Before I start, let me say that I am so happy I've come this far and that I am finally at a point in my life where I can write about and share my story. Hopefully, my story hits home with someone and brings attention to DV, coercive control, and post-separation abuse! I pray it helps make a difference. Every one of us that has experienced domestic violence, especially with children in the mix, is watching the most heartbreaking events unfold before our eyes. If we victims/sur

Coming from childhood abuse and growing into domestic abuse, discovering my aunt's homicide from domestic violence, and after a long court battle being informed of my high school friend's homicide resulting from domestic violence, I've risen from the trauma and written a book, started a podcast, and traveled the US to speak about my story on others' platforms to give hope, strength, and light to those still suffering in silence and in the darkness. WHAT THEY BUILT AFTER Heali

Long story. Fifteen years in and out of court. WHAT THEY BUILT AFTER Psychotherapy for five years, weekly. I did a full circle, from putting stamps on envelopes as a volunteer to owning an incorporation.

My ex-husband abused me for 6 years, and I only got out after those 6 years. He abused me emotionally, financially, verbally, and physically. The last time he beat me up, he almost unalived me. I was only saved by the grace of God. I started my healing journey in September 2025. It's not an easy road. It's slow, messy, and real. I can only say that I thank God that I'm still alive and that I can protect my son. My ex-husband also got me hooked on drugs. I used meth and Mandra

I never wanted to tell this story. Not to friends, to strangers, not online, and definitely not publicly. And if I’m being honest, I spent years trying to make sure I never had to. People see the ending and can assume that’s where the story began. They hear about the divorce. Maybe there are mentions of police reports. They hear about court orders. They see me speaking openly about domestic violence and assume I wanted to expose what happened. Sorry, but the truth is much MUC

I am a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and identity theft but my story did not begin the day I escaped. Its roots reach back four generations, woven through the lives of the women who came before me. I am the daughter, granddaughter, and greatgranddaughter of women who endured what they should never have had to survive. My mother, a woman full of beauty and pain, turned to drugs to cope with the violence in her life. When I was eight years old, she was mu

I was in my first abusive relationship for two years before I even realised it was abuse. This set my dating pattern for most of my adult life, where I accepted abuse because I believed it was okay due to me fighting back. WHAT THEY BUILT AFTER I began studying and attending therapy. I struggled with therapy and the processing of therapy after I completed it. It was hard to know that I should have had therapy years before bringing up my children, who got the unhealed version

The night I finally left, I had eleven dollars, a garbage bag of clothes, and my daughter asleep in her car seat. Everyone asks why it took so long. Four years. They don't understand that leaving isn't one decision — it's a thousand small ones that all have to line up on the same night. The right amount of fear. The right amount of courage. The car keys where you can reach them. The baby already in her pajamas. He was charming when we met. Everyone loved him. He coached littl