Welcome to Surviving Domestic Violence! Here you will find resources for dealing with and getting out of a domestic abuse situation, recovering your mind, body, and spirit once you get away, and my personal story of what happened to me, how I got out of it, and what I have been doing to heal myself. Don't hesitate to e-mail me with questions, suggestions, or support. If you would like to share your personal story of what you went thru and how you got out, email me!
What is Abuse?
Abuse, which is also called domestic violence, is any behaviour that causes physical, sexual or emotional damage, or causes you to live in fear. Non-physical forms of abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence.
Emotional abuse is when your partner constantly puts you down or criticises you threatens to stop you from seeing your children, or threatens to commit suicide if you leave the relationship.
Social abuse may include preventing you from seeing your friends and family, making you feel guilty about going to work or socialising, constantly checking up on your whereabouts.
Financial abuse is when your partner takes control of your financial affairs when you don't want him to, or prevents you from having access to money.
Sexual abuse is making you do sexual things that you don't want to do. Forcing you to have sex is a criminal offence, even if you are married.
Stalking is when a partner or ex-partner follows you around, or repeatedly tries to contact you, even if you've said you don't want this.
Physical abuse includes pushing, hitting, throwing objects, or threatening to physically harm you, other people, or pets.
It is very important to remember You DO NOT deserve to be abused in any form! My ex-husband told me all the time "If you would be more understanding, I wouldn't hit you or yell at you", "If you would do blah blah blah, I wouldn't hit you." I don't care what anyone says NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HIT!!! Whether it is a fist, a toy, whatever is closest to him at the time, you do not deserve it and you weren't asking for it!
