Her own stories are positioned in relation to those of other women in her family - both ancestors and descendants. She hopes that shedding light on these narratives will give others in similar situations the tools to begin to overcome their own struggles, escape the bonds of abuse and gain a sense of control over the trauma that remains. My hope for my story is for it to enable others to recognize, read beyond the words and have the courage to make their own changes. Also, I hope it will be useful for students of psychology, psychotherapy, all people working in the field of domestic violence, family harm, and mental illness. I have included several critiques of my stories written by a professional psychotherapist on her view of some of my experiences - thus used as a teaching tool.