One failed marraige and two kids later, I met a minister who I thought was the answer to my prayers. He turned out to be my worst nightmare.
He cut me off from friends, family and even my own children. He gradually took control of the mail, transportation and money. The verbal and emotional abuse was off the charts. When he had stripped me of everything but my life, I left and started over with just my clothing in trashbags.
This book shows the red flags of an abuser that I missed. These red flags could save you from years of suffering for yourself and those close to you by avoiding bad relationships.
My two children told what it was like living in an abusive household. It is rare to hear from the children of abusive households. Their stories must be told so that our society understands the desvastation caused by abuse.
The book is written around the Power and Control Wheel of Domestic Violence with one chapter dedicated to each of the eight categories of abuse. I give specific examples of how the tactic was used against our family and the impact it had on us.
Years of Tears is helpful to victims of domestic violence to show that they are not alone. It can be used in therapy or in battered women's shelters. It is an excellent textbook for batterer's intervention programs or college classrooms.
