As the season of love known as Valentine's Day has officially ended, for many survivors of domestic violence, they still struggle with the love they thought they lost. For a very long time, I struggled with the loneliness and pain of losing someone I loved so deeply, yet hurt me so horribly.  Have you ever felt that way too?   Even though the pandemic is looming quietly, the loneliness and isolation during these past couple of years has been extremely hard for everyone, bu... Read More

This is the story that took place on 333 E Willis St in Monticello, Arkansas on June 24th, 2021. Rebekah, my nineteen-year-old daughter, and I text and talk daily, and on Wednesday, June 23rd, she texts she needs to talk. As soon as I was able, I called to see what was up.  She told me she wanted to move in with me. She wanted to get a job and start saving to get her and Harley, her fiance, a place to stay. Harley was about to go into the National Guard. They were getting their lives tog... Read More

As 2021 comes to a close, NCADV is looking back the the guest posts published to our blog this year. We want to share with you the guest blog posts published in 2021. The countdown can be found below. #5 Mad Love "It was a warm September afternoon in 1992 when the world was first introduced to the Maiden of Mischief, the Cupid of Crime, or as most know her as, Harley Quinn. These early years of Harley Quinn’s character development had her by the Jokers side, encour... Read More

It’s hard to admit that I am a survivor. The assumptions that we have about who has survived abuse, along with the denial that it could ever be me or perhaps you, it sometimes feels impossible to believe even after going through it. Through sharing our stories, especially during these times of living through a pandemic and surviving domestic violence, I have learned that our own words can help us heal. My abuser was my friend for almost a decade. He was so close that he knew most of th... Read More

You finally met the love of your life. It was as if the heavens opened up and poured out the perfect cocktail of good looks, intelligence, adventure, confidence and charm. The love was fast, the passion was fierce and the communication was intense. You were intoxicated by his affection, attention and adoration. There's no place on earth you would have rather been than tucked away inside his loving arms. There was late night laughter and early morning kisses as you were whisked away to ex... Read More

Having worked with victims of domestic violence for over fifteen years of my career as a registered nurse I thought I knew what I needed to know about abusive partners. I had gone through my professional training, I had worked as an emergency room case manager in addition to working in some of the best and cutting edge Level I trauma centers in the United States. I was smart, skilled and resourceful. I thought I knew what I needed to know to spot an abuser; However, nothing could have ever p... Read More

I had always heard that abuse is life changing. Whether you are in it for 1 year or 20 years, it can change your perspective dramatically. For an outsider, it may be difficult to understand how one part of your life could change the way you see the entire world. I was with my abuser for slightly less than one year, but yes, this one year changed everything. And what other people do not always realize is that things are not just magically resolved as soon as the relationship ends. Dealing wit... Read More