KrissyKross told huffingtonpost.com that she was prompted to share the texts because it was the third anniversary of her ex-husband’s sentencing, and she wanted to help people understand why she and many other survivors find it hard to leave abusive relationships.

“Even on my post, a small handful of people were asking, ‘Well, why would you stay then?’

“I made very little money, I was financially dependent and I just really wanted my marriage to work. I didn’t want to give up on it. But it’s hard for people on the outside to really understand that, I suppose.”

She managed to leave her husband three years ago and, in the post, says she feels like she’s in a good place now.

“I’m actually doing great. I have my own place, a decent job, my pets are doing very well,” she writes. “This isn’t really a sob story; I’m really proud of what I’ve done on my own. I just wanted to share for possibly some closure since I never really got that. Strangers on the internet are better than keeping it inside for so long […] I save these text messages to remind myself how far I’ve come, not to cry over.”

Speaking to huffingtonpost.com, she added that as she had never had therapy and had not spoken much to her family about it after the fact, she would urge anyone in a similar position to find a sympathetic ear.

“I think that women (and men) who manage to escape these situations should find someone they can talk to. Don’t be ashamed.”

Women’s Aid defines domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial abuse
Harassment
Stalking
Online or digital abuse

The Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in sponsored_longform between Women’s Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf. Call 0808 2000 247 or visit nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk.

Images: imgur.com / krissykross

“Don’t be ashamed.” Woman shares disturbing texts to highlight domestic abuse