Forms of Abuse
Abuse takes many forms—mental, physical, financial, emotional, and sexual. Don’t be afraid to act if it’s happening to you, or if you see it happening to others.
I’ve witnessed and experienced multiple types myself. I also watched the people I loved go through it. You don’t realize the toll it takes until the day you finally get a good night’s sleep.
The mental, physical, and emotional abuse all blended together. It felt the same—it hurt. What hurt even more was seeing it happen to my family. At the time, I thought everyone lived like that.
I even remember feeling uncomfortable when things were calm. Silence felt louder than chaos. Abuse became the new normal. Once, when I got in trouble at my grandmother’s house, I expected a beating—because that’s what I thought discipline was. But it never came. That’s when I began to realize life didn’t have to be that way.
PTSD and Lasting Scars
I didn’t recognize it as PTSD until later, when mental health became something we openly talked about beyond just the military.
As a child, I carried small rituals to cope: a glow-in-the-dark rosary hanging from a lamp(I still have it), blankets that felt like shields, and sleeping with the TV on to quiet my mind.
Even today, I can’t sit in a restaurant without facing the door. I can’t relax at a gas station without checking my surroundings. The scars are everywhere. They shaped who I am. And while I still carry anger, I’ve also learned they can be reminders of strength.
Scars Are Reminders
Mental scars, physical scars—they mark moments in our lives. Painful ones, yes, but also turning points. They can either weigh us down or push us forward.
For me, the physical scars across my back changed my life, I remember that day, electric cords across the back. The mental scars became my fuel. I had seen the bottom, and I refused to go back.
I wanted better for my siblings, my mother, and myself. I couldn’t carry everyone at once, but I made it my mission to build a life strong enough to give back.
The Strength We All Have
If I had the choice back then, I wouldn’t have left. I couldn’t abandon my family. I would have suffered alongside them—or done anything I could to protect them. Believe me, I tried.
But here’s what I’ve learned: You can’t save someone else if you’re drowning too. Sometimes, the strongest and most painful choice is to first save yourself.
Abuse thrives in silence. Whether it’s happening to you or someone you know—don’t accept it, and don’t ignore it. Speak up. Reach out.
Final Message
If you’re experiencing abuse, know this: You are not alone. Talk to someone you trust. If you can’t, reach out to a professional resource. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for immediate crisis support, or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Healing begins when silence ends.
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