Actress Abigail Breslin shared that she is a domestic violence survivor in an October 15 Instagram post.

The My Sister’s Keeper star gave a trigger warning for her fans and explained that she felt compelled to tell some of her story in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“I was in an abusive relationship for close to 2 years,” Breslin wrote. “It all started out perfectly, I was so in love. Unfortunately, my abuser took advantage of my innocence and naïveté and the relationship subsequently became violent.”

The actress opened up about how she “was beaten on a regular basis, locked into rooms and forced to pretend everything was ok and normal while dealing with intense injuries… injuries most people didn’t even see.”

Breslin recalled using products like concealer and foundation to “hide any and all bruises” because she “in some way… still cared for this person.”

She added that the physical abuse came with “put-downs, shaming and harsh verbal abuse.”

“I felt so unworthy of anyone’s love. I felt ugly and hated. I felt like I deserved less than dirt,” she shared in the vulnerable post. “I was certain there must be something inherently WRONG with ME.”

The 26-year-old remembered being convinced that she was the problem because of her overwhelming self-hating thoughts at the time. “That I was a b-tch… stupid, useless, ridiculous, overly sensitive, unreasonable and unlovable,” Breslin explained. She called the two years of that relationship “the loneliest I have ever felt.”

Breslin thanked her family and friends for all their vital support throughout the difficult period, and for helping her leave the relationship.

Thankfully, the actress seems to be far along in her healing journey these days. She described her current relationship with her fiancé as “wonderful, healthy, happy and amazing.”

Breslin also shared that though she still has triggers and nightmares sometimes, her Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is significantly better now than it was right after her relationship.

“I am still healing,” she emphasized.

Breslin acknowledged that “the aftermath of abuse is a complicated and individual experience,” and she urged fans to seek help if they need it. “You CAN survive leaving if you have the right tools and support,” she wrote.

If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic abuse, you can call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

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