{"id":16541,"date":"2022-12-28T19:55:05","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T02:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=16541"},"modified":"2022-12-29T11:36:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T18:36:11","slug":"amanda-aaltonen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=16541","title":{"rendered":"Amanda Aaltonen"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"16541\" class=\"elementor elementor-16541\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ce2166 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ce2166\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;opacity-tilt&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 2600 131.1\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M0 0L2600 0 2600 69.1 0 0z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" style=\"opacity:0.5\" d=\"M0 0L2600 0 2600 69.1 0 69.1z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" style=\"opacity:0.25\" d=\"M2600 0L0 0 0 130.1 2600 69.1z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65ccdaa elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-hidden-tablet\" data-id=\"65ccdaa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7ce7718\" data-id=\"7ce7718\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-863eb0b elementor-alert-warning elementor-widget elementor-widget-alert\" data-id=\"863eb0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"alert.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-alert\" role=\"alert\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-alert-title\">Trigger Warning<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-alert-description\">This story may contain descriptions of physical and sexual violence that some survivors may find particularly upsetting. Please consider your triggers and well-being before reading past this point. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"elementor-alert-dismiss\" aria-label=\"Dismiss this alert.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0885541 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0885541\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amanda Aaltonen<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c173615 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c173615\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-acdfd76\" data-id=\"acdfd76\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-818bee6 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"818bee6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/inbound5923355590416634738-2-e1672282600544.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Amanda Aaltonen survivor story\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fbd722 elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed survivor elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"1fbd722\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tBy the time we bought a house together I was a fraction of myself, barely surviving, no longer in love with the man called my husband, but surviving for my daughter.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce4086c elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--shape-rounded elementor-share-buttons--skin-gradient elementor-grid-0 elementor-share-buttons--color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"ce4086c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_twitter\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3cc073 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3cc073\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Hi there, My name is Amanda. When I was 27 I met a man that I was set up with by a friend that she knew from high school. He seemed sweet and nice and so I thought I would give it a go. So we went for a date. Halfway through we went out to his parents cabin at Christina Lake. When he got out of my car he slammed the door so hard, he jammed it closed so I had gotten mad at him and asked him to please not slam my door in a raised voice. He then yelled at me and called me a fucking psycho. I was taken aback at first. Chalked it up to being nerves.<\/p><p>We continued the date. I spent the night and then the next morning got dressed, dropped the guy off at his parents place as that was where he was living at the time and proceeded to drive home. By time time I had gotten back to Kelowna, I had time to have a nap, then my phone rang around 430pm. The guy stated he didn&#8217;t want to date me and he dumped me. 5 days later he came back begging me to take him back. So I did.<\/p><p>And the abuse started.\u00a0Little things at first. Lots of name calling and fights before and after intimacy. Threats of leaving, comparing me to people, jealousy, and flat of narcissistic behaviour thay I didn&#8217;t see at the time. I got pregnant 2 years later and it just got worse. Yelling, swearing walking on literal egg shells and never knowing what version on guy I was going to get. By the time we bought a house together I was a fraction of myself, barely surviving, no longer in love with the man called my husband, but surviving for my daughter. She is my reason.<\/p><p>A year and a bit after buying his house, the straw broke the camels back and he beat me up after a night shift for him. Kicked me in the stomach 3 weeks after abdominal surgery and complications, closed fist back handed me across the right side of my face splitting the inside of my lip open (needing 6 stitches) and then pushed me through a glass coffee table. ALL THIS MY DAUGHTER 6.5 AT THE TIME, WITNESSED. <br \/><br \/>I got ready for work and left. I never reported it because I was too scared. 1 week later my mom helped save me and my daughter and got us out. I left him November of 2018. He is still in my life as we share our daughter and I have to share custody but he will never be allowed near me again, nor will he ever be allowed to touch myself or my daughter either. <br \/><br \/>Today, I am still healing and we are seeing counsellors and speaking out against domestic violence. My story isn&#8217;t over, and yours doesn&#8217;t have to be either. Today, I am with an amazing man, who loves me, he loves my daughter as his own and we are planning to get married in 2024. I never in a million years thought I would ever want to get married again..