Abigail Breslin talks about surviving an abusive relationship

Abigail Breslin talks about surviving an abusive relationship

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a fact that recently prompted Abigail Breslin to share her own experiences as a survivor of an abusive relationship. (Read more: 6 strong women speak out about domestic violence)

In an Instagram post, Breslin shared a trigger warning to warn people who may be affected by discussions of domestic violence and sexual assault. Then the actress did something incredibly brave: she told her own story.

“I was in a very abusive relationship for almost two years,” the 26-year-old writes. "It all started perfectly, I was so in love. Unfortunately, my abuser took advantage of my innocence and naivety and the relationship subsequently turned violent."

Breslin was "regularly beaten, locked in rooms, and forced to pretend everything was fine and normal while she struggled with severe injuries...injuries that most people didn't even see," she continues. The actress began relying on concealer to cover up her bruises and felt "ugly and hated" due to the abuse, according to her post. “I was sure there was something wrong with ME.”

Now Breslin is on the road to healing. She credits her friends and family with helping her leave her abuser and speaks out for others who are in abusive relationships. “If you are currently in an abusive relationship, you CAN get out,” she writes. “I know it seems impossible and scary, but you have survived so much and you CAN survive if you have the right tools and support.”

Breslin also advises that anyone dealing with domestic violence – or who knows someone who is being abused – contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day and can be reached at 1-800-799-7233.

According to NCADV, nearly 20 people in the United States are physically abused by an intimate partner every minute. One in four women and one in nine men experience serious physical violence from intimate partners, sexual violence or stalking, the organization reports. This can lead to issues like post-traumatic stress disorder — something Breslin experienced after her own abusive relationship, she shares in her recent Instagram post.

Gabrielle Union spoke about dealing with PTSD and anxiety

These statistics are staggering – and they show the importance of increased awareness, improved access to resources, and greater cultural understanding of what domestic violence can look like. Domestic Violence Awareness Month has only been around since 1987, and there is still a long way to go to provide resources for domestic violence survivors and prevent abuse in the first place.

Right now, stories like Breslin's are going a long way toward facilitating important conversations about this topic and giving others access to resources that can help them. And if Breslin's story is any indication, healing after domestic violence is possible — although it can take time.

“I now have a wonderful, healthy, happy and amazing relationship with my fiancé,” Breslin writes. "My C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) is much better than it was in the first two to three years after my abusive relationship, but I still have moments. I still have occasional nightmares and certain things still trigger me. I'm still healing," she continues. "The aftermath of abuse is a complicated and individual experience. I hope that sharing my story will help at least some people feel a little less alone."

It seems Breslin's honesty is already sparking positive conversations. In the days since she shared her story, Breslin's post has been flooded with likes and comments from people adding their support and thanking her for opening up about her experience.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.