By Anonymous Survivor
**The following is written by a survivor of domestic violence and abuse. Names have been changed to protect all involved.**
Breaking Free: My Prison Break from Abuse and the Hidden Red Flags I Ignored
The prison break from abuse didn’t happen behind locked bars. It happened the day I left my abuser. However, that escape wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning of an even longer journey toward freedom and healing.
Looking back now, I see my story through a completely different lens. At eighteen, I was kind, trusting, and raised to see the best in people. Unfortunately, those very qualities made me the perfect target for an abuser.
He used spiritual abuse, gaslighting, and isolation to control me. Quickly, I was pulled away from family and friends, left feeling trapped and completely alone.
“The abuse started early.”
On our honeymoon, he staged a terrifying scene, pretending someone had broken into our chalet. He threw a fireplace poker down at me, nearly hitting me.
It felt like he was fighting for his life—but in truth, he was conditioning me to believe I needed him. That moment marked the first of many traumatic bonding experiences.
The escalation was fast. He drove recklessly, kept me awake at all hours, and spat in my face. He told me my family was worthless, unlike his so-called “Christian” family. When I thought about leaving, he reminded me what would happen if I tried.
“The violence only got worse.”
I was strangled outside my son’s bedroom. Not to mention, I was thrown like trash. I was trapped in rooms while my children cried behind locked doors. Even when I broke my nose, he refused my medical care. I hid notes under the carpet and behind walls—just in case I didn’t survive.
But I did survive. And so did my children.
Today, I share my story to break the silence and remind other survivors that freedom is possible. You are not alone.
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- The Hidden Impact of Teen Dating Violence
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Other Resources and Information:
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- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Domestic Violence Support
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