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More and more depressed/suicidal I don't know how to move on... A day I need advise..
2008 the first time I wanted to hurt myself
2009 suicidal thought started
2010 self harm started
2011 abused and lost a child
2012?

When death comes to someone that you should be close to but you are not How do you deal with the detached emotional baggage?
My adopted mom just died. I have no good or happy memories at all with her. Verbal and physical abuse right up to her dying day.
I all ways hoped she would apologize and try to make it right with me and it never happened. I hurt but not by the loss but rather by the ending of this chapter of my life with out resolution.

this was not suppose to be post It should of went under RELATED KEYWORDS SORRY!

I was sexually abused growing up by my mothers boyfriend. From the age of 9 to 17. I tried to tell her the very first time it happened. She,surrounded by my 3 of my sister, started to laugh making them all laugh. I felt so confused She previous to that had been physically and verbally abused my hole life sense i can remember I've been a slut ,whore,a lying little bastard and a fucking stupid idiot. When I turned 18 I was leaving and wasn't looking back! Well for 20 some years I've lived in the circle couldn't break that pattern never fail out of 100 men I would pick (eventually) the ABUSER!!! 3 husband , almost 5 thousand dollars later to fix my nose once, It was on the other side of my face from my first, now it's broke again from my third! DIVORCE TIME!

When I was 3, I was literally killed in a car accident right outside my front door. Over 2 minuets passed before the paramedics brought me back. I don't remember anything from that time, other than the knowing I am here for some reason. My mother, and best friend, died when I was 12 years old, the day before valentines day. i found her dead on the floor from a brain aneurism in our local VFW bathroom, where we had gone to listen to my father play music that night. A few years later I dropped out of high school to care for my heavily disable father, and I spent every day caring for his needs, until the day he died when I was 18. I was also 9 months pregnant at the time with my oldest son. My Son's father didn't show many signs of abuse until after my papa had passed away, and I was pregnant with our second son. After years of bruises and broken bones, and 4 children later, I finally gained the courage to leave him. I found myself in an abuse shelter with 4 babies, leaving my home of 20 years, and every physical possession I had ever owned. It took bringing me to my knees for me to find hope, love, and faith. I was saved shortly after. Through the works of many amazing people and blessings of God, my family is whole. Every time I have thought things were not going to work out, they did, and so I have stopped worrying, and now I just give it to God. Money is always tight, life is still stressful and difficult. I still have a son who feels the anger and sadness that a life of abuse can bring, wounds that cannot be seen or healed easily. I have never seen a cent of the tens of thousands of dollars that is owed to my children by their father, and stress is ever present every time I tell my kids that I am sorry we cant afford shoes that fit, or underwear that doesn't have holes, and I just wish I could be better for them. All of the pain and struggles are worth it though. I know I am blessed. We have not gone hungry in years, we may not have everything we want, but we have more than we need. My Children have a man in their life they consider their dad, and he is every bit a good man that they need to look up to and learn from. Blessings may not always be something we can see, but they are comforts we enjoy, security we feel, and love we share. I now help run a homeless shelter for other people who find themselves in the situation I was once in, and I volunteer for habitat for humanity to help provide other homeless with a place to call their own. I also sing in my church choir, work for the daycare, and volunteer whenever they need me and I am not in school. There will never be a way to repay the kindness that people have shown me and my family, but I want to do all I can. God Bless EVERYONE.

Just had to call my bank and tell them I have been mentally disabled for the last 3 years. I have never missed a payment for my bills. Unfortunately not able to keep going. So embarassed to not have money to buy childrens presents for Christmas. I also can lose my car- dr appts and picking up son from school. Oh boy, and not to mention-The day-to-day exhaustion of being bed ridden right now but having to take care of a little boy too. Having PTSD severely and many other disorders from ubuse. I feel like a dead-beat. I have struggled to not have bad debt. Now, I have to have help. I hope its okay to say that I have some jewelry to sell...NICE STUFF. and little boys clothes (trying to get more for him)

Okay,it is that time of year again,no I am not here,talking about,Christmas or any other holiday...

It is Oct. National Domestic Violence Awarness month,everyone talks about Breast cancer month,and do not get me wrong,I am behind that 100%,but DV seems to be put on the back burner,for sharing the same month.

Both causes,should be thought of 12 months a year,anyway..as many of you know,I am on here 24/7 playing my games,yes I am very addicted,but if that is the only thing I am addicted to,thank God!

