This episode comes with content warnings. To be able to accurately describe the level of verbal and physical abuse in this story, it was necessary to include actual accounts that include obscene language, drug usage, and violent acts.

The intent of the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast is never to sensationalize abuse. But there is the need to allow actual survivors to report their stories as they remember them without editing. Abuse is ugly.

We want our listeners will learn to be able to detect, avoid, and break free from impending intimate partner violence in any form.

This is part one of a two-part story.

This story is actually two survivor stories in one.

Melody and Lizzie are each survivors of Harry, a toxic serial abuser.

What makes what you're about to hear so unique is Melody and Lizzie were married to Harry in succession. One after the other. You will see how an abuser can be methodical. In both cases, the attraction to him at first was quite similar – so were the warning signs, the mounting concerns, the emotional and verbal abuse, and the physical abuse.

Of course there were similarities – they were married to the same abuser.

Harry merely took what worked in one relationship into the next relationship. We will first hear Melody's story. Then we will move to Lizzie's story.

See that if they knew and followed the warning signs, they would have missed a lifetime a misery from this one predatory abuser.

Bill Mitchell

NOTE:

If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

The ⁠⁠⁠WHEN DATING HURTS book⁠⁠⁠ (in paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can be found on Amazon.

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline – ⁠⁠⁠The Hotline.org ⁠⁠⁠– Call 800-799-SAFE

• ⁠⁠⁠LoveIsRespect⁠⁠⁠ – Call 866-331-9474

• RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) – ⁠⁠⁠RAINN.org⁠⁠⁠ – Call 800-656-4673

• SUICIDE HELPLINE: Call 988

Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast,

Bill Mitchell

⁠⁠⁠WhenDatingHurts.com⁠⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER:

The WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast is providing this platform for information to be shared. We do not state with any certainty that anything is true or untrue. Understand that what you hear is the viewpoint of the people sharing. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.

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