Thanks so much for sharing your story, stripedangel. Good for you for getting out and being willing to take another chance on love and happiness. Your resilience is inspiring.

You bring up a very good point about people feeling that they have no one to turn to. Isolation is a major tool that abusers use to keep their victims from hearing the truth or getting support. They want their voice to be the only one in our heads.

That is why friends are infinitely priceless. A friend reminds you of everything that lies within your heart. They act as a mirror when you lose sight of who you really are or what you truly believe in. They pick you up when you forget that you can do so on your own. They remind you of the true value of your worth.

Whether here on the forums or in the real world, finding and keeping friends can help keep us safe and speed our recovery.