Chelsea reached out to me regarding the In Need of Inspiration post. She wanted to share her story with me and asked for it to be shared publicly. Here is Chelsea’s story :
“At age 18, I met a boy who I hit it off with instantly. We talked for hours the first night we met. He seemed perfect. Not long into our relationship, my father passed away and then I found out I was pregnant. On top of all of that, I was put in the middle of a family battle between my dad’s family and my mom’s family. It was an awful time. So, of course, I turned to my boyfriend for comfort and support. As we started to get more serious and my pregnancy got further along, he started to change. He would stay out all night, he would argue with me and tell me things like I was crazy and stupid. I knew he was cheating on me, but because I was pregnant, I felt I needed to stay with him.
Fast forward some months later, he got in trouble and went to jail. I delivered my son with just my aunt in the room. He called me from jail and screamed at me because I wouldn’t let his mom in the delivery room.
My son was a month old when his dad got out of jail. I went back to living with him and everything went down hill from there. We were always arguing. He was very mentally abusive. He would call me a bitch and a cunt. He would tell me things like I was unattractive and stupid. That’s when the physical abuse started. He would never hit me in the face. He would hit me everywhere else, he would choke me, push me, and throw me on the ground. And every time, I forgave him and stayed because I thought I needed to keep my family together.
One night, I finally fought back and I hit him and pushed him and kicked him. He called the cops on me. My mom came and I was able to leave with my mom and son instead of getting arrested. My mom told me then that I needed to make a choice, stay with him and keep getting cheated on and abused or leave. So I left.
I won’t lie, there were still times where I went back to him for a few more months after. But my mom finally got tired of it and told me if I stayed with him any longer, my family could no longer support me and my decisions. So I made my final choice and I left him once and for all.
It took years for me to realize that I am worth more and I deserve the best things in life. Through therapy and the support of friends and family, I was able to get my life back together and finally be happy again.
Today, I am married to the man of my dreams and I have two wonderful sons. I am thankful for what I went through because it made me stronger. It made me appreciate my husband so much more. My husband has shown me that I am worthy of love and I am not stupid. He lets me know everyday that I am beautiful and that I am the love of his life. Some days, I do wish I could go back in time and change things or leave him sooner, but it happened and I was blessed with a perfect son out of it.
I want women to know that there is a way out and they don’t have to stay. I want women to know that just because a man doesn’t hit you, that doesn’t mean he isn’t abusive. Mental abuse is just as bad. The mental abuse will absolutely tear you down. But I promise, you are worthy, you are beautiful, you mean the world, and you deserve only the best!”
It is hard for a lot of us to leave our abuser, especially when children are involved, but Chelsea wants share her story because she understands. She knows the pain and the struggle and the longing to keep a family together. She knows all of that, but she also realized she had to get out to keep herself and her son safe. By sharing her story, Chelsea is hoping to help others; to help them find their strength, their worth, and to reassure others that you are not alone though this.
Chelsea and I grew up together and in all the time I’ve known her, she has always been one of the strongest women I have ever met. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me and for allowing this opportunity to share with others.
If you would like to contact Chelsea regarding her story or how her’s helped you, please send me an email and I will relay the message.
Panic Attack Paints 