Lady Banks, I applaud you for giving yourself the space you need from media that sounds like it would be very triggering to you. You're making boundaries for yourself, and given what you've been through, boundaries may feel like a murky concept given how often they've been disrespected. Step one is to keep the promises you make to yourself. You're doing that. Good work!

Leaving an abusive relationship is always a marathon -- never a sprint. There are always good reasons people stay (safety for themselves and the children involved is the main one), and you'll only understand if you're willing to listen, validate, believe and empower.

People from the outside may judge you for staying, and you may even judge yourself sometimes. But until someone has walked in your shoes -- shared your history, had your same social environment, had your same experiences of love, acceptance, trauma, and broken relationships -- they cannot judge.

What I tell the survivors I counsel is this: This is an impossible situation. It isn't your fault. You are doing your best. I BELIEVE YOU.

If it is helpful at all to you, this is a story I wrote about how to support people in the process of leaving. Maybe it will help, maybe not. Know that I have great hope for you -- it's the hope I've been able to find for myself after *I* finally left. You are more powerful than you know!

Friend link is here: https://psiloveyou.xyz/how-to-carry-a-friend-through-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship-6b0691290ad9?sk=21db8e103985697e78fd1c7a16172f19