Everytime abuse happens, it feels like the person dishing it out is throwing bricks at you, figuratively or literally. The weight of the bricks never get lesser or go away. So you end up using them. You build a wall around yourself to protect yourself, from friend or foe, and everything that blurs that line. If you get enough bricks and close yourself off completely within the wall, well, you can do whatever you want. You can stop everything.