A Step Toward Safety and Justice: My Restraining Order Has Been Extended

Today, I received news that brought with it both a sense of closure and renewed strength: the restraining order I had in place has officially been extended. This decision was based on the evidence submitted to the court and the undeniable severity of the abuse I endured over many years. For anyone who has ever felt voiceless, dismissed, or invisible in the face of manipulation or emotional harm — let this be a moment of hope. Your voice matters. Your truth matters.

This ruling is not just about protection — it’s a recognition of reality, of pain, of patterns that for too long were hidden behind closed doors. It’s an affirmation that what happened was not okay, and that no one, under any circumstance, has the right to hurt, control, belittle, or silence another person.

For years, I lived in a fog of fear and self-doubt — gaslighted into believing I was the problem, threatened into silence, and left carrying the weight of someone else’s cruelty. Like so many survivors, I feared I wouldn’t be believed. But I kept going. I sought support. I found professionals who listened. I documented the truth. I stood in court and allowed my story to be heard. And now, this restraining order — extended because of the clear and compelling evidence — is a marker of how far I’ve come.

This isn’t about revenge. It’s about boundaries, healing, and justice. It’s about protecting the space I’ve worked so hard to reclaim — a space where I now sleep peacefully, live truthfully, and love deeply without fear. It’s for my family, my grandchildren, and for every woman still trapped in a cycle of abuse, wondering if the system will ever stand by her.

If you’re reading this and you’re in the early stages of your own journey — please know: you are not alone. There is a path forward. There is life after abuse. There is joy, laughter, calm, and yes — justice. Sometimes the process is long and painful, but every small victory matters. Every boundary you set, every truth you speak, every step you take to protect yourself — they add up.

This decision today was one more piece of that puzzle.
And with it, I feel lighter. Safer. Seen.

Onward.
With strength,
With peace,
And with love for the woman I fought so hard to become.

— Linda C J Turner

Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment