Domestic Violence Awareness Month: No Woman is an Island

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, you are not alone. There is help for you and it is not your fault. Abusive relationships kind of creep up on you. It never starts out day one with abuse. No one would stick around for that. But it starts with promises, love, devotion, and care and suddenly a blow up. It might happen after a night of drinking so you pass it off as just that. But then it happens over and over. He says mean and nasty things to you. He berates you. You start to feel like you have done something wrong and therefore, if you do something right, you can fix it. You try and try. The blow ups keep happening. Then he tells you that it is all your fault and you are the crazy person. (the only thing crazy about you is that you don’t agree with him and want him to stop abusing you). But then you doubt yourself. And then you become embarrassed. And then you stop seeing your family and your friends. He hates them and you are embarrassed so it is a perfect cocktail of isolation. Once you are isolated, it is easier for him to manipulate you. You actually start believing what he says, even if it is counter to 25, 30, or 35 or more years of your life experience. Get your family and friends back. They will help you. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be treated with respect. There is help out there and everyone wants you back. Your friends and family pray everyday that you will get out and come back.