In June 2011 I was attacked by my ex partner - he smashed my face against a wall, broke my nose and injured my knee. He pinned me against a wall with his lower arm pressing my neck, leaning his body weight on me whilst spitting on me. I managed to turn my head and bit his arm to release me. He did shouting 'you fucking bitch you made me bleed, I'm going to call the police!' I said fine, they can see what you did to me.
Anyway, police came but I was arrested as there was blood from the bite (I saw him sit there squeezing his arm to make it bleed more -skin barely broken).
At the police station I was so terrified that my daughter was with him at home - anyway finally interviewed and police officer said that I was living with a controlling abuser - many police aren't trained to understand this but he's had domestic violence training. He said that I could press charges but that would be time-consuming and, as he sensed I was keen to leave to get back to my daughter, he gave me the name and number of a solicitor friend. She helped me draw up Non-Molestation order. I had surgery for my nose, physio for knee and investigation re face as my jaw now moves and I have TMJ. Obviously began separation etc.
But the nightmares are endless. And this is compounded by ex manipulating court process (I was litigant in person, he had full legal team).
And the nightmares aren't just about one attack - they morph into an amalgam of all his attacks on me over a ten year period.
Can't afford counselling any more.
How do you get over such experiences when you can't afford counselling? How do I stop the nightmares?
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