Not many people really,know the real me...so today,I am here to be 100% honest with you,with myself...

You see,im proud to be addicted to my games,because 12 years ago,it was a different story,I was a full blown addict.I am proud to be clean 12 and counting years.. 

Thank you Lord Jesus,and thank you my wonderful children,for keeping me clean,every single day,because ,each and everyone of you are ,so worth it!

Now back to the subject,I am also proud to say,I am a domestic violence survivor,I was married 13 years,to a very,very abusive man.the bruises heal,the mental abuse stays a lifetime.if you are reading this,and are in the same situation,please,please just get out...but,I have no place to go,no money,no family,etc...are just excuses,do it for your children,do it for yourself! leave your stuff,items can be replaces,your life cant.

Being hit just one time,will be followed by more,the "where were you?' take that as a sign,jealous,telling you what you can and cant do,he takes away your friends,your family,your self-esteem. Just get out!

If you or someone you know,is being abused,dont turn your back,get involved,on an average day ,3 woman die,every single day,at the hands of their boyfriends,husbands,etc..men,just like woman are abused,any age,any race..

THINK OF STAYING,IS CHILD ABUSE TO YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN... but he changed...1-3 % can change,do you want to play that odds?you are one punch,from being killed.

I dont know where to start but I am in desparate need of help. I am divorced and disabled on limited income and my mothers medical condition got real bad so my ex-husband came to South carolina to help me get to FLorida to be with my mother during what could be her last days. I was here 10 days when my ex-husband told me I had to leave the home and sent me packing with no money nowhere to go in Florida but the streets. I just want to go back home to South Carolina where I came from and be happy again I do have a Part-time job there that let me take FMLA and lots of friends I let my home go there because I knew i could not afford to pay on it and survive in Florida. I was told by my friends not to come down to Florida because my ex was bound to do this and he did... My ex also has been very emotiotionally abusive towards me while I have been here and very controlling towards me telling me I could not keep in contact with my friends in South Carolina and would get mad anytime my cell phone went off and someone called or texted me from SC... I just want to get my stuff out of storage (been in storage since I left 18 mos ago) rent a u-haul and tow my truck behind it and go back to SC. I have a friend to stay with there for a while until I can get money to get my own place again. What I dont have is money to get myself home from FLorida my disability check is stuck in limbo right now because of a lost ATM card and had to close the bank account and Social Security has to now issue a check and well you kno the governement.... I have tried every charity, in the Polk County Florida area to see if they can help me, got an offer of a bus ticket but I have my transportation here and where I live in SC I need my vehicle to get around no public transporation... I dont know where to turn for help to get money to get me a uhaul and home or even to just catch my storage up which is $160 and for gas about $150 to get myself and my fully packed truck back to SC..please is there anywhere I can get help like this Ive tried churches who send me to the same charities I already asked and was told no we cant help you... I just want to go back home to my friends,co-worker where I will feel safe.. Help me

Ok

Wow, sure has been a while since I last logged in here. It has been over a year since my husband and I split up and I never would have imagined, after this long, I would still find myself healing and struggling to get back on my feet. I cannot get over what that (well, he's not worthy of being called anything even remotely similar to a man) person did to me, my life, my poor mother and my baby girl!! As the song goes "I get a little bit stronger" is exactly what everyday of my life feels like...a struggle just to feel comfortable with myself again and like/love myself again. It is FAR from easy though. I have lost my house and have fallen into such a deep depression that I cannot seem to pull myself out of bed and all i do is cry. I have no one to help me and the therapist I had been seeing was the worst I have had to endure especially when he knew all that I have been dealing with and just played games with my medications! That's a different story though. Hope, whoever u r, you are having a better day/life than mine, I keep trying though and in the end, that's all that matters. I guess.Maybe not.

