Ashley's Story
There was a dent in the right fender of my car. Shattered glass across my kitchen floor. Words said to me that had left marks no one else could see. Emotional abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, and reconstructive surgery are all part of my journey.
My name is Ashley Addison and I am a survivor of domestic violence. I grew up in a home where shouting, screaming, and breaking things were all relatively normal occurrences. Things that seem trivial and small today, back then, caused quite an uproar. I found that as I grew older I accepted this behavior from dating partners. I found myself thinking things like, maybe I’ll be the one person to love them through this hard time or no one has ever stuck around this long- that'll show them I’m loyal. They won’t treat me the way they treat others. I found myself depressed and my life was in danger. Upon ending a previous relationship, I expressed how I’d become someone I couldn’t stand to see in the mirror. Someone who walked with her head down in fear and shame. The conversation ended in a trip to the hospital with an orbital blowout and several fractures requiring reconstructive surgery. March 1, 2019 was one of the worst days of my life. I had become another statistic. I am lucky to have survived. Do I wish I had gotten out sooner, of course. Can I go back and change the past, unfortunately, no. What I can do is share my story when I’m presented with the opportunity with the hope that it’ll help someone on their journey. I have actively been involved in counseling and EMDR therapy. Both have been incredible along my healing journey. I can say that memories of the trauma haven’t gone away, but the space in time between the memories gets longer as time goes on. I’ve learned to live in the space between the memories, and when the memories do come back- I ground myself, I stand tall and I remind myself of who I am. I am proud to use such a heavy and traumatic event to transfer into light and hope for others. If you’re still here and you’re reading this, it’s not too late…there’s an army of survivors willing to help with open arms.
Comments
Post a Comment