The Independent Woman Experience Series: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse Ep. 19
In this episode we hear from Claire, a woman who has fought for everything she has today. She’s been divorced for two years now after being in an abusive marriage for 17 years. But Claire emphasizes that while she was a victim of a situation, she is not just a victim. She’s a survivor, she’s a mom, she’s a woman finding herself on a new journey.
Takeaways from Claire:
Her ex “love bombed” her with loving sentiments, but that made it more difficult to see the red flags around her.
When she was with her ex, she found it difficult to realize that it was toxic until it was undeniable. Isolation, financial dependence, and threats can slowly overwhelm you.
Female friendship and empowerment gave Claire a spark of courage to leave.
It’s never too late to leave. Claire realized that while her son might be from a broken home, it didn’t mean he had to keep living in one.
While none of the abuse in her relationship was her fault, Claire tells us how she is examining her own enabling tendencies which contributed to her relationship.
Finding her strength in reading, exercising, and even therapeutic tik toks helped Claire process the anxiety and fear she’d internalized in the relationship.
Claire is excited to grow into the person she’s always meant to be: it’s exciting and powerful.
Connect with Claire
TikTok: @claire50mom