It's common knowledge that many families are enduring the hardest of times. There are many reasons we are seeing more women and children being victimized and in this day there are many more reasons. There is in reality no true excuse for victimizing anyone. I was a victim of abuse and so I know what it's like, trust me. My story is a long one and so I won't go into it except to tell you that I know what it's like and how hard it is to get out of an abusive relationship. Especially when you have no one to help as was in my case. Today there are agencies and laws and even neighbors that are more aware of domestic abuse and are willing to come forward to help. Back in the day it was almost acceptable behavior for a woman to get slapped around at least once a week or at least it wasn't such a shocking issue. The sad thing about it is that the abuse involves everyone in the family not just the one getting hit. If you are a victim of ongoing abuse, get out. You deserve to be treated with love and kindness, you are a valuable person to your children, to your parents and friends. Alot of people care! I got out and I really had no place to go but back to my dysfunctional family, however, I started there and I never went back to him. I had left many times before but always returned, however, when I left in 1992..., I never looked back. It was scarey for me. I was fearful that I might have jumped from the frying pan into the fire in a sense. If the memories of the stark rage I seen in my husbands' eyes wasn't so horribly etched in my memory, I think I would have gone back to him but I think those vivid memories that kept haunting me must have given me the strength to continue on and divorce him. Today there are so many ways to get help, not only for a few days but for the beginning of a new chapter in your life. A batterer has a huge chance of turning into a murderer and guess who the murdered might be? You guessed it. I don't know how many times I nearly got killed by that man. He told me in one of his sober moments that if I didn't leave, he would kill me someday. I know the feeling of being trapped like an animal while dodging blows and kicks and I have watched him as he went looking for a weapon to do me in with. Later, as I got a little bit wiser I would escape with my daughter and stay at a motel til he sobered up. I was with that man for 18 years and the abuse started almost immediately after our daughter was born. My daughter didn't see alot of it, I always made sure she was with grandma most of those times. Please, don't waste the best years with someone that will only destroy you and your children. Call someone, talk, don't be embarrassed, give someone the chance to do something good for someone. A victim is no longer looked down on like before. You will find so many people that want to be your friend if you'll only open up. Don't be afraid of threats, if you stay chances are he will hurt or kill you anyway. Remember you are a valuable and important person to many people. Get away and be safe. Once you leave DON'T go back. Do not meet with him alone EVER! If he is stalking you get a restraining ordercarry maize with you if it's legal where you live and make sure he abides by the restraining order, if he does not, alert the police and don't let up, keep alerting people and the police. For you men OR women out there who feel powerful by victimizing others, get counseling and if you can't stop than go your way before you do something you will regret for the rest of your life.