A Story of Self-Rescue

Hell broke loose when I decided to separate after two decades of an abusive marriage. I was married to a man who was a neglectful narcissist and a womanizer. I simply did not exist in his world. Silent treatment, no emotional intimacy, and financial control plagued my marriage. I had been reduced to a housemaid and had completely lost myself in serving a relationship that was devoid of love and care. Neither was I allowed to get a job to earn money nor do anything that I could enjoy. I was treated like a doormat.

After leaving, I needed support to heal and find myself again. During my time with Sneh, I felt seen and heard, which is essential for healing from relational abuse. She listened with a lot of empathy and without judgment. It helped me make sense of what happened to me. Going through a separation, especially in a society where divorce is looked down upon, is a very lonely journey. Overnight, you lose face in society. Working with Sneh gave me hope, and I started healing from years of accumulated anger, emotional pain, and self-blame. For the first time in 20 years, I have started exploring 'Who am I, and what is important to me?' I am gradually finding my way back to me. I have started taking care of myself and am learning what my needs are in relationships.

What I especially appreciated was that Sneh, being of South Asian descent and settled abroad, offered a wonderful blend of Eastern and Western values that I could easily connect with. She culturally understood what I was going through.

Mominah, Lahore, Pakistan