a difficult childhood, found a way to change, my life has completely turned around, return to the church, tired of the life I was living,
‘I fell into a deep sadness… I began to do radical things like self-harming. I was tired of the life I was living…’
A review published by the Early Intervention Foundation states that children who are exposed to domestic abuse suffer a range of health, social, wellbeing and behavioural effects in their lives. Ana Patricia Monteiro was part of that statistic; however, she found a way to change the outcome of her story.
‘I had a difficult childhood. My father was an alcoholic and consequently, he became violent at home. I was traumatised and I fell into a deep sadness. I tried to find fulfilment in a relationship but it soon became abusive, and this led me to use drugs. I would lie to my family just to go out because I felt miserable at home. All these only made me feel worse.
One third of children exposed to domestic abuse disclose mental health issues and/or substance misuse.
Source: CAADA Research Report, February 2014
My sister and I used to argue and fight a lot, throwing things at each other until we made each other bleed. I reached a point where I simply wanted to disappear. I began to do radical things like self-harming – these were my worst moments. I was tired of the life I was living.
I used to go to the Universal Church with my family in the past and I knew that God was the only One who could help me out of that misery, so I decided to return to the church at the age of 17. I began to practise everything I was being taught there. I decided to take the necessary actions, such as letting go of my boyfriend and my group of friends who only influenced me negatively. During this period, I also moved to a different area and so started everything new.
The journey was not easy and it took me a lot of perseverance, however, today my life has completely turned around. I am free from the deep sadness, past traumas and bad habits I used to have. I now value myself. I was transformed from the inside out and since then, I have been at peace. I don’t need to seek happiness because I have found it in God.’
Ana Patricia Monteiro
Source: Early Intervention Foundation (2014), ‘Domestic violence and abuse review’
Post a Comment