In Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Avoid 'Venomous Relationships'

Thousands of women are trapped in venomous, abusive relationships, where their partner verbally belittles them. They're made to feel worthless and alone, isolated from their friends, told they're unlovable and living under a constant barrage of verbal abuse.

"Venomous Relationships: Learn How to Avoid Common Relationship Bloopers" by Certified Life Coach and abuse survivor, Tamara Neal, exposes the most common, but often unrecognized, abusive relationships -- those where one partner emotionally manipulates and verbally abuses the other. Through all-too-real examples, Neal helps readers identify emotional abuse and makes practical suggestions for moving on, healing, and entering into new, loving relationships.

Neal wrote "Venomous Relationships" in the style of a heart-to-heart coffee shop conversation with a good friend, one who's willing to help confront the pain and loss of self-worth associated with emotional abuse. With love and honesty, she reminds us of the inner strength and self-confidence we already possess -- and the need to reclaim our lives.

"I wrote 'Venomous Relationships' to prevent other women from facing the common, silent relationship heartbreak I've not only seen happen to many of my friends, family, and acquaintances but have also experienced myself," said Neal. "It's often very difficult for a woman to admit she's being abused, particularly if she's competent and successful in other areas of her life. I needed to find a way to get the attention of women suffering from the silent trauma of abuse and hope my book provides them the wake-up call they need."

"Venomous Relationships" takes a direct approach and skips the jargon, with each chapter including:
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� A Scenario of a venomous relationship filled will all of the trauma and drama, some parts of which are hard to swallow -- a reality check always is.

� A Let's Talk section, written like a coffee-shop chat about the scenario. Many women who suffer from abuse don't have girlfriends because they've been isolated from the world by design. It's OK; you have a girlfriend now.

� A Conclusion section, a review of the venomous relationship from the chapter, identifying its telltale traits and discussing the red flags in the abusive person that his partner missed when she first met him. It also addresses how to release anger and heal the damage so she can avoid repeating the pattern.

� A Today I will Release and Let Go page at the end of each chapter. This page is for the reader to document some of what they may already know but have refused to acknowledge.

Neal continues, "Throughout 'Venomous Relationships,' I show the reader that there's only one person they can and should change, and that's themselves. If you keep an open mind and a strong desire to acknowledge the role you've played in toxic relationships, you'll be able to heal and ultimately learn how to love someone else, but more importantly, love yourself."

Tamara Neal is a Certified Domestic Relationship coach, domestic violence advocate, and the owner and founder of a full-service residential adult assisted living center. Neal learned to trust her instincts while employed as an emergency communication technician for the Baltimore County 911 Center.