Long story as short & sweet as possible. Sexually molested 2 times by older male family member when 8 & 15, 2 rapes by 2 other men (the first ended my virginity @ 13/14, & the second was a date rape & I was sodomized, @ 22 yrs. I was domestically abused in late teens/early 20's by father of my first born, 23 year old daughter, had found out I was pregnant with 2cnd daughter when I was leaving him, in '90-91. Single parent from 1991 to present. Had met & been with most recent domestic partner on & off since 1995. He had emotionally & mentally abused & manipulated from 1998-2002, from 2002 until 2009 I endured all types of domestic abuse from him & left a few/several times. One of the many times I had left him was in the beginning of 2006 (was to be the last, we still had not been married, & had no children together). Found out right after I left that I was pregnant. I was devastated as I had finally had hopes for future. I decided upon abortion, but he convinced me that this time things would be different. Well, that was BS, as the abuse was worse from middle of 2006-2009 than it had ever been. He started smoking crack cocaine during my pregnancy. It didn't stop, until 2009, the year the physical abuse really got bad because of his drug addiction. From 2000-2009 I lived in very rural community on 20 acre farm, 80 miles from friends & family, so was pretty much held capitve. In 2009, he tried to run me over w/truck, while I was on phone w/911 due to he had just been throwing me into the hall walls. There were several bad physical abuse incidents that year. So now I was about to be a single parent again, at 38 yrs. old, (after being a single parent 23 years) with a 2 yr. old. I have moved approximately 18 times since 2000. Approximately 12 times since 2006, when my now 4-1/2 yr. old daughter was born. My 4 yr. old has moved with me approx. 8-10 of the 12 times. In 2007 he sexually molested my older daughter from the first father, 2 times, within a week, right after her 18th birthday. In Aug. 2009 there was an escalating situation with him over a period of a few days. His physical actions against me at that point were endangering my child, so I called 911. Went through a bunch of hell in 2 different county court houses, 80 miles away, with criminal charge & Order of Protection. Barely obtained legal assistance (his economical abuse of me was almost & still is worse than any of the other stuff as & have no way to fend for self). Have an Order of Protection that expires in October 2011. I do not have a driver's license & was forced to drive without one the past decade. Have a mini van but it needs a new transmission. I was self employed from 2000-2009. From 2006-2009 I worked while caring for my little one. My abuser allowed internet to become disconnected & I lost my job. At the time I had him arrested & got the Order of Protection, I was already 3 months out of work. Our little girl has my last name, & no father listed on birth certificate. I have been homeless since 2009. I had went to stay in FL with minor child the winter of 2010-2011. Had to come back as ran out of $. I cannot find a job, child care, transportation, housing, etc... I am living in a (hardly) partially finished small basement. Broken 30 year old tile floor, bugs & spiders galore. I share my bed with my 4 yr. old. The water heater, furnace & garage door & storage rooms are surrounding us. Our bedroom is our kitchen is our living room is her play room etc.... I am stuck in this basement with this child. Cannot get the assistance I need from state to get child care, housing, etc... Have been on a homeless shelter wait list since May 2010, my 4 yr. old & I have been seeing licensed domestic abuse therapists & advocates since fall 2009. (I'm in suburban Cook County, IL... I am not even a # here anymore. Just lost my food stamps & medical, as the state claims I am no longer an IL resident, despite me living here & reporting since spring of 2010.) I have had to, despite everything, "play a game" with abuser in order to get some kind of $ in order to barely survive. I have a child I am responsible for, & cannot financially support. The DV therapist says 4 yr. old shouldn't be alone with her father. I need to relocate to somewhere else, where I can get away from him & get on my feet. I am a college educated, intelligent, bright woman with major goals & dreams, but cannot even say I'll make it to tomorrow. I am battled out. I have no more fight left. I need to get the hell out of this basement, & provide a life for my children & myself. My oldest daughter won't even talk to me, & if she does, it's abusive. I need to relocate, & have big plans, but no means to do so. I have chosen a community, pop. 150,000, that has a good transporation system, a State University, excellent pre K system for my 4 year old, much better community services, which is safe & affordable. I have a friend in the area, but they can only assist with very short term housing & personally, I want to get on my feet & make it on my own, as the whole purpose of these goals is to become self sufficient & independent. I have sacrificed 23 years of myself being a single parent, working my ass off, & struggling to provide for my children, (never ANY child support...) I have endured approximately 14 years or more of collective abuse in every which way imaginable, & now I am starting all over again, exhausted, unable to do ANYTHING for myself, & have a 4 year old. I really just need to cut loose & go somewhere where NONE of my abusers know I am, where I can get a leg up & become the woman I should/could have been a long time ago. The life has been sucked out, & each day looks more grim, & I fear what I'll be up against once this Order of Protection expires, if we are still here "in the clutches".... Down & out...... Thanks for hearing my story...

I need someone to please contact me (I was working with a wonderful lady named Virgina) about my being abused by my 14 year old niece. She constantly verbally and physically abuses and harms me; her mother won't do anything about it and has vowed to lie for her daughter in court if necessary. Something needs to be done with this child ASAP. FYI, I am being forced to move from my home because of this. Thank you.

