MEGAN'S STORY

I moved to Norfolk with my two children after fleeing from my abusive ex-partner. I struggled with low self-esteem and guilt that I did not protect the children from living with the abuse. I was isolated from family and friends and was on medication for anxiety and depression. I needed to move on and make things better for my kids, but I always believed that I didn't deserve to be happy, that the abuse was my fault and something was wrong with me. 

 

At Daisy Programme, I received reassurance and validation. I felt for the first time that someone really understood and believed in me. They just got it. My caseworker was lovely and worked with me to see the issues I needed to address. She  helped me understand that I did have strengths I could use and how activities in Daisy Programme could support me. I had regular support calls with short-term goals, such as joining a local Mums group. I began counselling and began to address what had happened and started to believe that I was ok as a person.

 

I attended courses and learnt how my ex-partner made me believe the abuse was my fault rather than his. I joined the Recovery Toolkit and found techniques to heal my emotional scars and cope with problems. Through these groups I met some amazing women who had been through the same stuff as me. They have become lifelong friends and are now my support tribe. I went to the Thursday art and support group, which gave me relaxation, craft and giggles. I did everything I could, yoga, mindfulness, creative writing, even drumming!

 

I did find parenting hard on my own, especially when the kids were playing up after all that they had been through. The SPACE programme was wonderful for giving me lots of tools to manage and helped us to reconnect as a family. The children were also referred by their schools for specialist support with Daisy Programme Fantastic Families Children’s workers and are now thriving.

 

So many of these activities were delivered by people who themselves had been supported by Daisy and I began volunteering to use my own experience to help others. This gave me confidence and self-worth and I applied for a job, the first job I had applied for in more than 18 years, and  got it! I am now a teaching assistant in a local school and the school have recently recommended that I apply for teacher training.

 

Some days are still tough, but I know that I can get through them. Life isn’t perfect, but I don’t expect it to be. What I now have is a life that is no longer defined by the abuse I suffered. I have a life where the children and I can look to the future.