Do not let your life be ruled by someone who you are scared of.
There are fantastic people on this board who can point you into the right direction for help, and there are posters here who have been exactly where YOU are right now.. dont ever think that you are isolated and nobody will understand.
Please dont be scared to post.
I started this thread because I have seen posters who dont wish to start a new thread of their own.. and I have also seen how much help the "stately homes" thread gives to posters who have suffered family breakdowns.
Personally I have experience of DV, and I am now on the other side ... and I really appreciate how bloody hard it is to do.. people say "well why didnt you just leave him?"... and if you have been in that situation, we all know it really is never so simple..