Very simply, I need free cash. Here is my situation:
I'm in a divorce battle with a very abusive spouse. He is dragging out the process, draining all of my resources. My friends have given me everything they can, so that help is used up.
My husband had me quit working over ten years ago and become totally dependent on him. In the course of the divorce process so far, we have determined that he has hidden a huge amount of assets that should be marital property. The problem is there is no way to find them and I can't afford a forensic accountant.
I am currently trying to juggle a new apartment, looking for a job (not in teaching; there are none), finding and organizing all the papers the attorney wants for interrogatories and am scared to death of the depositions and everything else. My husband continues to harass me and tell lies.
But, believe it or not, I am not asking for money for my problems.
I need money because my mother, who is in her mid-80s and has Alzheimer's Disease, is in assisted living and will soon have to be moved to secured assisted care. I am her guardian and have been paying the bill (almost $4,000/month) from her savings which are now within a couple months of being gone.
I went to social services to ask about Medicaid and found out that she does not qualify. Her social security and late husband's meager VA benefit add up to about $2,000 a month which disqualifies her from Medicaid for assisted living. She does not require skilled nursing, so that is not an option.
In my current situation, I might be living on the street before my mother is. I would try to take her in if I could, but Medicaid won't cover the home care either, and I have to find work and then go to work.
I desperately need that $2,000/month additional to pay for her assisted living until I am on my feet and earning enough to pay for her. My attorney says that even though we will formally file for divorce next May (NC requires living apart for one year before filing), my husband could drag that process out over several years as well, and I may very well end up with next to nothing.
If anyone can help me, it would be a miracle. I would only take the money until I could afford to pay it myself or until my mom doesn't need the care anymore or another option becomes available.
I can't believe I'm doing this, but this situation is impossible. My husband is a financial advisor and handled all of "our" money. I never even knew where my paychecks went even though I tried to get him to talk to me about it. I inherited $35,000 from my grandfather twenty years ago, and now my husband insists that I spent the money. I didn't. I gave it to him to invest.
Now I'm lost. The stress of everything is making me sick and I feel guilty and despair for my mother, and heartbroken that she no longer even knows who I am.
If you have any ideas or specific references, that would be great. I have thoroughly searched options in North Carolina and, unfortunately, there is nothing.

To the attention of:

Barack Obama, US President;
Rick Perry, Governor of Texas;
US Senators from Texas: John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison;
US Representatives from Texas: Al Green, Blake Farenthold, Charles A. Gonzalez, Chet Edwards, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Francisco R. Canseco, Gene Green, Henry Cuellar, Jeb Hensarling, Joe Barton, John Abney Culberson, John R. Carter, K. Michael Conaway, Kay Granger, Kenny Marchant, Kevin Brady, Lamar Smith, Lloyd Doggett, Louie Gohmert, Mac Thornberry, Michael C. Burgess, Michael T. McCaul, Pete Olson, Pete Sessions, Ralph M. Hall, Randy Neugebauer, Ron Paul, Ruben Hinojosa, Sam Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Silvestre Reyes, Ted Poe;
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I turned 26 on Friday. I have not had any parents until I found my father in prison last year. Through the grace of God I have made it this far. I was a victim of sexual and physical abuse from my family, mostly my mother. My father was absent and a drug user. Until I was 15, I did not know what was done to me wrong. It took CPS four cases of assault and an arrest of my mother to place me with my father's mother, who then would tell me she could not afford me at 16. Texas law is 17 to live without a guardian and from 16 until 17, I was basically homeless. I could not finish high school. One day I got on my knees to pray, and I was able to leave an apartment full of drug addicts. I stopped doing drugs when I walked into my community college to sign up for classes. I earned my associates.
I now want to be a teacher. I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety. I am going on my third day without sleep. I moved from an unsafe neighborhood 2 months ago. I lived there until I was all most killed one night. I have tried to find the property owner, but found a blueprint of the apartments. I lived there from September 2008 until March 2011. I washed my clothes in my sink, I was too scared to be out past dark.
 I now live in a place that is not paid for. The owners showed up after a 3 month delay in rent to collect money. One charity refused me because they do not pay first months rent. I called again to be hung up on. I have called Catholic Charities, Interfaith Ministries, the Salvation Army, and community outreach programs. I do not have a child, I am not married. I am a single women never married or with child trying to make it.  I work as a substituting the past two years I have been layed off. I do not have valid registration sticker on my car. I walk. I have already received a warning for it. My doctor supplied me with medication for two months and I am going through a victim's rehabilitation abuse program. My time has ran out.My father is out of prison but worse off. My mother is still on drugs. Please help me. my email is magdelenasky05@yahoo.com and number is 832-425-7988. i stay in houston, texas.I should not be alive but by God's Grace I am. I am old enough to remember these horrible memories that CPS or the law failed to recognize. My half sister was abused too before me. She ran and now she has paranoid schizophrenia, seizures, bi-polar mania. My mother was arrested twice for each of us. How did CPS fail to recognize this woman not to be a fit parent? We lived with drug dealers. Not only did my mother trick the system once but did it again by not only molesting, abusing, and exploiting me, she gets to live consequence free. I have flashbacks of her with guns, knifes, ropes, lighters. help me.

