Abuse Under the Influence

For as long as I can remember, I have been of the belief that there is a definite relationship between abuse and the use of alcohol or drugs or whatever is the substance of the day. I am not saying that substances cause abuse but I do believe that most abusive behavior grows in dimension [...]

Happy Anniversary to Let Life Happen

So, you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time and you are facing a double mastectomy and reconstruction along with a parathyroid/thyroid surgery at some point.  What do you do?  Yes, I did go to Disneyland. But, if you are me and you have the most supportive and awesome husband imaginable, [...]

Inside the Mind of A Domestic Abuse Survivor

I am not who you think I am.  If you know that I am a domestic abuse survivor, you most likely think that I am weak and stupid for getting myself into such a situation in the first place and for staying as long as I did.  Most likely, you view me as a victim, [...]

Jury Duty for Abuse Survivors

I have been summoned to jury duty in a criminal court tomorrow and I must say that I am deeply disturbed by this.  I am one who takes my civic duty very seriously so I never considered not going.  However, I know that I would never be able to actually serve on a jury that [...]

If You Know Abuse…

…then this message is for you.  I do not remember any time in the past that I have heard so many stories about abuse that angered me.  My anger is not at the abusers this time however but for those who are being or have been abused.  The idea that we are “survivors” is no [...]

Domestic Abuse Can End in Death

Everyone’s story of abuse is as individual as the people involved.  However, when I read a story this week titled “Domestic Abuse Can End in Death”, I found a number of similarities to my own past and I wanted to share that story by Alexis Bechman with you.  For some reason, those who are not [...]

Facing The Barrels Of A Shotgun

I have long tried to explain to others what it is like to be in a domestic violence situation and why it is so hard to get out.  I have tried to figure out how we get ourselves into such situations in the first place.  And I have always emphasized how important it is to [...]

Domestic Violence Victim Gets Jailed for Lying About Beating

In one of the most horrible miscarriages of justice that I have ever heard, a woman was sentenced to 365 days in jail for lying about being beaten by her boyfriend.  The full story is attached for your own reading and thoughts.  To make a long story short, a tape of an interview with the [...]

Domestic Abuse Hurts

I recently received the attached letter from a reader who chose to share her story with me in response to my request to share your stories as a way to help others.  As I read it, there were so many things with which I could identify and I now understand that while her sharing was [...]

Mel Gibson: Another Domestic Abuser

Wherever you look in the headlines this week, everyone is reporting on the audio tapes of Mel Gibson and his tirades once again.  Much emphasis is being put on the racial and religious slurs and they definitely should receive a very clear reporting.  However, what is being lost in the messages, at least in the [...]

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