Lisa’s Story

“I was married and I was unhappy. He was violent and didn’t treat me right and he didn’t treat my family right either. He got nasty and nastier. Every day things just got worse.

When things got pretty bad I managed and coped day by day by trying to ignore him. When we were together he was very strict about who I went out with. I couldn’t easily go out with other people, girls or guys – I had no life. I felt I was a prisoner in my own home. If I did go out it was only with my family or him. I felt like a dog on a chain and I couldn’t get off it.

“I felt I was a prisoner in my own home. If I did go out it was only with my family or him. I felt like a dog on a chain and I couldn’t get off it.”

He hid money from me. I often thought where has half our money gone and it was hidden in his shed. I thought that’s not on. He spent money on what he wanted but I wasn’t allowed. We were always broke. I told my family how it was in the marriage but I didn’t tell his family. They would have just been on his side.

I spoke to my work colleagues and family about what was happening and I was given a pamphlet about a local domestic violence service. Speaking to the staff at the outreach service was most helpful. They gave me good advice and I wouldn’t have been able to go through all of this without them. They supported me and my parents.

I decided I would tell me husband to leave. After I kicked him out he kept coming around all the time and his attitude just kept getting worse and worse. He would call me a lot of horrible names, it wasn’t very nice. It felt like he would never leave me alone, it felt as if he was stalking me still which he was. It was a very difficult time for my family and me but we got through it. You just have to stick together.

Since kicking him out life is different now. I got the house in our divorce settlement and I feel as if I’ve got freedom. I can go where I want, do what I want. I feel as if I can go here, go there, which I have been doing and I don’t have all that nagging.”

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