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Post Open Letter to your Elected Representatives

I turned 26 on Friday. I have not had any parents until I found my father in prison last year. Through the grace of God I have made it this far. I was a victim of sexual and physical abuse from my family, mostly my mother. My father was absent and a drug user. Until I was 15, I did not know what was done to me wrong. It took CPS four cases of assault and an arrest of my mother to place me with my father's mother, who then would tell me she could not afford me at 16. Texas law is 17 to live without a guardian and from 16 until 17, I was basically homeless. I could not finish high school. One day I got on my knees to pray, and I was able to leave an apartment full of drug addicts. I stopped doing drugs when I walked into my community college to sign up for classes. I earned my associates.
I now want to be a teacher. I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety. I am going on my third day without sleep. I moved from an unsafe neighborhood 2 months ago. I lived there until I was all most killed one night. I have tried to find the property owner, but found a blueprint of the apartments. I lived there from September 2008 until March 2011. I washed my clothes in my sink, I was too scared to be out past dark.
I now live in a place that is not paid for. The owners showed up after a 3 month delay in rent to collect money. One charity refused me because they do not pay first months rent. I called again to be hung up on. I have called Catholic Charities, Interfaith Ministries, the Salvation Army, and community outreach programs. I do not have a child, I am not married. I am a single women never married or with child trying to make it. I work as a substituting the past two years I have been layed off. I do not have valid registration sticker on my car. I walk. I have already received a warning for it. My doctor supplied me with medication for two months and I am going through a victim's rehabilitation abuse program. My time has ran out.My father is out of prison but worse off. My mother is still on drugs. Please help me. my email is magdelenasky05@yahoo.com and number is 832-425-7988. i stay in houston, texas.

Need Advice On Abusive Husband

some advice. I left m abusive husband 2 years go and movedhome with daughter. I have been living in fear that I will one day have to return to him or send my daughter back to visit him. I know him better than any judge and I know he will end up having a negatie impact and endangering her. He has always has an alcohal problem and I know he has no problem driving drunk with her. He gets abusive and I'm afraid of what he will do to her if visitations are allowed. His family is no better and has allowed him to smoke next to her, give kids alcohal, and drive with her while he's drunk. I want to protect my daughter. I don't want to let the court system determine the fate of my dear little girl and I am scared out of my mind. I know she will get hurt if visitation is allowed, which it will be, and I can't sit by until it is too late. If anyone has any advice or in similar situations, I'd like to hear from you. Thnk you

Hello-
I came across this page by accident and hope it will help. I am a 44 year old woman who lost my job at the end of January through no fault of my own. I moved to a new county over a year ago to escape a physically and mentally abusive drug addict husband. I was on unemployment at the time I moved. I had trouble finding work, but after several months found a job through a temp agency. I paid for and prepared my own divorce as well. I was struggling, but making it. Then I lost my job. Because I was on unemployment before, i was not financially eligible to receive benefits. I literally have no income. Now, 2 months later, I am about to be evicted. My ran out of heating oil in January and have been using space heaters to stay warm in my living room. The rent in now behind, the electric about to be shut off, as well as my internet. I applied for every job available. Including a cashier at Kmart, Home Depot, etc, even though I am a customer service supervisor. I have been on many many many interviews, and the employers seem to adore me and my one interview suit and portfolio, but somehow I have yet to receive an offer. At this moment I have 4 positions I have interviewed for and they all have expressed great interest (including one customer service position that upon interviewing me, informed me that they were so impressed they wanted to change the interview to interview me for a newly approved management position), but have not yet received an offer or start date. Everything will crash upon me the 2nd week of April, which is when I will officially be homeless and all my utilities turned off. I am confident if I can sustain this month, i WILL be employed and again supporting myself this time next month, but if I lose everything in 2 weeks I fear I will become a homeless statistic. I have received food stamps, however, that is all the assistance the government affords a long time working person my age with no children in the home. I have sought help from friends and relatives, but no one is in a position to loan money. I have nothing of any real value to sell. Obviously no company will give me a loan with no current income. I feel I have exhausted every possibility and am now reaching out in this forum which seems terrible, but while I still have access to the internet seems to be my only recourse. If you can help me, I will gladly supply you with any "proof" you may need that I am indeed, real, and telling the truth. Thank you for reading this. *hugs*

