AboutNafeesah Expertise I can answer just about anything on abusive relationships, but I can't give legal advice on how to get out of one that's something you need to speak with a counselor trained and certified to deal with domestic violence issues to get resources in pursuing legal recourse.
Experience I have been in abusive relationships and I have shared my experience in helping others to get out of these types of relationships. I was in two abusive relationships one lasting nearly 2 years and the other just over 5 years.
Education/Credentials Associates degree, bachelors degree, and I am a certified nursing assistant
Question I have been living with my boyfriend for over 8 years. Recently, due to terrible gambling habits and the health of his mother (she comes down every weekend) he has become very verbally abusive and angry. For no legitimate reason he will start yelling at me (about once inch from my face). He just told me that I have to leave immediately - I have lived here for 8 years, along with my daughter, who also has lived her over 8 years. I do not make enough money at my job to find another place to live in such short notice. What do I do?
Answer If you got family and friends who'll let you come and stay with them go there at least you'll be safe. Here's some advice for you and please take this into consideration for your own sake and that is you should not live with a man you're not going to be married to. When women start playing house with a man, sexually involved with a man, having babies for him, and even cooking and cleaning for him. You're setting yourself up to be abused and that's because women who are in domestic partnerships tend to be at the highest risk for abuse verbally and physically. I would move and take your daughter with you she doesnt need to see her father abusing her mother because she'll grow up and think this kind of behavior is normal and it's not. Use that time to save your money or go back to school and get a skill that pays more. I don't know what's your highest education, but there are a couple jobs out there that take little time to complete and you can make more than what your current job pays you. You could be a licensed practical nurse which takes a year to complete or a medical assistant which takes about 6-7 months to complete. At least with something like that under your belt you can give your daughter a better life and to move out on your own. Women who live with men are also faced with lower job and life opportunities since it's spent catering to a man who doesnt really do anything for you except see the relationship as basically you provide him things that a wife is supposed to give except he doesnt have to marry you. I will say this once you leave file for child support don't walk away and think that he's going to skip on his responsibilities to the child you had together. Hold him accountable for that since he wants to yell and scream he can do it after a judge tells him to pay up.