<br \/><br \/>Never be afraid to speak your TRUTH!!!!!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cab10aa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cab10aa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-edc29dc\" data-id=\"edc29dc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81f6e1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"81f6e1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hear from other survivors<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7b3e341 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7b3e341\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b6dd82c\" data-id=\"b6dd82c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27dbb36 elementor-grid-eael-col-4 elementor-grid-tablet-eael-col-2 elementor-grid-mobile-eael-col-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-post-grid\" data-id=\"27dbb36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;eael_post_grid_columns&quot;:&quot;eael-col-4&quot;,&quot;eael_post_grid_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;eael-col-2&quot;,&quot;eael_post_grid_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;eael-col-1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"eael-post-grid.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"eael-post-grid-27dbb36\" class=\"eael-post-grid-container\">\n            <div class=\"eael-post-grid eael-post-appender eael-post-appender-27dbb36 eael-post-grid-style-two\" data-layout-mode=\"grid\"><article class=\"eael-grid-post  eael-post-grid-column eael-pg-post-20437 category-break-your-silence-survivor-stories tags-abuse-break-the-silence-against-domestic-violence-btsadv-domestic-violence-emotional-abuse-physical-abuse-survivor-verbal-abuse\" data-id=\"20437\">\n    <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder\">\n        <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder-inner\"><div class=\"eael-entry-media\"><div class=\"eael-entry-overlay fade-in\"><i class=\"fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20437\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-thumbnail \">\n                            <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/their-1-300x169.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-20438\" alt=\"domestic violence\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/their-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/their-1.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-wrapper\"><header class=\"eael-entry-header\"><h2 class=\"eael-entry-title\"><a class=\"eael-grid-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20437\" title=\"Domestic Violence Isn&#8217;t All That I Am\">Domestic Violence Isn&#8217;t All That I Am<\/a><\/h2><\/header><div class=\"eael-entry-content\">\n                                <div class=\"eael-grid-post-excerpt\"><p>By Survivor Daphne **The following is written by a survivor...<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20437\" class=\"eael-post-elements-readmore-btn\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n                            <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-header-after style-two\"><div class=\"eael-entry-meta\"><span class=\"eael-meta-posted-on\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\"><\/i><time datetime=\"March 23, 2026\">March 23, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/article><article class=\"eael-grid-post  eael-post-grid-column eael-pg-post-20463 category-break-your-silence-survivor-stories tags-abuse-break-the-silence-against-domestic-violence-btsadv-domestic-violence-emotional-abuse-healing-physical-abuse-survivor-trauma-verbal-abuse\" data-id=\"20463\">\n    <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder\">\n        <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder-inner\"><div class=\"eael-entry-media\"><div class=\"eael-entry-overlay fade-in\"><i class=\"fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20463\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-thumbnail \">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-18227\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24-200x168.png 200w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24-716x600.png 716w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-24.png 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-wrapper\"><header class=\"eael-entry-header\"><h2 class=\"eael-entry-title\"><a class=\"eael-grid-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20463\" title=\"From Abuse to Healing: My Journey Through Domestic Violence, Addiction, and Faith\">From Abuse to Healing: My Journey Through Domestic Violence, Addiction, and Faith<\/a><\/h2><\/header><div class=\"eael-entry-content\">\n                                <div class=\"eael-grid-post-excerpt\"><p>By Survivor Sally **The following is written by a survivor...<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20463\" class=\"eael-post-elements-readmore-btn\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n                            <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-header-after style-two\"><div class=\"eael-entry-meta\"><span class=\"eael-meta-posted-on\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\"><\/i><time datetime=\"March 23, 2026\">March 23, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/article><article class=\"eael-grid-post  eael-post-grid-column eael-pg-post-20462 category-break-your-silence-survivor-stories tags-abuse-break-the-silence-against-domestic-violence-btsadv-childhood-abuse-survivor-breaking-the-silence-about-abuse-surviving-childhood-trauma-family-abuse-survivor-story-domestic-violence-emotional-abuse-physical-abuse-survivor-trauma\" data-id=\"20462\">\n    <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder\">\n        <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder-inner\"><div class=\"eael-entry-media\"><div class=\"eael-entry-overlay fade-in\"><i