Domestic Abuse – It Can Happen to Anyone

The results of a survey conducted in California in October, 2012, during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, indicates that 98% of residence now believe that domestic abuse can happen to anyone.  This is the first time of which I am aware that people are recognizing that abuse does cross all demographic lines and is not just [...]

Domestic Abuse: Could Football Player’s Murder Suicide Have Been Prevented?

Jovan Belcher, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, killed his girlfriend, the mother of his 3-month old child and then committed suicide.  First stories talked about their fighting and suggested domestic abuse was the cause but nothing had ever been reported previously to support the abuse allegations.  So much more of this story is [...]

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, [...]

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

I just learned yesterday that October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  This started my thinking about this major epidemic that seems to be growing worldwide and what I might be able to do in order to help to find a solution to this problem.  And after hours of pondering this matter, I [...]

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 [...]

Jessica’s Story – 12 Suicide Attempts After Abuse

I recently received the most amazing story of struggle and survival of a woman who has faced abuse and I would like to share the abbreviated version here. My name is Jess. I am 29 years old. I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. I overdosed 12 times my last two being the worse. I [...]

Domestic Abuse and Substance Abuse

As I read more and more stories about domestic abuse and talk to more and more people who are domestic abuse survivors or currently living in an abusive situation, I have found a common factor in all of them and that is that the abuser also abuses one or more substances.  Now, I am not [...]

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