jojo

For those of you who don't know my story I'll give it to you in a nutshell. I have been married to an A for 7 years. I am 57 and on social security disability for fibromyalgia. The first few years of my marriage were fine as my husband was in recovery. The last two have been hell. The disease of alcoholism is a progressive disease. Unless they work their recovery, it will always get worse. My husband was arrested about a month ago for assaulting me and no one was more surprised by his actions than me.

I had been thinking of leaving for some time but was scared and did not know how I would make it financially and I kept hoping that things would get better but they didn't. After the assault, I felt I had no choice but to leave because once they cross that line it is too easy to cross it again and I wasn't willing to take that chance.

Here is where I am lucky. My kids came from Minnesota and picked me and my belongings up from I lived in Michigan. I am now staying with my older daughter and her family until I can get my own place.

Much to my surprise, there is help available for me and others like me. I am on a waiting list for government housing and should be in my own place by the end of the summer. The town I live in now has two buildings owned by the government for low income and guess what - they are actually quite nice and safe! There is money available for "displaced persons", there is medical, dental, prescription available. I have to wait until I have lived in this state for six months before the medical becomes available to me but if I had stayed in the same state it would have been available right away.

I have been treated with dignity and respect by everyone I have dealt with in the system. They actually look for ways to assist you. The less you have the more they are able to help.

So, if the only reason you are still staying is financial, there really is help available. Look into it because once you know that help really is there, it takes some of the fear out of the decision. I never thought that I would ever be in this position - especially at my age! - but I am and it is not nearly as awful as I feared it might be. I am safe, my stress level is sooooo much better. My new life won't be the one I had dreamed of but it won't be the nightmare it had become.

I hope that this is helpful to someone. Make some phone calls. See what would be available to you if you need it. Those calls could make the difference in the rest of your life.

Hugs, Jo