The bumpier the road gets, the more you realize something has to change.

You’re greatly affected by the home you came from, and until you examine your relationships you may not recognize that you are perpetuating unhealthy patterns that can even extend to unwitting (or purposeful) verbal and emotional abuse.

You may feel you’re fighting to be seen, heard and accepted.

No one likes to think or say that those patterns are abusive. Verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse, or worse, physical or sexual abuse need to be recognized, and named, to change. That’s the first step. 

You may notice the way you talk to one another has declined into emotional abuse and reactive abuse, especially as you get more and more tired, and angry, and unsure what you’re doing together.

You can feel unsafe, experience anxiety, and have long-term resentments that are playing out in a variety of destructive ways. You don’t want that. And if you have kids, you don’t want them to live in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. Kids are sponges. They see and do – and accept – what you model for them. 

You can break that cycle. You can make changes and give yourself, and your family, a healthier way forward. 

Realizing the truth of what’s happening (or happened), learning new ways to navigate challenging situations, and deeply understanding that you matter are the steps to healing and recovery – together or apart.

Whatever’s going on, it’s time to do something positive.

It may be time to decide the big question: should you stay or should you go?

If you need help making that decision, or have made that decision, getting support to execute your exit strategically is wise.