Q: How long were you in an abusive relationship?
A: Almost 19 years
Q: What helped you leave?
A: Counseling, Reading, Prayer, and Watching Videos on the subject
Q: Was leaving hard?
A: Yes, leaving was hard. Staying was hard too. A quote I heard that inspired me was "It will hurt, either way, so choose your pain." I chose to face the pain of leaving instead of continuing to endure the pain of staying.
Q: Were you afraid to leave?
A: Yes, I was afraid to leave but I was also afraid to stay. The day I finally left was when my children watched as the abuser strangled me.
Q: What was the hardest thing about leaving?
A: Losing connections to friends and family who did not support my decision.
Q: Are you trying to force people to leave their relationships?
A: Although I am sharing my story, you will ultimately be in charge of making this decision.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to leave?
A: Educate yourself, make a plan to leave safely, and build a support network of others who can help you to leave.
Q: Did you ever miss the abuser?
A: Like any other loss, I felt the pain of losing the connection to someone I had known for years. I went through the stages of the grieving process and even experienced sadness at times.