My story – Karissa C

My name is Karissa and I am a survivor of DV. I met my abuser when I was 19 yo. He was 5 or 6 years my senior but we began dating. He seemed like my perfect person everything I could have asked for. Things were great for a month, but then the switch change. He began by being emotionally and mentally abusive. I convinced myself that I could live with it and was willing to give up my dream of being a mother for him. He isolated from all those who loved me and tried to make me solely dependent on him. I began questioning him and calling him out. One time, I even said he was narcissistic. He laughed and convinced me I was crazy. Gradually as I began standing up for myself, the abuse changed from only mental/emotional to sexual/physical. I felt hopeless. I felt alone. I finally called my parents when he was gone one day and asked if I could come live back home with them. I packed up everything I owned from his room into my tiny car and I left. The abuse didn’t end there because I went back. He had threatened to commit suicide and I cared for him so I went back. It didn’t take me too long to realize that he was manipulating me. His mom also told me it wasn’t the first time he had done this so I left. I wasn’t going to allow him to continue the pattern of abuse. I found out I was pregnant less than two weeks later. He told me to “get rid of it”. I chose a new life that day and have gone on to have a beautiful, smart baby girl. I met a wonderful man who treats my daughter like his own and married him at the end of last year. It was a terrifying situation to be in and even more terrifying to leave. However, I don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t gotten out, but I’m so thankful and blessed that I was able to.
Much love and healing,
Karissa