An Offaly woman says she “took back control” after a “sudden energy” helped her to leave domestic abuse.
What is coercive control? Coercive control is a persistent pattern of controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour including all or some forms of domestic abuse designed to trap women in a relationship and make it impossible or dangerous to leave.“You feel that there is no way out and that you have no hope for the future. You believe you are nothing, that nobody would want you, that you’re ugly and you’re fat.
Jessica contacted ODVSS and started working on her housing application. However, it was during lockdown which she said meant that there was “no accommodation whatsoever”. “I had to pay my rent for 11 months on my own. I had nothing at all and managed to appeal it, but during that time I was living on €300 per week and the rent was €1200 a month.”