A doctor identified as Nicola Harding has said that victims of domestic abuse have more judgement placed on them.

She said this while narrating the struggles she went through after leaving her abusive husband.

@Nicolaharding wrote:

“10yrs ago today I left my abusive ex-husband

I was homeless, Jobless, criminal record & he wouldn’t let me take or see my kids unless he was there. Now Im a Dr, full time criminology lecturer & support my kids as a single parent without a penny from him. We are safe. #freedomday If you told me 10 years ago I would be here living life like this I wouldn’t have believed you. The fight was hard, it still is

The kids and I bear the scars. Ten years later we are arene still finding new ones. Leaving is only the start of the journey not the end like we often think. There is so much judgement placed on mother’s of children who have witnessed abuse when they then have issues with development, schooling, mental health. The mother as the present parent is always held responsible for the actions of the now absent abusive parent. We need to do so much better in the support we offer families that are recovering from abuse.

10 house moves in 10 years is about keeping safe, not bad parenting. Adverse childhood experiences weren’t a lifestyle choice. Understand a little more. Condemn a little less…And understand that we deserve the opportunity to thrive, not simply just survive.”