DEAR DEIDRE: I HAVE finally broken free of my abusive ex but I’m struggling to cope.
I haven’t slept or eaten for five days and my children have noticed that I’m having a tough time – they keep asking what is wrong with me. I am heartbroken.
I am 33 and my ex is 35. We were together for ten years and have three children aged seven, five and three.
Even though he physically hurt me and belittled me all the time, I feel the need to go back to him.
I keep making up little excuses in my head with the reasons I should be with him.
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He never helped with our children so I felt I had no choice but to be a stay-at-home mum.
He used to come home from work and sit on the sofa until bedtime. I felt like his slave.
I’m so close to inviting him back home.
Please help before I end up going back and regret it for the rest of my life.
DEIDRE SAYS: Please do not go back. While it’s normal to think about going back to an abuser, especially when you have been with him for so long, think about how you felt during the relationship.
Keep reminding yourself of the damage to your self-esteem, your sanity and the effects the abuse was having on our children.
Take each day at a time and gradually you will feel stronger.
My support pack Abusive Partner? will hopefully help you to think this through.