Anonymous personal story

I was the victim of domestic violence in a relationship with my ex for 2.5 years. She would get drunk and become physically and verbally abusive. She would punch, kick and scream at me, and then throw me out of the house. It got to the point where I wouldn't have much of my stuff in the house so it would be easier to leave, she would throw all my stuff out of the house or trash it. I was always worried that the neighbours would call the police because I knew that they would immediately assume I was the abuser.

After I finally left her, I had anxiety and anger issues for quite some time. PTSD I suppose. I was always expecting someone to attack and I was always on the defensive. As I slowly opened up about it to friends I was shocked at how many of them had been through similar experiences, one was even stabbed by his ex-wife!

I wish that domestic violence would stop being thought of as a Man against a Women issue. It is an issue of violence against another human being, and it happens all too often. The difference is that men just have to get on with life or spiral down a path of self-harm and despair. There is no real support, no morning teas to raise money, no empathy or compassion and the politicians are too busy trying tick PC boxes and get female voters on side to actually take a balanced view.

I made the mistake of tolerating it the first time and then it became a pattern that didn't stop until it almost broke me. Guys, at the first sign of trouble, be it physical or verbal, get the hell out of there! No one who loves you will EVER treat you in that way and there are no excuses for this kind of crap.