Domestic violence leaves so many people suffering in silence. How can you identify if you’re being abused? When you want to escape a relationship, what should you keep in mind? What are some of the biggest misconceptions that further isolate abuse victims? On this episode, domestic abuse survivor, speaker, and author Rosie Aiello shares how she survived and why she’s empowering others.   3 Things We Learned From This Episode   When you don’t know what abuse looks like, you can think you’re the problem (06:45 - 08:35)   A lot of women don’t realize that what they are actually experiencing is abuse. It’s only when they know the signs that they can empower themselves. Until then they will think they are the problem and keep trying to make it better.   Keep your escape private (17:29 - 17:46) When planning to leave an abusive partner, don’t tell them. If you do, they will only tighten the reins. This can put you and your children in danger.   Observe the patterns of behavior (25:26 - 27:46) When it comes to an abuser’s behavior, there are patterns you have to watch out for. They tend to be narcissistic, they don’t take responsibility, they aren’t willing to change their behavior, and they are great to the outside world but awful to you.   Abuse comes in many forms, and sometimes we don’t even recognize it’s happening to us. When we’re not being heard or given the love and respect we deserve, that’s a problem. The key to survival is being strong inside and learning what your value is. It’s possible to escape and finally live a life outside of the prison walls. Rosie is an incredible example of this. Remember: real love is kind, respectful, and understanding.   Guest Bio- After a 25 year marriage, Rosie Aiello engineered an international escape to save her daughter and herself from domestic violence. Nearly mentally destroyed,  within four years of arriving back in the United States, she reinvented herself since started her own business, and became a speaker, best-selling author and an international awarding-winning entrepreneur. Visit www.11hourstofreedom.com to learn more about Rosie’s empowerment program for women.