Why I Share My Story
Living this life has led me to one clear conclusion: when we share our experiences, we give others permission—and opportunity—to grow alongside us.
What I’ve shared so far has been deeply personal. Each story is offered with intention, not for sympathy, but to help others see that there is light at the end of every day, even when it feels impossibly far away. Over time, I’ve built resilience—but that strength didn’t appear overnight. It came through lived experiences, patience, and the unwavering support of people around me who genuinely wanted the best for my life and healing.
If you are going through a difficult season, please know this: you don’t have to do it alone. You can reach out to me. I will offer guidance, support, and understanding. I will sit with you in the mud—without judgment—until you’re ready to take your next steps forward.
I am not a counsellor, but I can help you find one.
I am not a doctor, but I’ve learned how to access the right medical support.
I am not a lawyer, but I’ve navigated legal systems when it was necessary to do so.
Sometimes, knowing where to start is the hardest part. I can help with that.
What’s Next
Over the next year, I will be developing a book focused on self-care and reclaiming personal strength—particularly for those taking steps to leave a domestic violence relationship. Healing is not linear, and empowerment looks different for everyone, but no one should have to figure it out alone.
What a Domestic Violence Relationship Can Look Like
Domestic violence doesn’t always look the way people expect. It can be subtle, gradual, and deeply confusing. These are not limited to but can include one or more of the following:
1. Isolation
Making you feel as though your loved ones are not enough. Keeping you away from family and friends while convincing you that they are all you need.
2. Control
This may include financial, emotional, and social control. You may be told you can’t manage finances, discouraged from seeking help, or have access restricted—such as having your car or house keys taken away.
3. Financial Abuse
You may need to ask “permission” to access money, even for something as small as coffee with a friend. Every dollar is questioned, justified, and framed as being “for your own good.”
4. Emotional Abuse
Gaslighting and manipulation become routine. You’re told events didn’t happen the way you remember, or that you’re overreacting—causing you to doubt your own reality.
5. Sexual Abuse
Being coerced into situations you do not want. Being restrained, locked in, or subjected to dominance that is neither consensual nor safe.
Final Thoughts...
If any part of this resonates with you, please know that your experience is valid. Support exists. Healing is possible. And when you’re ready, there is a way forward.
You are not alone—and you never have to be. Together, we can overcome this.
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