After an awful period living with an abusive landlord, I started a new relationship and my boyfriend promised me somewhere safe to stay. I gave up my room and moved in. He slowly became cruel and when lockdown started, I had nowhere else to go. I left once, but he charmed me back promising to change his behaviour, and I believed him.
Things were good for a while as we moved into a new house. However, the abuse quickly got much worse and he told me I couldn't leave him. I eventually reached out to a helpline who identified the behaviour as abusive. Things were progressively getting worrying and I had to escape. I found a room online and fled. I was now stuck paying double rent just to be safe.
Unfortunately, the abuse continued even when separated and for my own safety I needed to move into a women's refuge. My mental health has really suffered and I'm experiencing quite severe anxiety. I'm hoping to be able to start a new life for myself in a safe sanctuary of a new home soon, where I can heal, recover and eventually get back to work and start really living life again! The idea of that is giving me the hope to keep going.
I have always loved helping people and I think once I am better and have done my own healing, I would love to train to become a counsellor. This will give me the opportunity to help lots of people on their own healing journeys to improve their mental health. Above this, I just want to get back to life where I feel safe and happy. I'd like to be doing simple things like cooking for friends and family, going on holiday and getting a dog as a companion to help with my PTSD.