Peach, thank you for your kind words, I knew when I was going through the roughest times that I was not alone. Everyone I knew was in the same situation, like I said, abuse was the norm for many of us. Sadly, back years ago there was absolutely no help, The police couldn't do anything, The courts couldn't do anything. No one could help, I've gone to the door beat and bloody but the police could only ask him to leave but they couldn't stop him from coming back, and when he did there was another beating because the police were called. Part of living with an abuser is the fact that he isolates you, no phone, no car, no money. So even if there would be help out there we wouldn't know it. That was the case in 1986 when I ended up in the shelter I wrote about. I made it to the nearest phone and dialed 0, I ask to be connected to a crisis center, The operator ask if I was safe, when I told her I was for the moment , she said stay where you are as long as you are safe and someone will call you right back, it was less than a minute and the phone rang, on the other end was a concerned voice that gave me directions to," somewhere". I had no idea where I was going but followed her lead, ( one of the rare times I had a car) Once I got there, a woman was waiting outside in the parking lot with an umbrella, It was raining of course. She walked me across the st.and we entered a house, She ask me about what happened, took pictures of my wounds and showed me to a room with 2 sets of bunk beds, She gave me some tylenol for pain and introduced me to my bunk. I had no idea there were such places. I was told it was a shelter for battered women and that I would be safe there. I had been kept in the dark so long that I didn't know Shelters even existed, and let's face it they don't exactly advertise their services. Now a days, women, are more in tune with what help is available and thank God the police can now arrest and charge the abuser with domestic violence without the woman having to do it. While abuse is still of epidemic proportions, at least there have been some improvements with getting some help. There is still so much that needs to be done but at least it's a start. I am happy to say that I am no longer a victim but a strong survivor. While PTSD is life long, it no longer defines who I am. I have learned to love myself, The depression and anxiety while uncomfortable such beats the abuse that lead to it. Thanks again for your heartfelt reply, Hoping and praying you have a blessed day. I look forward to hearing from you again.. Jeanie