What Happened:

I was going out with a guy who seemed really nice. Then things changed. We had to do whatever he wanted to do. We had sex when he wanted it even if I said no we still would. He would hit me and pushed me all over the place. He pushed so hard one night that I had a deep cut on my forehead and a blood clot in my leg from him kicking me. He wouldn't let me eat hardly. I lost a lot of weight while I was dating him.
I finally opened my mouth and told my sister. I got him locked up. I am now in counselling.

How I coped:

I would cry a lot. I wouldn't let people touch me. After I told people about it I dealt with it a lot better. I had kept this to myself for so long. There were some nights I just wanted to go home and tell my mom. Now I am in counseling and that helps. My friends come to me with problems. I like to tell people about it because it may help some one else.

How the situation changed:

The abuse kept getting worse over time. He would lock me in rooms for hours. I got hit and pushed a lot more. We would have sex more and more times a day. I was scared of getting pregnant. He just got meaner and meaner over time. When I told my sister about it and the cops and school got involved we weren't allowed to see or talk again. That helped a lot.

What helped me to get stronger:

I read an article about some one else and that gave me an idea. I then went and told my older sister about what happened and how long it had been happening. She waited a couple days and decided to show up at school one day. I talked to family services about it. I got into counseling and talked a lot with my friends. That helped so much.

What I would say to someone who is being abused:

Get out of there. Don't stick around. I was in it for over two years. It gets worse and worse over time. GET OUT OF THERE!!
The best thing to do is tell some one and make sure that it is the absolute truth. Go to a family member, friend, or law enforcement. They will help you get out of the relationship safely. Also, talking about it helps let it out. Cry a few tears while you're at it. It all helps. JUST GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP. You are a lot better of a person.