class=\"fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20462\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-thumbnail \">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-18249\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46-200x168.png 200w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46-716x600.png 716w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-46.png 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-wrapper\"><header class=\"eael-entry-header\"><h2 class=\"eael-entry-title\"><a class=\"eael-grid-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20462\" title=\"Breaking the Silence: Surviving Family Abuse, Grooming, and the Pain of Being Disbelieved\">Breaking the Silence: Surviving Family Abuse, Grooming, and the Pain of Being Disbelieved<\/a><\/h2><\/header><div class=\"eael-entry-content\">\n                                <div class=\"eael-grid-post-excerpt\"><p>By Survivor **The following is written by a survivor of...<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20462\" class=\"eael-post-elements-readmore-btn\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n                            <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-header-after style-two\"><div class=\"eael-entry-meta\"><span class=\"eael-meta-posted-on\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\"><\/i><time datetime=\"March 23, 2026\">March 23, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/article><article class=\"eael-grid-post  eael-post-grid-column eael-pg-post-20461 category-break-your-silence-survivor-stories tags-abuse-break-the-silence-against-domestic-violence-btsadv-domestic-violence-emotional-abuse-nerodivergent-physical-abuse-survivor-trans-transgender-trauma-verbal-abuse\" data-id=\"20461\">\n    <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder\">\n        <div class=\"eael-grid-post-holder-inner\"><div class=\"eael-entry-media\"><div class=\"eael-entry-overlay fade-in\"><i class=\"fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20461\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-thumbnail \">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-18241\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38-200x168.png 200w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38-716x600.png 716w, https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Anonymus-Survivor-Stories-38.png 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-wrapper\"><header class=\"eael-entry-header\"><h2 class=\"eael-entry-title\"><a class=\"eael-grid-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20461\" title=\"Surviving Abuse While Being Transgender and Neurodivergent: My Story of Survival and Strength\">Surviving Abuse While Being Transgender and Neurodivergent: My Story of Survival and Strength<\/a><\/h2><\/header><div class=\"eael-entry-content\">\n                                <div class=\"eael-grid-post-excerpt\"><p>By Survivor **The following is written by a survivor of...<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=20461\" class=\"eael-post-elements-readmore-btn\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n                            <\/div><div class=\"eael-entry-header-after style-two\"><div class=\"eael-entry-meta\"><span class=\"eael-meta-posted-on\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\"><\/i><time datetime=\"March 23, 2026\">March 23, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n            <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>            <div class=\"eael-load-more-button-wrap eael-force-hide\">\n                <button class=\"eael-load-more-button\" id=\"eael-load-more-btn-27dbb36\" data-widget-id=\"27dbb36\" data-widget=\"27dbb36\" data-page-id=\"16541\" data-template=\"{&quot;dir&quot;:&quot;lite&quot;,&quot;file_name&quot;:&quot;two.php&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Post-Grid&quot;}\" data-class=\"Essential_Addons_Elementor\\Elements\\Post_Grid\" data-layout=\"grid\" data-page=\"1\" data-args=\"orderby=date&amp;order=desc&amp;ignore_sticky_posts=1&amp;post_status=publish&amp;posts_per_page=4&amp;offset=0&amp;post_type=post&amp;tax_query%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=category&amp;tax_query%5B0%5D%5Bfield%5D=term_id&amp;tax_query%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=6&amp;tax_query%5Brelation%5D=AND&amp;post__not_in%5B0%5D=16541\" data-max-page=\"193\">\n                    <span class=\"eael-btn-loader button__loader\"><\/span>\n                    <span class=\"eael_load_more_text\">Load More<\/span>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fcf2d57 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fcf2d57\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-642d2e6\" data-id=\"642d2e6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a7a5dd elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"9a7a5dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/break-your-silence\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Break Your Silence<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trigger Warning This story may contain descriptions of physical and sexual violence that some survivors may find particularly upsetting. Please consider your triggers and well-being before reading past this point. \u00d7 Dismiss alert By the time we bought a house together I was a fraction of myself, barely surviving, no longer in love with the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":164,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,522,344],"tags":[90,117,115],"class_list":["post-16541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-break-your-silence","category-sister-survivors","category-survivor-stories","tag-domestic-violence","tag-physical-abuse","tag-survivor"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Amanda Aaltonen - Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I was a fraction of myself, barely surviving, no longer in love with the man called my husband, but surviving for my daughter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=16541\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Amanda Aaltonen - 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