SATURDAY'S WITH STEF: My Domestic Violence Story & SURVIVAL

 

I can sit here and tell you my story AGAIN...you can read it HERE.

I am a SURVIVOR. I am a woman who said, "NO MORE." Even though my abuse goes back to when I was little, it doesnt make me damaged.

It makes me STRONGER!

They cant hurt me anymore. They cant do anything that hasn't been done to me already.

I protect MYSELF! I make sure NO ONE ever crosses my boundary again and I dont put up with just anyone's crap!

I am strong! I am a survivor and people should be scared of us survivors...why? BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE!!!

SIGNS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

• Have you ever been physically hurt, such as being kicked, pushed, choked or punched, by your partner or ex-partner? 
  
• Has your partner ever used the threat of hurting you or members of your family to get you to do something? 
  
• Has your partner ever injured or abused your pets? 
  
• Has your partner ever destroyed your property or things that you care about? 
  
• Has your partner tried to keep you from seeing your family, going to school or doing other things that are important to you? 
  
• Do you feel like you are being controlled or isolated by your partner? For instance, does your partner control your money, transportation, activities or social contacts? 
  
  
• Have you ever been forced by your partner to have sex when you did not want to or to have unsafe sex? 
  
• Is your partner jealous and always questioning whether you are faithful? 
  
• Does your partner regularly blame you for things that you cannot control, or for his/her violent outbursts? 
  
• Does your partner regularly insult you? 
  
• Are you ever afraid of your partner or of going home? Does he/she make you feel unsafe?
  

There are other signs of domestic violence that observers might see in a relative or friend who is in an abusive relationship. They include:

• being prone to "accidents" or being repeatedly injured 
  
• having injuries that could not be caused unintentionally or that do not match the story of what happened to cause them 
  
• having injuries on many different parts of the body, such as the face, throat, neck, chest, abdomen or genitals 
  
• having bruises, burns or wounds that are shaped like teeth, hands, belts, cigarette tips or that look like the injured person has a glove or sock on (from having a hand or foot placed in boiling water)
  
• having wounds in various states of healing 
  
• often seeking medical help or, conversely, waiting to seek or not seeking medical help even for serious injuries 
  
• showing signs of depression 
  
• using alcohol or other drugs 
  
• attempting suicide 
  
  
  GET HELP! 
  
  
  National Domestic Violence Hotline
  800-799-SAFE (7233)