Patricia

Content warning: Verbal, physical, and emotional abuse; substance use

Patricia met her husband at a young age. At the time, she believed he could overcome the substance use disorder he was battling. She stayed by his side through repeated relapses, followed by months of sobriety. Over time, the substance use escalated, and he became verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive. [Note: Substance use does not cause domestic violence but may escalate controlling and abusive behaviors.] Patricia isolated herself from others to hide this reality. She desperately wanted to make their marriage work for the sake of their two daughters.

Patricia’s situation was not only dangerous, it was also financially draining, as her husband spent much of their shared income to support his addiction. Patricia had been living paycheck to paycheck for so long that she didn’t see how she could leave her husband and support her children on her own. Over time, the abuse impacted her to the point where she had to leave her job. With no support and nowhere else to turn, Patricia moved to Boston. She connected with a friend who knew of Casa Myrna and who put her in touch with an advocate, Jessica. While Patricia admits it was hard to ask for help, she was given the support to move into her own apartment earlier this year. Now she and her children have a safe space to call their own.

Reflecting back, Patricia says her newfound security “feels like a blessing” and has given her stability in life.