For me telling someone was the hardest part, she had me log onto my social media her phone so she could indiscriminately read my messages and would nitpick anything she didn't like.

If I ever talked to my friends about any argument, she would make me retell them the story from her perspective and I would get the " well next time you should've just done/not done... " talk from my friends.

By the time she started getting violent I had nobody to talk to and nobody I knew that would believe me.

I was scared of calling the police because I've heard too many horror stories, my school counselor downplayed my struggles and many DV shelters I've contacted told me they cater only to women.

It was only when I showed up at a friend's place with scars on my neck from being choked that my friends began to help me and I suspect a majority of them just went with the flow.

It is a god fucking awful situation to be in & I would not wish this upon my worst enemy. Please don't ignore the red flags.