Hi, I have been a lone parent for 15years now. I have 3 kids and seperated from my ex when my youngest child was 2 days old. I am working through the freedom program and have found it extremely helpful - I wish I had come across this years ago!
The trauma of abuse can stay with you for years and affect your life in many ways if its not handled properly. This program has helped me massively and I am just over half way through.
I am so pleased to have come across Onespace.
Hi Lou 67 and welcome from me too 
So glad that you are finally doing the Freedom Programme and that you are finding it interesting and informative.
Please feel free to come along and share your experiences in our Freedom Programme forum thread, I look forward to hearing more about you.
Hi Lou
I know what you mean I wish i found this place years ago when i 1st became a single mum of 2 age 20 x
HM
Hi
I have just stumbled accross this site, wish I'd heard about it earlier. I'm interested in doing the freedom programme, any idea how I go about getting on 1? x
Good morning geminibex and welcome to One Space
I am glad you have found us too! You can do the Freedom Programme here online (click) or if you are looking to join a local group, have a look at this page.
I think it is a fantastic programme, let us know how it goes for you
Hi everyone, I found this site only last night and have done some of the freedom programme. I think domestic violence awareness should be taught in schools, it's such a huge problem and it has long lasting effects on the victims. It was only when my ex husband sexually assaulted me, after years of controlling me, that I finally had the courage to report it to the police. It was only then that I realised I was a victim too, I thought everyones relationships were like that. It's so much better nowadays because kids tend to be a lot more open about things. I was too ashamed to tell anyone and hid all the crap I was putting up with. I have been hiding it for the last 20 odd years and have only just realised how badly it's all affected me.
You are not alone, Melsibob, and it was fantastic that you were able to leave and to start to move your life forward. It is indeed a very common problem and it is interesting what you say about it being taught in schools, I do think there should be teaching about relationships, self esteem, anger management and indeed dometic abuse, all within the same subject area. One of the hardest things is that it is hard to know you are being abused when you are the victim and difficult to spot the signs early on.
Hope all those who have suffered abuse, men and women, are able to move forward with their lives
Hello Lou67 and welcome to One Space; I am glad that you are finding the Freedom Programme helpful.
So I gather your youngest is 15 now, how old are your other two? I wonder if you have a lot of "teenage" stories to tell?