Ask Amanda

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  Ask Amanda: My Husband Wants Me to Spank the Kids

  A spouse is conflicted over husband’s request to use corporal punishment with the children | This edition of Ask Amanda was written by Lisa Fontes, a domestic violence... read more

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  Ask Amanda: My Abusive Pastor-Husband Has Dementia

  Leaving someone with a disease presents even more guilt, challenges | This edition of Ask Amanda was written by Lisa Fontes, a domestic violence expert with a Ph.D. in... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Wearing a Face Mask is Triggering Anxiety

  For survivors of domestic violence who have experienced suffocation or strangulation, there is a way to calm yourself before putting on a facemask | This edition of As... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Abuser from 15 Years Ago Is Stalking Me

  Off parole, he has begun to terrorize his victim all over again | Q: Hi Amanda, I just saw your article about feeling guilty after putting an abusive partner in jail. ... read more

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  Ask Amanda: After Mom Died, Dad Takes It Out on Us

  A young survivor of abuse wonders if the cycle of abuse will ever end | Q: I have been put in a unique situation that's been getting worse and worse over the past seve... read more

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  Ask Amanda: How Can I Afford to Leave?

  Survivor in an isolated area is looking for ideas to fund her escape | Q: I have been trying to leave my abusive husband for quite some time now. He is always ten step... read more

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  Ask Amanda: I Can't Buy Necessities During Quarantine

  Due to her husband’s financial control, a survivor is running out of food and cleaning supplies, and beginning to panic | Q: My husband controls our bank account—I can... read more

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  Ask Amanda: I Feel Guilty for Putting Him Away

  Her abusive partner’s in jail, so why does she feel bad for him? | Q: My ex-boyfriend was put in jail because he missed his court date regarding criminal charges he wa... read more

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  Ask Amanda: The Quarantine is Triggering

  For those forced into isolation before by an abuser, the COVID-19 quarantine can bring up bad memories | Q: I escaped a marriage some time ago to a partner who was abu... read more

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  Ask Amanda: He's Threatening to Call CPS

  Pregnant and afraid, her husband’s threats are a form of emotional abuse | Q: Hi, I'm 19 years old and I've been married since 2018. My husband has been threatening to... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Why Do I Keep Giving Him Another Chance?

  Trauma bonding is why some survivors feel an attachment to an abusive partner | Q: I’m one of those people who keeps giving my boyfriend endless chances. I don’t want ... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Uneasy About Going to Shelter

  It’s often the last resort for survivors, and that’s OK | Q: My daughter is in a horrible domestic abusive relationship. She tried to leave the other night with the ch... read more

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  Ask Amanda: I Need to Get My Daughter Out

  “It’s like someone is ripping a piece from me,” says a desperate mom all the way in South Africa | Q: I’m in Western Cape [Africa]. I need to get my daughter to talk t... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Single Mom Desperately Needs a Car

  Grants that help survivors buy a car, and how to find a reliable used one | Q: Is there help out there for a single mom in a shelter to buy a car? I have a part-time j... read more

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  Ask Amanda: Why Do I Feel So Tired All the Time?

  During or after trauma, one of the defining symptoms can be exhaustion | Q: “I am so ridiculously tired all the time. I was with an abuser for four years—physical, emo... read more