One woman explained that she didn’t realize she was in an abusive relationship when she was younger because she was “too young”.
Jordan Sheridan of Wexford said that in her youth she dated a man who would control all aspects of her life, including her looks and friendships.
The Instagram post revealed that one of her teenage boyfriends would force her to have sex whenever she wanted, leaving her in constant fear that she would be left alone if they broke up.
Many commenters praised Jordan for sharing their experiences in a post with more than 37,000 views and said it would help other women.
Jordan Sheridan (pictured) from Ireland went viral on Instagram after revealing her experience with an abusive relationship as a teenager.
Jordan revealed that he wanted to make the video to raise awareness about the Women’s Aid charity, which he believes could help him if he knew he was being abused.
Sharing her traumatic experience, she said: “When I started the relationship, I was at a very low point in my life and I was very depressed. I did a lot to myself.
“When I started this relationship, he was the first person to show me his love and I immediately accepted it. I started to believe it was very difficult to love me.
“I was told he was the only one who would love me because I had so many problems.
“I came to believe that if I left the house without a bra, I was being really disrespectful. I was told not to leave the house in revealing clothes. I wouldn’t have been able to post a very revealing Instagram post.
Jordan said her ex-boyfriend should always know who and where he is with, even after they broke up.
“I came to believe that jealousy was love, and if any jealousy was shown, it was simply because he loved me. He always had to know where I was, who I was with, and if I was safe.
“There was a time when he broke up with me, even when we weren’t together, but he still needed to know where I was. It even made my mom think that at one point I missed her because my phone broke and I didn’t reply to her texts.
“When I went out with her, I was told that I could no longer talk to men.
“My best friend at the time was a man, and I was no longer allowed to talk to him because of what I believed for a long time was that ‘men don’t just want to be friends’.
“That’s why I wasn’t allowed to be with his friends. He said he couldn’t trust children.
Jordan said her boyfriend made her feel like she was choosing her friends at that moment and that she couldn’t say no to having sex with him.
“He told me who I could or could not be friends with, he chose my likes and dislikes. When I got my nose pierced I was told I was gay and after my first tattoo I could never look pretty in a wedding dress.”
Jordan got excited when she said she couldn’t say no to having sex with her then-boyfriend.
He said: “I’m starting to believe that if he wants to have sex, we have to have sex. There was no way around it.
“I had to believe I was completely devastated from the moment we met until the moment we broke up, it took everything inside me to end the relationship.
When I let go, my thoughts about myself and the world didn’t just disappear, they took root.
“I thought I was too young to have an abusive relationship. I thought these things didn’t happen to teenagers, which they obviously do.
Jordan, who went to therapy after his relationship ended, said that he had been afraid of breaking up with his ex for years.
“I walked on eggshells, afraid I would do something or break up with her to get me to do the silence cure, it was like that most of the time.
“My whole world collapsed because I felt I had no one else in the world but him, that was the faith he gave me.
‘Then I went to the consulting office. My thoughts about myself and the world were very peaceful and I was told they were “not true”.
“You can be friends with guys when you’re in a relationship. What you’re wearing has nothing to do with the person you’re with at any point in your relationship.”
“I thought it was because this person loved me, but he wasn’t, he was in my control and was enjoying the control he had.
Jordan believes his life would have been different and would have ended the abusive relationship sooner if he knew how to help women.
“I wanted to make this video because I think if I had known what Female Aid was while I was in this relationship, my life would have been so different now, and I would probably have gotten out of this relationship much sooner.”
Jordan’s video was watched nearly 40,000 times when reviewers assured him it was “bold” to share his experience.
One person wrote: ‘Well done Jordie, for being so brave and strong. I also had an abusive relationship when I was 21. It took me years to accept true love, but it strengthened inside me and gave me courage. I hope you get better and stronger every day”.
Another said, “You’re an inspiration to anyone who has a hard time talking about difficult and important issues, you’re a superstar Jodie.”
A flood of commentators praised Jordan for talking about his experience in an abusive relationship
Another said, “You’re an inspiration to anyone who has a hard time talking about difficult and important issues, you’re a superstar Jodie.”
A third commented: “Thank you. You said it very well! I can attend all of them. Years later, I still deal with the trauma and work on it every day. I wish I had known earlier that this was harassment. Thank you for learning now. Crazy love to you #warrior’
The fourth added: ‘I want to wrap my arms around your shoulders and give you a big hug! Very good! If it helps someone, you have changed their life. And I have no doubt that it will help a lot more.”
Source: Daily Mail
