113: Why Women Don't Just Leave - The Hidden Reality of Domestic Violence

“My bruises were on the inside, and no one could see them.” October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this is a conversation we need to have. I spent ten years in an abusive marriage. And here's something that may surprise you: I didn't even realize I had been in an abusive relationship until a year after I left. Domestic violence isn't always physical. Sometimes it's emotional manipulation, gaslighting, financial abuse, isolation, stalking, and the slow destruction of a woman's confidence and ability to trust herself. In this deeply personal episode of You Have the Power, I'm sharing what I experienced, how what I call the “drip effect” gradually changed who I was, and why the question “Why didn't she just leave?” shows such a profound misunderstanding of abuse. I'm also talking about the systems that fail women, including law enforcement, religious institutions, and the patriarchal beliefs that pressure women to stay in relationships that are destroying them. And I'm speaking directly to the friends and family members who may not recognize the abuse because the man they know publicly is nothing like the man she lives with privately. This episode is about awareness, understanding, and the importance of believing women when they tell you what they're experiencing. Because leaving an abusive relationship isn't always as simple as walking out the door. And to every woman who has survived domestic violence, or who is still trying to find her way out: You have the power, whether you know it or not. Never, ever forget that. Domestic Violence Support If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in the United States, confidential support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Text: START to 88788 Website: https://www.thehotline.org You do not have to have all the answers before reaching out for support. Connect with Darla Ridilla:  🌐 Learn more about podcast mentoring and my 30-day podcast launch program: https://www.highvaluewoman.info/shareyourvoice Free Course - You Have Something to Say: The 3 Shifts That Help You Stop Overthinking and Start Your Podcast - https://youtu.be/IcXzJDGDUtk Relationship Coaching - https://www.highvaluewoman.info/relationship-coaching Website: https://www.highvaluewoman.info Sign up for mailing list: https://www.highvaluewoman.info/connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550835718631 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highvaluewoman7/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighValueWoman-m7w LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darla-ridilla-3179b110/ Send me an email: [email protected]