Michael J. Fox in "Saving Milly"
This is a difficult section to write about. But if you're here, chances are you've found yourself in a relationship that has become abusive. There are many types of abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, but whatever form you feel that you are in, there are some VERY important things that I want you to understand right now!
Please understand though that I feel very strongly about this subject. No person has the right to abuse another person, no matter what the circumstances. You may feel trapped, you may feel that you have nowhere to turn for help, but in reality, that does not need to be the case. Please don't forget that you can call 911 if you need immediate help.
One thing I won't do here is try to pass myself off as some kind of expert on this topic, even though I have very strong opinions on how wrong any kind of abuse is. But I have teamed up with people who are experts on this subject, one of which is Dr. Jeanne King. After her own personal encounter with domestic abuse, she turned her professional focus from bio-behavioral medicine to Domestic Abuse Intervention and Prevention. She now works with a team of professionals that are dedicated to helping people identify abuse, and then to break the cycle of abuse and begin the recovery process.
In the course of working on this site, I have corresponded with several people who came to this site looking for help and advice on how to fix or survive the abusive relationships that they are in. In most cases, the victim feels trapped in the relationship, which is precisely how the abuser wants them to feel. By maintaining financial and emotional control, the abuser is able to keep the abused locked in, with no apparent way out of the situation. But there is a way out of any relationship, and if you are in this type of relationship, it's absolutely CRITICAL that you believe that. Below I have listed just a few of the national organizations that have been created to help you. Please contact one of them immediately so that you can begin to remove yourself from this unhealthy situation. You deserve to live a life filled with joy and happiness, and often that life is just one simple step away.
Ask for help! Make that first step and you'll be one step closer to turning your life around.