Did anyone see the show today? I was in tears the entire time.

I was once in her shoes, so I know exactly where she is coming from. It's all very psychological, not to mention the abuse. It's a very real problem in our society. Thank God I found the courage to stand up for myself at an early stage of the abuse. I ended up coming out a pretty terrific person. Good for Oprah and anyone else who finds the courage to do what's right in these situations. Some of them aren't so lucky.

That man is obviously sick and vicious, thank God he's being locked away for life. What I don't understand is how or why this lady stayed for so long. In the US women have such strong community support when they are abused (as opposed to say Afghanistan where a woman is pretty much considerd a man's property or countries like India where there is such a stigma attached to divorce that many women prefer to suffer in silence rather than leave) that I really can't understand what took her so long. I think thta in such situations women have to take responsibility for their own well being, especially when there are children involved. While it's great that that guy has been locked up, the damage has already been done in a sense; it is more important to teach women to protect themselves from such abuse and get control over the situation before it escalates into such a horrible situation. We need to reach out for help at the first sign of abuse.

I usually don't watch the show, but I happened to see some of it. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They say that 25% of households or relationships in this country involve some form of this type of terror. I can't believe it. This type of behavior is beyond my comprehension. I am a male and I cannot believe that a guy could treat a woman like this. I wonder what took her so long to leave this guy? They had been in a relationship for like 25 years. I think the beatings had only started the last 2 or 3 years. Still, there must have been clues to this tyrant's behavior. It is really shocking to see this kind of thing. I felt bad for that woman and her kids. I don't understand how you can be with some one so long and it ends up like this. At least she escaped and is alive and her kids are ok for now.

I cried too as I watched this. I remember seeing my mom beaten by my dad and thinking why does she put up with this? As I got older, we talked about it and she finally was smart enough to get out. However, the damage had already been done. I am a different person now than I was then and I have never been in an abusive relationship as I won't tolerate it. However, my younger brother has been abusive to the women in his life and has never been able to hold a job or make anything out of his life. This woman was smart enough to get out too. She saved her life and her children's lives. I can not believe that he had the children so involved in the abuse. That should have made his sentence even longer!! He was abusing them as well by making them watch and participate.

I was also crying throughout the entrie show. It was so horrible to see that tape. I actually saw that same story somewhere a long time ago. I felt so sorry for the kids and what they are going to have to deal with later in life. And the part where the woman's boss talked about what she saw just really got to me. It was a very powerful show. My mother was also watching it, but had to turn it off in the first 15 minutes. She has has experience with domestic abuse (16 years ago) and it still affected her to watch that poor lady and what she had to endure living with that disgusting pig of a man!

I am sad to say I only caught half of the show yesterday. It was tough to distract them from spongebob enough to watch Oprah. I missed the tape of the beating, and I am kinda glad. My heart goes out to those women. I couldn't bear to watch that and sit by helplessly. I can totally understand and relate in a way to why women in those situations return. I am not and have not been in a physically abusive relationship. But I know first hand the other kinds of abuses out there. It is really hard to get it unless you have experienced it. Its not for lack of wanting a better life for yourself and kids. Sometimes it is all one knows. And if there is no nonjudgemental support system I think every abused would go back to the abuser. There is som much involved than to just pick up and run for the hills when something like this happens. I hope more women can be inspired through that womans story.I wish there were more that I could personally do. I hope her life is in a better place now. Especially the kids. They are the bigger victim. Imagine how many kids that have experienced or witnessed abuse will go on to be screwed up in life because of it. It is so sad.

I watched that one also. It made me cry as well. I have been in her shoes. I however only went through it for 5 years. With two different men. The first was a 4 year relationship, then, immediately after, the next man I was with for only 6 months before he went to prison. Then, like a stupid something or other, I fell back into the first relationship, believing that he had changed and that he loved me. The same thing happened, only worse than ever before! I ran from it because of my daughter. If I had not had my daughter, Im sad to say but I probably would have never been able to get away from it. But, because of my daughter, my family took us back in. I then got an emergency restraining order protecting myself and my daugher. I definately feel for this woman.

I heard part of this show between storm warnings this afternoon, thanks for posting the rest. I find it interesting that we have your discussion and one other about wife beaters today. It is good that we are conscious of it. I felt like what I heard on Oprah was very good as far as how to help someone get away for an abuser.

Im sorry I missed that show. Im always watching Oprah too. And I missed that one. It sounds like the creep got what he deserved. Yea right he had demands all right! I dont think so.... Personally I think they should have given him a longer time in prison dont you? These poor women that get beat I feel so sorry for them. If I could help them I would. In a heart beat.

I thought is very heartbreaking. I only hope women who are in that situation have learned you do not stay because of the children, they suffer as well as the mother. Thank heavens I never had to ever face physical abuse. I have never even been spanked as a child. I do know if anyone ever lifted a hand to me they would never get the chance to do it again.

I did not watch the show but this women is brave to come on national television to tell her story. Brovo to her. I think if more and more women come out with this type of story then maybe it will help more and more women. I am sure the women on Oprah said I am telling you my story so I can maybe help someone. I hope she got counseling for herself and her children. The kids need to help to get over the tramma they suffered from watching and hearing what their father did to their mother. Once again Brovo to the women who got up on Oprah and told her story