It's My Life Now by Meg Kennedy Dugan Summary
Overview of It's My Life Now
Surviving abuse isn't just escaping - it's reclaiming your life. "It's My Life Now" offers survivors concrete strategies endorsed by the National Coalition of Domestic Violence, addressing everything from safety assessment to healing. What makes this resource revolutionary? Its inclusive approach to all relationship dynamics.
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Key takeaways
When the Person You Loved Became Your Greatest Fear
She calls the police for the third time this month. Her partner has smashed another phone, blocked the door again, screamed threats that made the walls shake. The operator asks the question that will haunt her for years: "Why don't you just leave?" As if it were that simple. As if love, fear, hope, and terror didn't coexist in the same racing heartbeat. Every nine seconds in America, someone experiences this impossible moment-trapped between the person they love and the person who hurts them. What most people don't understand is that leaving an abuser isn't the end of the nightmare. It's often just the beginning of a different kind of survival. Recognizing abuse while you're living through it feels like trying to see clearly underwater. Everything appears distorted, and you're not even sure which way is up anymore. Abuse rarely announces itself with a dramatic first punch. Instead, it creeps in gradually, disguised as concern, devotion, even love. The cycle operates like a psychological trap with a door that locks behind you before you realize you've entered. First comes the honeymoon phase-flowers, apologies, promises, the person you fell in love with. Then tension builds over something small: you came home late, spoke to a coworker, wore the "wrong" outfit. You learn to give in, to smooth things over, anything to avoid the inevitable explosion. But the explosion comes anyway-yelling, violence, destruction, terror. Afterward, more apologies, more promises, more honeymoons. Round and round, faster and faster, until you can't remember what normal feels like. The real question isn't why you stayed-it's how you'll reclaim the life that was systematically stolen from you, piece by piece, day by day.
The Many Faces of Abuse and Why You Couldn't Just Leave
Creating Safety After Escape and Understanding Cultural Roots
When Love Becomes Assault and the Paradox of Loving Your Abuser
Grieving What You Lost and Navigating Overwhelming Emotions
Reclaiming the Self That Was Stolen
Building Love Without Fear: Your Life Truly Begins Now
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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