Hi, I feel in a similar situation to you. I honestly believe unless you’ve been in some sort of situation yourself it’s difficult to explain to anyone how you truely felt. Friends are amazing though and hopefully if they are true friends they will support you regardless. Stay strong but also try talking to them anyway and just be honest. Talking can be hard and from my situation I still am embarrassed that I let it continue for so long which makes it hard for people to believe what my ex was like because I tried for years to protect him, make excuses for things he said and done and now it’s hard to tell the truth because friends seen him as a nice person but it was all just a show.
Stay strong though and I advise getting some counselling if you can as they help you to build up a little self confidence and help you to know how to explain things to people around you. Leaving an abusive relationship is hard! (After leaving abuse you really do look at things differently) But proud of you for surviving and gaining the strength to leave.
Stay strong and just be honest with your friends, you don’t need to hide it anymore you deserve happiness.
Take care.
