I know that one of the signs of an abuser is when he uses isolation to keep you under his control. I was certainly kept in isolation of family and friends and even the law, because we didn't have a phone in the house. Another way he isolated me was that he did his best to isolate me from my religion. I am a Pagan and he was an atheist and he was the type of atheist who felt that any type of religious/spiritual expression/practice was wrong. In the beginning of our marriage he was fine with the fact that I was Pagan and it didn't bother him that I practiced my religion. But as he became more abusive the more he disliked my religious leanings. At one point I was working in a New Age shop and he accused me of being brainwashed by my co-workers and customers.

As the situation at home became worse I went through my dark night of the soul. Interestingly enough this occurred over one Easter weekend where I sat on my bed for three days and nights and cried. Then I attempted suicide. The Goddess came to me during that time and would not let me die. She made me realize that I was still Her child, despite everything that was happening to me. I instinctively knew that if I survived that there was still more pain and torment for me to go through and I didn't know if I would have the strength to get through this. All I wanted was to die. But the Goddess enfolding me within Her arms and I survived. And I gradually gained the strength to end my marriage and get away from my abuser.

Every day since then I have given thanks to the Goddess for watching over and protecting Her child and for giving me the strength to continue living. She knew that I would move beyond what was happening to me. She had faith in me, which strengthened my faith in Her.