After their first date... Josie and Nelson spend every single day together until they were married, 23 months later (minus 7 days that Josie was a counselor at her church camp). Sometimes this was stifling to her, but he was always there. She took this to be a sign of him caring for her and loving her more than anything or anyone, ever. When they made mistakes, separate or together... they had a best friend in which to confide them... Nelson often suggested to Josie that he was her rock... that she didn't need to worry about her somtimes crazy decisions... because he would keep them a secret. Even to this day, as sick as it is... Josie trusts him not to tell.
But that is not the way it happened all of the time. Often, Nelson would bring up these things in front of Josie and his parents, John and Lynne. He would make fun of her and embarass her... all in the name of good fun. Josie hated that so much... but she loved Nelson. Sometimes to get back at him, she would tease him in front of her family. Then there was always hell to pay. Not in the form of physical abuse... but that Nel would want to see her... but he would not openly chat with her once they were together. He would talk down to her like a child sometimes.
Remember this is before the unlucky couple was even married. Josie knew Nelson had problems... she even urged him once or twice to seek counseling. He said that Josie was the one with problems. That Josie needed help. Josie said she didn't... but she really did start believing him.
More about treating her like a child...
Even before their marriage, Nelson made sure that Josie was financially dependent on him. She always had a job, and sometimes supported the unfortunate pair. But he knew the right things to say, to make her not trust herself. Recently Nelson told Josie how he loves to pay the bills and make sure that the house is ship-shape. Josie cried herself to sleep because she can barely pay her bills now, her house was a mess, she was sick, and her faith in Josie is ruined. She doesn't feel like she can make it and frankly, it would give her comfort if she knew that Nelson was ever right about something.
Josie sometimes would say to Nelson... "Stop treating me like a child!" To which he would reply "Stop acting like one"... and "you need to get yourself together... when you do, I will consider treating you like an adult again." The last time that happened was not even 6 months ago. Is it any wonder why Josie doesn't trust herself? She always trusted him. Now she trusts no one.