there is no denying that, but that's again not the nature of the tools but rather the nature of the one who is using them.

And to C_A, unfortunately since I don't know your area or your social situation I don't know what I may offer but emotional support for your troubled mind. I know how scary it is to be unsure if you will have your security suddenly pulled beneath your feet and it's not fun. I wish you the best of luck and wisdom on discerning a path that will aid you in both body and mind.