I left my husband July 21, 2014 after he held me captive beat, strangled, and tried drowning me for over 7 hours. I left with out two daughters now ages 6,8. Our youngest was home but to young to call for help. How I survived and escaped I do not know. My husband was my best friend we were together over 10 years. It was the 3rd time in those years he abused me. Looking back I had been being abused and manipulated the whole time. I knew he was older than me, but he had a fake ID I finally found out. And I found his birth certificate at about 9 years together. He was 18 years older than me!! He had extremely high testosterone and I couldn't keep up with him sexually. He wanted it all the time, whether I was on my period or had company over. It didn't matter. The oddest thing about him was I had to get permission to take a bath. He hated when I bathed and would drain the hot water heater so I had to take cold bathes, or he would throw ashtrays in the bath. That night I finally had enough.... I got both daughters and left. I lost everything. My beautiful home and belongings. I got the police involved but they threatened to put me in jail if I pressed charges. So I waited the year I was supposed too and filed for divorce. The first court hearing back in March didn't go well. My attorney had someone stand in for him due to him being in a murder trial the same day. The judge felt my ex didn't get served paper correctly and said we had to reserve him- that has now been fixed and he actually was served correctly. My next court date is May 31st. My ex has not seen me or the children since we left. He publically humiliates me by posting photos and videos he took while we were married that I had no idea he took (sexual videos) I live 6 hours away from him but that still doesn't make me feel safe. I miss who I use to be. I've lost all my friends and feel alone. I've been blessed with a great job but still struggle financially raising two girls by myself. I make slightly over the income allowed to get any assistance. He doesn't help and child support enforcement has not been able to serve him. I'm so ready for this nightmare to be over. Has anyone been through something similar? Does it get better? I want to be happy and whole again for my daughter's sake.