My 40 year old daughter has never been able to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. she tends to become angry and verbally combative when relationships become more serious. ten years ago she revealed that she had been sexually abused by a teenaged

She needs help.: From what you report there is strong evidence that she needs professional psychological help now . The sooner she starts the better since therapy may take a long time. This is serious stuff. Have her family physician make a referral.

Seek help: its important for your daughter to try to seek some professional help from a licensed psychologist. These pervasive patterns seems to be a maladaptation to the trauma she experienced early in life. With help, she will learn to deal with relationship anxiety in a more balanced a healthy way. Try to find a psychologist who specializes in trauma treatments such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc.