Hi,
My name is Olivia. I am 29 years old, divorced, and a nurse practitioner. My first domestic violence experience happened when I was 14, but it was minimal compared to what I endured with my ex husband. I met my ex husband at my old job and you would have thought he hung the moon! He was SOSOSO good to me! He was old school, he held my door’s open, cooked for me, gave me massages, back scratches, and the attention I needed and wanted. Unfortunately, we did get married very quickly and not really for the right reasons, but I wouldnt have done that if I didnt think it was someone I would be with long term.
Well, when they say marriage changes everything, boy….does it!! Within one month of being married, everything changed. However, now being on the outside of things, I definitely missed red flags/warning signs prior to marriage! He started to degrade me, daily, numerous times. He told me I was worthless, a horrible wife, retarted, etc. it started with yelling in my face/ears, then turned into grabbing me forcefully, shoving me, throwing things at me, to choking me, to hitting me, to holding me hostage for 1-2 days, tearing my ACL and meniscus, etc. He was living a “double life” so to speak. Found out he had been married for 65 days to a girl in Georgia. He was also a convicted felon who served 6 months in prison and then shock probation. HAD NO IDEA OF ANY OF THIS! Found out he had been court ordered to rehab x2 but never knew he had a history of addiction. Because of what i endured from him I turned to drugs. It was easier to take a beating when high. He never knew I was using. I had a history of cocaine and ecstacy use, but this time i switched to methamphetamines. I was smoking/staying high all day and night, he never knew, but it made it easier to tune him out, and also to stay awake and alert of his next move.
July 19,2021 was the breaking point. I came home and he had my house alarm set on me, and was telling me to leave and claimed KY was a 50/50 state and it was his house too (however i bought that on my own 6 yeara prior), he became aggressive and yelling, etc. i went to the courthouse and filed an EPO, two weeks later my domestic violence order was granted!!! Thank god!!! This year i have been in and out of rehab for ky addiction, i sold my house, moved, and started my life over!! I officially have 5.5 months clean and sober and start my new job on 12/5. Today i am no longer a victim, i no longer have to accept that treatment. God has spared me once again, and now is my chance! #BreakTheSilence
