111. Jeanna Coursey; The Long Road to Freedom: Escaping Abuse and Finding Hope

The abuses started early for Jeanna…she was just a young middle-school aged girl growing up in a blended family after her mother and father divorced, and her mother re-married a woman with sons who were older than Jeanna. She missed her father and tells how missing him led to her longing for acceptance from men. One of her older stepbrothers took an un-natural interest in Jeanna, and started complimenting her, telling her she was beautiful, and paying an inordinate amount of attention to her. But Jeanna's young age and naiveté didn't recognize what was the brother was doing to her, and the grooming process filled that longing she had been experiencing since her father had left. And it wasn't long before the sexual assault started. But, again, Jeanna's awareness of the situation didn't immediately recognize what was going on as being something wrong. So, the assaults continued until the touching made her feel more and more uncomfortable. But bring up the situation to her mother and step-mother didn't really solve the problem; while the sexual assaults from this particular stepbrother stopped, the blaming and shame she received from her mother and stepmother was palpable. Fast forward several years…Jeanna, still feeling the desires of being wanted and important to older boys and men, fell for an older school mate. This relationship evolved over time to become intimate, and eventually Jeanna ended up marrying this older boy who, while at first treated her at least with some respect, later became suspicious, jealous, controlling, and abusive, both emotionally and sexually. As these dynamics progressed, so did her husbands mental illness. Jeanna learned through all of this that leaving these types of abuses can easily become a life-or-death decision, and that timing is everything. Listen to Jeanna's episode and you'll come to an understanding, like I did, of how strong and courageous Jeanna was to finally leave the marriage, take the appropriate steps to safeguard her children, and to better her and her family's situation by going back to school to get her degree and improve her lifestyle. The healing journey continues. And Jeanna continues to help heal others, too! Thank you for being here to listen to Jeanna's story. After you've heard this episode, please do all you can to share this episode with everyone you know. And also, to Start By Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Another big favor I would ask is that you rate and subscribe to this podcast. It all helps the podcast grow, which in turn helps bring justice to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. By the way, it would be immensely appreciated if you would take just a few seconds of your time to please find the sexualassaultsurvivorstories page on Instagram and hit the follow button!! Thank you for being part of my audience, and please become a regular listener and subscriber! A positive rating would also be greatly appreciated! Please check out all this very important sites and links: Here are some important links I hope you will take the time to explore and subscribe to also: https://www.napanews.org/ https://markel-consulting.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/invisible-no-more-lady-veterans-stories-of-military/id1754061590 www.arcigrey.com https://startbybelieving.org https://safeinharmsway.org https://thejanbrobergfoundation.org #napanews #arcigrey #thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #janbroberg #safeinharmsway #epizonstrategy #intentionallyfearless #thelastimsorry #feelingsmall #sasspodcast #traumainformed #sexualassaultsurvivorstories #traumainformedexpert #sexassaultvictim #survivorsunite #rapevictim #sexualassaultsurvivorstories #podcast #markelconsulting #jessicapridelawfirm #awareness #boundaries #gettraumainformed #safeinharmsway #projectbeloved #saan #irishangel #crimevictimsassistancecenter #coloradoassociationofsexcrimeinvestigators #girlsfightback #outdoordefense #worthfightingfor #supportsurvivors #mysurvivorstory #confidence #violenceprevention #awareness #boundaries #empowerment #speaker #trainer #thejanbrobergshow #thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #internationalspeaker #genderequality #equality #selfdefense #selfdefence #safety #youreworthfightingfor #sassyselfdefenseguide #badassselfdefense #imworthfightingfor #vawa #ashforduniversity #amandacoleman #remembermolly #fightrapeculture #forcescience