4: Della’s Story as Told to Amanda: Domestic Violence – Mental Scars

I met Della in a Yorkshire City where we shared a coffee and she started to explain about how she had previously lived with domestic violence and how it had affected her life.

This story relates to living with domestic violence and is a deeply traumatic and distressing experience that can have long-lasting effects on individuals and families. It often involves physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse inflicted by a partner or family member within the home.

Della’s recounting of her experiences with domestic violence reveals a complex array of emotions ranging from fear and frustration to resilience and determination. Initially, she found herself in a situation of financial abuse, where her ex-husband exerted control over her finances, leaving her struggling to provide for herself and her children. This sense of powerlessness and dependency likely instilled feelings of fear and anxiety, as Della grappled with the uncertainty of her future and the safety of her family.