You Can Be A Survivor

Don't think that because you are victim now that you can't become a survivor, because you can. Becoming a survivor is something that every victim can obtain. It may not seem easy and at times it may even seem impossible, but trust me it can happen. Be determined, be vigilant, be aware and ready to get out and to safety. Make a plan, make contacts, make a support system if you have time. If  you feel you can't get out safely and you're in danger please call 911. To become a survivor you must get out to survive. You can't love your abuser enough to make him/her change, they have to want to change which sadly not all do.  tcc

The Abuse I Endured Is Not Who I Am, But What I Went Through

I am a victim turned survivor of childhood sexual abuse, adulthood domestic abuse, homelessness, severe obesity and more. From the ages of 7-10 I was abused by multiple males at different times, then we moved when I was 10 and for a time it stopped then it started again at age 13 or so with two different males on and off for a year or so and then at at 15- 16 one of the first males tried it again by then I'd heard of statutory rape and told him if he didn't stop he would go to jail. He never touched me again. I married at 18 then he stopped work two weeks after we got married and I continued working, not knowing when I married him that he would ever put his hands on me inappropriately, slapping, throwing me and choking me which started a few months after we were married and I thought I was pregnant, he became very angry and chased me through the place we lived in and choked me in the hall I got away and ran into our room (I couldn't get to the outside door) to shut the door he got in and slung me around like a rag doll. His mother had heard the commotion from nearby and came in and got mad not because her son was slinging me and choking me but because she was afraid the neighbors would hear. (I paid her rent for the trailer we lived in next to her home). It wasn't the first time he had hit me. During our marriage I did get pregnant and then I lost the baby when I was beginning my 5th month of the term I had named her Vanessa Rene', I lost her in the Dr's office during a visit it turns out I was miscarrying and the Dr put her in a bottle and sent her with me to the hospital. He refused to be with me when I had gone to the ER a few days early and I was told to go home and when the miscarriage was over to come back and they would do a D&C. After that marriage I met a man we got married he got 10 years for robbery, I waited for nearly 4 years then he asked for a divorce. I met my children's dad and we had three children together. I was with him 15 1/2 years it was during that time about 9 yrs in into it that I gained weight due to depression leaving me at about 400 of (which I have now lost 190 pounds of the original weight now leaving me about 70 pounds yet to lose) and then the kids and I were homeless for 2 1/2 years after he and I split. I was trying to go to college raising three kids while homeless I had to drop out. I left and moved back to my home state of Indiana with my two youngest children as by this time my teen son's girlfriend became pregnant and he wanted to stay there to help her raise the baby at her parents home. We were living on Cape Cod at the time and I couldn't afford to stay and rent a place. It broke my heart to move so far from him but the counselor had threatened to have social services take all three of my children because we were homeless so I had to leave and go near my mom where we could be get a home. We left in 2001 and then I met the man that I was married to until 2008, he turned out to be a very dangerous man more dangerous that I could have ever imagined with what the Dr's would call multiple personalities but what I call demons, he had 44 names and 4 known voices and at one point he attempted to take me off to kill me. He had even told me where he was going to dump my body had he succeed the night he attacked me. He would howl like an animal saying he was a wolf spirit, he ate raw buffalo meat bought at an Amish farm. He would go around our property marking it like an animal and his appearance could even change without notice while standing in front of me. His face would be distorted and he would growl and howl. That's just a piece of the story with him He was verbally and physically assaulting to me.  I left him in 2007 and I have been single since then. I have made many many bad choices in my life that caused me hurt and my kid much hurt even though I never intended for them to be hurt, it did cause them much emotional distress for which I am so sorry for they had to endure the sound of the arguments and the fear we all went through due to his abuse (their step dad at the time) and the arguing between their dad and I over issues. God has brought me through so much that I might help others with what I went through by telling them that they too can get out and can make it with His help. I am not angry at God and I never was even when I didn't understand at the time why I had to endure such things as a child and adult and this is only the tip of the iceburg. God has been my salvation and my strength even when I felt I didn't deserve it. He has used the bad in my life to witness to others on the streets when I meet someone going through the same or that has gone through it already. I blog about it all in hopes to continue to help others. I hope to be invited to churches, conferences, seminars etc to let others know that even if they have and / or are going through the same that they too can be survivors with God's help. I still struggle at times with the negative words I have heard from others about me but I will not allow them to rule and ruin me. God has brought me too far. I stand on His Jer. 29:11  Jer. 33:3 Hab. 2:3 Rom. 8:28 and Heb 11:1 and all other scriptures of His promises for me and you.. So know that you are not alone for God is there and I am here if you need to talk. tcc

Women Are Not The Only Victims/Suriviors Of Domestic Abuse, It Can Also Include Men and Children...

According to statisitcs woman are not the only victims/survivors of domestic violence. It is reported that as many as 40% of domestic violence victims are men. That is nearly 2 of 5. 
Most men do not report the abuse as they aren't taken seriously according to studies.
Abuse can be physical, verbal and/or mental. It can also affect you in more ways than just physical. It wreaks havoc on you in so many ways and it can also affect your children even if they aren't being hit. It can cause your children some of the same emotional issues as the one being abused as you will read below.The physical of being hit can leave you with broken bones, bruises, and organ issues from the force of the hitting, the bruises and bones many heal, but the emotional affects are there long after the body heals if you survive  which I hope you do. The other physical/emotional/mental issues can cause vomiting, night terrors, night sweats, anxiety, panic attacks, bedwetting, withdrawing, brokenness in your emotions, uncontrollable crying when you least expect it, anger from you at others even when they haven't done anything wrong. The list goes on and on in how it can affect you, your mind, your body, your future relationships, your relationships with family and/or friends, etc can all be affected due to abuse. Please get out while you can. Abuse affects more than just you.
1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

Being Alone For A Period Of Time Is Much Better Than being Abused...

Being alone for a period of time is much better than being with someone who is abusive, yet many do not look at it like that. I know that for a a fact because I have been in multiple relationships in the past that were abusive and I stayed for multiple reasons such as I didn't want to be alone, I didn't feel I deserved better I didn't feel anyone could love me, I still loved the the person for who they were when we met not who they were when they began abusing me and I thought then that I could love them enough that they'd change and not hurt me, yet it doesn't work that way. You cannot love anyone enough to make them stop abusing you. It took me from that time I was 18 until I was 47 to realize that I'd rather be alone than to be with an abuser. I find now that I am alone and not in a controlling abusive relationship/marriage that I am happier, healthier mentally and spiritually. I have also learned that should God ever choose to send someone in my life that he will enhance the happiness I already have and not be my source of happiness. I was so insecure that I was also very clingy and needy and that in itself is not healthy for anyone. We allow the abuser to continue to abuse us if we stay and we are therefore their enablers if we do not try to get away from them and stay away. It isn't our fault they are abusers so that is not what I am saying, however it is our fault if we don't try to get away and stay away so we can be safer. There are situations where the abused has left and still been hurt and/or killed.It's so sad what one person can do to another, we have to stand up for ourselves and get away. Make a plan, get s support network of others to help you get away safely. I know it's hard being a lone at first but trust me once you break free and are safe you will be so glad and you will probably ask yourself later , Why did I wait so long? There are hotlines and support groups that you can contact for help as well. I have some listed on one  of my other posts on this blog, please take time to write them down.