JOANIE:
The Lie
“He was charming, loving and a hard worker.”
The Truth
“He only acted this way when he was clean and sober and those days became fewer and further between.”
Honestly, I’ve never had a healthy relationship. I was abused as a child which destroyed my core value belief system about myself.
It was December, 2012 I made the decision to marry my boyfriend. Not too long after we were married, alcohol and drugs took over and I rationalized the abuse with the fact that, when clean and sober, he was charming, loving and a hard worker. But, those days became fewer and farther between.
I became clinically depressed and suicidal. One day, I confided in my daughter who introduced to the term narcissist and sociopath. I started researching, found a support group online. The support group and the survivors there gave me the courage to seek shelter. I made an escape plan, called Safe Harbor and was told to come in. I escaped the very next day while he was at work and was accepted into their loving arms where i worked 2 jobs, saved my money, went through their HAP program and got my own home. Without this organization, I may not even be alive today!!
Thank you, Safe Harbor. I AM A SURVIVOR!!
