My article (below) has been published on the www.hestia.org charity website as part of their 16 days awareness programme Domestic Abuse and Violence of all genders entitled - Hope for the Future
Please support this wonderful charity if you can.
You can view the published article here:
http://www.hestia.org/elaines-story-a-survivors-story
A Survivors Story
I have a
lot to be grateful for right now:
A family that supported me when
there seemed to be no hope
A beautiful daughter who has always
warranted my hope and given me a reason to hope
A roof over my head where I have
found peace and safety
Friends who have encouraged my hopes
and dreams
Peace and sanity in a world where
once there was no hope
A career that confirms hope exists
and where I give hope to others
Happiness where there was once
sorrow
But you see
it has not always been like this. Thirty or more years ago my world was turned
upside down and fell apart when I had to recognise and accept that the man I
had fallen in love with and married was abusing me in every way possible.
Initially,
it was verbally and emotionally but slowly over a long slow period of time he
added mental, financial, sexual and physical abuse to the list of vile
behaviours that, in my vulnerable state, I thought were normal in all
marriages. So, over a twenty five year period this man gradually reduced me to
a quivering wreck with no self-esteem or confidence and isolated me from
family, friends and colleagues. Sadly, I thought this was how everyone lived.
You see, no one ever talks about their marriage, do they?
It was
difficult for me as no one in my family had ever been abused before (or at
least we never spoke of it). I was the first and only divorcee in my family and
still am. I was the first and only single parent in the family. Things like
that didn’t happen in our family. The shame and guilt was too much to bear and
I still have moments (albeit small now) of guilt and shame at what happened to
me.
My
ex-husband was charming in public but vile and frightening behind our front
door. Who was going to believe that this eminent business man was abusing his
wife in every ways possible? His grooming and coercion were indefatigable and
he was able to groom those around us. I lost several close friends that
swallowed his lies and deceit.
On
reflection I realise, even if I had stayed, there was nothing I could have done
to change his behaviour and attitude towards me. You see, nothing I did was
ever right or good enough for this man. No dinner was ever delicious enough. No
house cleaning was ever clean enough. My driving was never professional enough.
My love and care was never warm enough. I never “looked” good enough. I didn’t
contribute enough to the family. He told me I was nothing; no one would ever
want me; don’t ever think of leaving; because no one will have you. Can you
believe that I believed his propaganda?
I suffered
in silence for over twenty years trying to make our marriage work and keep the
family unit together until he made the biggest mistake of his life. He dragged
me by hair across the kitchen and pushed me against the wall in front of my
mother. Horror struck the whole family. Things had to change after this event.
Someone, other than me and my daughter, had witnessed the other side of him. It
was a life changing moment for me. This is when I became stronger and began to
take some of the power back. But when we, the victim, become a fraction
empowered it can become more dangerous and his words, temper and aggression
increased. He was losing control; he knew I would leave one day.
And we did.
My daughter and I fled. After loading the car with our bare essentials and gathering
my personal papers, I collected my daughter from school and we never returned.
I told no one, so no one would have to lie for me. I sent a short text to
inform him his daughter was safe and we were finally free. But the abuse didn’t
stop. The abuse escalated in the form of text messages, phone calls and
stalking. This went on for years. We moved house several times, changed phone
numbers, but somehow he found us and he threaten to kill me and kidnap my daughter
on many occasions. Life was scary, unsafe and disconcerted but we survived.
I have now
been free for 16 years. It’s been a hugely long haul. I have had to rebuild my
life with my daughter from scratch. Remember we left with nothing, and I mean
nothing. I have had to try to be as good a mother as possible in an impossible
situation. Grieve for all the losses, both emotional and material. Put together
a home again, from scratch; from a wooden spoon to washing machine, a duvet to
sofa. Build a career from nowhere. Rebuild a life for myself. Find peace of
mind, sanity and some sort of happiness and learn to trust again, which has
been virtually impossible.
Thirty
years ago many of the charities and support programmes didn’t exist and were
not so widely available. Domestic abuse and violence was not talked about
openly back then. I knew nothing of refuges and support groups. I have achieved
most of this alone with the support of my wonderful family although many years
later I needed trauma therapy and counselling to assist with Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and I did complete the Freedom Programme.
31st
October 2015 was 16 years since I fled; Halloween night. Finally, I feel I have
come full circle and I am back to where I should be. My daughter is now twenty
six, she is smart and intelligent and a beautiful person who I am very proud
of. We are very close and take care of each other, nothing will ever spoil
that. I have a beautiful cosy comfortable cottage in the middle of nowhere where
I find happiness, peace and tranquillity every day. My career is perfect. I now
work with victims of types of abuse all over the world, sharing my story
through inspirational speaking at conferences and workshops. I live close to my
family who are as supportive as ever. And there is my gorgeous black and white
cat, Rosie, who has been a blessing in my life. All in all finally life is good
and the hope I kept in my heart has been realised.
I have
always been a positive person and throughout this ghastly ordeal I have continued
to try to manifest and believe it would all come good in the end. I have always
worked hard, stayed strong and had hope even in the toughest moments, hours, days
and years that there was a reason why I had to suffer this ordeal. I now
believe that I couldn’t carry out the work I do, helping, supporting, advising
and caring for child and adult victims of abuse with the understanding, compassion
and empathy that I have if I had not suffered this myself. You see, I get it, I
know what it feels like; I can still feel, hear and smell the fear, I can
relate.
I am a
different person now for the better. I have learnt so much about people and
situations and so, today and for the future, I will continue to turn the very
desperate and negative experiences I have endured into positive work for others
wherever and when I can. There is hope.
I will
leave you with these amazing words:
Think you got the best of me
Think you had the last laugh
Bet you thought everything good was gone
You didn’t think I’d come back
I came back swinging
Thanks to you I got a new thing
started
Thanks to you this was just my
beginning
You messed up my dreams
But made me strong
Thank you
Elaine Hook
11.12.15
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