Astrid’s Story

Astrid*, a mother of five beautiful daughters, needed help. Her husband had a violent temper which he unleashed in unpredictable outbursts. His skills and connections honed through service in the military and police force made his threats and rage all the more intimidating.  The violent, controlling behavior worsened as the years went on. The final straw was when he threatened to kill her and commit suicide. “After so many years, you know, enough is enough,” Astrid explained. Then, she called a lawyer and later Safe Connections.

“I was a bundle of nerves,” she continued. She tried counseling before, but left feeling frustrated and trapped. “Safe Connections was what I needed,” she said. “I received more support in 30 minutes during my first phone call than I had received from any of my previous counselors.” Next, Astrid and her counselor created a safety plan for her and her daughters.

“My counselor told me about things [that] I hadn’t thought of like having a bag in the car with the bare essentials just in case,” Astrid continued. During a regular weekly counseling session, she told how her husband began tracking her through her cell phone. “My counselor said, ‘Wait, hold on.’ She came back with another phone right away that I could use.” From then on, that’s how Astrid stayed in touch with her lawyer and her counselor. During the counseling sessions, Astrid trusted her instincts; self-doubt faded and confidence grew.

Life kept getting better.

Astrid’s counselor recommended a specific trauma recovery technique which rose to popularity following success treating Hurricane Katrina victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) wiped out Astrid’s PTSD symptoms. The technique helps survivors remember traumatizing events from new perspectives that defuse the power of the initial memories or experiences.

“I don’t understand how it worked, but it worked,” said Astrid. “Things from my childhood plaguing me once… Now I can talk about those things and not get really emotional. I can talk now.” Astrid also cites mindfulness and relaxation skills she learned through her counselor as essential to her new life.

For Astrid, divorce was the right path. During the proceedings, she made life as normal as possible for her daughters. Astrid’s divorce was finalized four years ago. She has joint custody of her daughters with her abuser. Astrid explains that her older daughters were angry with her for some time for changing their lives. However, now that they see her happiness and are enjoying the safety and peace of their home with her, that’s changed too. “They’ve come around,” says Astrid.

As time passes, Astrid has been able to relax more. Still, she remains on guard. She decided to take a gun-handling class and to purchase a gun. Her home is equipped with a security system, and she carries mace. “It makes me feel better, like I could protect myself if I need to,” Astrid stated.  Recently, her abuser has been kind and friendly. She is vigilant regarding her emotional boundaries with him. “As kind as he can be, I can never trust it. It never stays.”

Astrid doesn’t let people take advantage of her anymore; she is more outspoken and calm. “In fact, if anything now, I’m working on being more diplomatic,” she says with a laugh. Now, Astrid has a respectful, loving relationship with her new boyfriend. “I am a different person,” she said. “Counseling helped me see [that] you aren’t as stuck as you think you are.”

*Name has been changed to protect identity.