Interview with Karleh
Karleh Wilson grew up in a small town where women’s value and success is measured through their marriage. Coming from a small town and studying at Yale University, she became exposed to many things and interesting people. Still, her upbringing impacted her decisions on relationships and got into one fairly quickly after college. She got pregnant after a year and a half into their relationship and things started to change.
The beginning of hostility
Her partner started to act hostile towards her and started looking for problems.
He wasn’t the same guy that Karleh met then. From a gentle and kind man, he turned into somebody else that Karleh doesn’t know.
It was emotionally and financially draining for her.
She didn’t feel valued and she felt tired all the time. Still, her partner continued to be emotionally abusive. She was completely isolated.
He cheated on Karleh with another woman and instead of letting Karleh talk to the other woman, he beat her up and abused her.
They were fighting all the time and that’s not the kind of family that she wants for her daughter.
The journey to healing
Karleh started evaluating herself and figured out what her purpose in life really is.
Looking back at their previous relationship, she realized that she was no longer the person she’s supposed to be.
With all the challenges she faced, she decided to move to Louisiana and make a new start for her and her daughter.
The voice in her head tells her that it was the best she was going to get. It was so convincing and eventually, she believed it.
She left after the first physical attack. It was due to the therapy she was getting at the moment.
Karleh is feeling better now and she’s starting to realize and learn not to punish herself. She’s now taking chances with other people.
A new man in her life made her appreciate herself. He helped her and validated her. Unfortunately, she lost him last May after being in a relationship for eight months.
She’s now trying to get her head into space where she can start going out there and start dating again.
She also started journaling her experience and ended up writing a book entitled Overcoming Intimate Partner Violence
She’s now working, writing out music, and putting it out there.
As women, it is important to educate ourselves and others about relationships and how it should be. We should learn that not everything in a relationship is our fault.
Episode Resources
Check out Karleh’s book Overcoming Intimate Partner Violence
You can also follow Karleh Wilson on Instagram
Follow Miki Sturges on LinkedIn.
Check out Miki’s Facebook page and join her growing community, Rise Up Women Movement