I love where I am staying until Thurs am as I get to sleep in a bed and the man that hit me had me sleeping on the kitchen floor for months. This is actually wonderful feeling, sleeping and lounging in an actual BED. lol

My name is Nicole McAteer and I was recently diagnosed with MS, Meniere’s disease and T.I.A; on top of a heart condition I have had since childhood. I was recently engaged to a man who knew I was ill and as I became more so, he became very verbally abusive, leading to him throwing something at my face and giving me a cut and swollen bruising; he also took most of my back pay from SSI. I only make $674 per month and have no vehicle. I am in a wheelchair and am in dire need of a vehicle and assistance with funds to get to either California or Seattle to see the correct doctors to get me in remission. Never did I think I would EVER request assistance in this manner and this is quite difficult for me to ask. The vehicle or funds for such do not have to get a perfect vehicle as I have friends that can possibly help me do any work on it; that or I can do the work when I am having good days. I am a very happy and optimistic person in general and am trying hard to hold onto that, but found that when they took me from the bad situation and put me into the hotel it would only last 2 weeks. As of March 24th at 11am I will be homeless and a vehicle would help me a great deal in giving me some way to get to Colorado for my testing and assistance from them. I have barely $100 to my name and won’t get paid again until the 1st of April. I am working with various agencies, but unfortunately they can help very little as Casper Wyoming has very little funding to help such as me and no way to move me up the waiting list, even with my conditions. I would much rather have a vehicle to put my things in (all will fit in 2 suitcases) and would be willing to use it as a home temporarily until I can get the funds to go to either of my places of choice for correct physicians. I am sad and embarrassed to ask for such assistance, but it would be much appreciated. For those that are willing to send money, I have a paypal account, MissCholey@gmail.com and would use the funds to get to the correct doctors and be nearer my children, which the doctors believe may help push me into remission. I have been ill for more than a year and only just began receiving SSI. I hate being a victim and even more so asking for help, but I have no other choice it seems. For those who would rather speak with me and possibly provide alternate assistance; please email and I will provide you with my phone number that you may be able to talk to me for yourself. I am a very independent person, even with being ill, but am in dire need of assistance. A vehicle would be great assistance and I am able to get one from the local dealers for under $2000. My symptoms are severe on some days and better on others, though this stress is making me more ill and I would really like some help to get me to self sufficiency and not have to ask for assistance again. I had a stroke last Friday and fortunately there was no lingering damage other than the weakness and loss of sensation in my left leg, so I know how lucky I am right now. Though it is very difficult for me to ask for help, I feel I have no other choice. Please help me, either with a vehicle or cash. I will attempt to pay back anyone that assists, though it may be slow and would be eternally grateful for the assistance. Sorry to even ask and if I had alternative means I would use them. I have spoken to every agency and they have no emergency assistance beyond this two weeks from the looks of things. I am still researching and attempting to find alternate routes, but since only perfect strangers have been able to help, most of my friends are unable or unwilling because they are either his friends as well and don’t understand how my condition effects me or simply too busy. Any help I can get would be most appreciated. Thank You, Nicole McAteer "

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

ARE YOU BEING ABUSED?
How is your relationship?
Does your partner:
Embarrass you with put-downs?
Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go?
Stop you from seeing your friends or family members?
Take your money or Social Security check, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money?
Make all of the decisions?
Tell you that you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
Prevent you from working or attending school?
Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons?
Shove you, slap you, choke you, or hit you?
Force you to try and drop charges?
Threaten to commit suicide?
Threaten to kill you?
If you answered ‘yes’ to even one of these questions,
you may be in an abusive relationship.

For support and more information please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or at TTY 1-800-787-3224 to discuss your concerns and questions.