Abuse Hides in the Dark. Turn on Your Light.

Effects of Abuse


  • Silenced

    This is how it feels to live with a verbal abuser. Nothing I say or do is of my own choosing. He assigns motives to me…some good and some bad depending on his mood, and tomorrow, he could change his mind. Nothing I say or do is said or done for the reasons I give.…

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  • I Just Don’t Trust Him

    I Just Don’t Trust Him

    Maybe I’m being too cynical. Maybe he really does want to improve our communication; maybe he really does want to fix “our” problem. Maybe I really should just “get over” my trust issues and let him back into my heart and mind.

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  • On Hold For Military Investigation

    On Hold For Military Investigation

    Right now, we’re in the middle of a military investigation about domestic violence. It couldn’t have come at a worse time, but is the result of the report I made back in December 2008. Why did it take so long for the report to make it to the Army? I may have an answer for…

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  • No Food

    No Food

    “I didn’t eat all day.” He said. “Why not?” I asked him. “Because no one told me there was any food ready.”

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  • Mountains From Molehills

    Mountains From Molehills

    When my husband tells me I am making mountains out of molehills, it means HE is the one doing it. HE is the one insisting on picking things apart. UGH!

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  • I Respect Him Less

    I Respect Him Less

    It made me wonder why Marc would react so respectfully when his dad used harsh language, but so “teenager-ish” and disrespectfully when I did it the other night. Specifically, when I “commanded” his respect during our argument. It bugged me. A lot.

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  • What Is Real?

    What Is Real?

    How do people know when they’re being authentic? How do people overcome fear? How can I be sure the verbal abuse is real? Why is it so hard to believe?

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  • Knot Spinning

    Confusion and depression are hallmarks of abusive relationships. For the victim anyway – the abuser knows what they are trying to do. They want to weaken.

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  • He Will Hurt Me, So I Stay? Makes No Sense. This is a Mind Fuck.

    He Will Hurt Me, So I Stay? Makes No Sense. This is a Mind Fuck.

    On the other hand, it is painful and hard for me to remember that he would, could and has hurt me physically – but it’s happened three times now. Nothing that will create a bruise where it will show. Something that he can deny to himself, to me, to anyone. Something that he ultimately blames…

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  • Bat Shit Crazy is Better Than Abused

    Bat Shit Crazy is Better Than Abused

    Will deployed to Iraq and I’m in our home in North Carolina with our boys. Will doesn’t call or write very often and it’s easy to pretend that I’m alone. I don’t particularly enjoy it when he does call because our conversations are all about the business of being married and the occasional sneak-attack to…

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