Viewing the Past in the Present

In my desire to make improvements to my life for the future, I realized that in order to move forward I not only had to lay out the plans for where I wanted to go but I also needed to assess where I had been.  Where I am in my life is an accumulation of [...]

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 [...]

The Lessons of Demi Moore

I think most of us have heard about Demi Moore being rushed to the hospital this past week after some sort of substance usage reaction. This has followed weeks of speculation about her declining health following the breakup with Ashton Kutcher. The story for me is not all of the gossip about what caused the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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