Allison submitted a testimonial from the other side of the abuse. She left 7 years ago, and has been busy! Book published, paper under consideration by the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, scholarship granted… But perhaps most inspiring is Allison left her abuser when she was 56 years old. Her life is not over, there are many many blessed years left for her to continue LIVING and accomplishing whatever she sets her mind to do. Never let the number of years you’ve suffered determine the number of years you will accept it.
How Allison Found Out She Was Being Abused
I read the book that saved my life and sanity: “The Verbally Abusive Relationship” by Patricia Evans. Thirty-one years: That is how long I stayed in the verbal/physically abusive “marriage.”
Words Allison Chose to Describe Her Abusive Experience
Anger, Frustration, Hurt
Allison’s Story of Abuse
I got a divorce and then experienced spiritual abuse…my church voted me out membership, with my name up on a big screen, followed by the words: “Conduct Unbecoming a Child of God.” I fought the system for 18 months to try and stop the pastor (of disaster) from counseling any more women, because 2 of them wanted to commit suicide (because of his counseling skills).
[My site] Church Abuse Poetry Therapy was the result of this debacle. I am the moderator of an abused survivors group, working like a “Trojan” to get the message out there regarding verbal abuse.
My paper, “Society’s Silent ‘Pandemic’, Verbal Abuse, Precursor to Physical Violence and a Form of Biochemical Assault” is being considered and under review for a psychology journal (Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma).
I am in school at age 63, after winning a scholarship – it was a women’s scholarship and non-academic. I won it because of what I have overcome in my life.
My poetry book, “Sanctuary of the Soul”, was just published. My endorsements take my breath away: Elie Weisel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, etc.
My only fear in life was that of being alone, and I took the steps to make that come true. Even after 7 years, I still grieve.