I am:

A Survivor

Subject:

his promises

Make Your Voice Heard!:

Submit Suggestion

Date:

27 Jan 2004

Time:

17:25:22

Suggestion

Coming from a broken home, I thought my ex was going to give me all that I had wanted. Stability, financial security and love. Instead he gave me bruises and heartache. It was very difficult to leave him, because I guess I didn't really know any better. After reading your website, I realized that the stuff I had grown up with, taught me to accept the stuff I was getting. I think if someone had told me early to believe that love shouldn't hurt then maybe I would have never believed in his promises...thanks for helping.

I am:

A Survivor

Subject:

My life is SOOOOOOO much better now

Date:

04 Feb 2004

Time:

14:12:10

Suggestion

It was 1998, I was planning my wedding to my boyfriend of 7 years. He always made me feel as if I wasn't good enough, asif I did everything wrong. In 7 years he never laid a hand on me, but he did isolate me from my family, my friends, got me to give up my career for which I studied at college for over 7 years. I was not happy. I was trying to plan a wedding. He didn't help, didn't want to know about it, and everything I did plan: It wasn't good enough, I wasn't good enough, I had to loose weight, I was unattractive, I was frigid, etc. That faithful night: I told him I wanted to postpone the wedding because it didn't feel right. He got angry *again*. He did a lot of shouting, I did a lot of shouting back. He walked out the room, then stormed in, grabbed me by the throat and smacked me against the wall. He held me up by my throat. My feet were not touching the ground. I looked at him and said: "go ahead, finish it, it cant be much worse than living with you". He got out of the room. A week later I had left the house, moved back in with my parents. Then I met my current husband. He lived on the other side of the planet. He supported me through the rough breakup. through the nearly daily phone calls, letters etc. he came to Europe from Australia to support me. We've been married for 4 years now. I have NEVER been this happy. Choose for yourself and your life will reward you.

I am:

A Parent or Family Member

Subject:

knowing what to say......

Date:

30 Dec 2003

Time:

15:49:02

Suggestion

As a parent it was difficult to know what to say to my daughter who was in an abusive relationship. At the time we felt isolated and didn't know where to turn. Your website is very informative and can give someone guidance when they feel there isn't any available. You give us something to say...a website such as yours is a great place to start...if only it was available back then. But now, you can help others and the word will get out. NOW, I know how to respond. Thanks a mom