She now believes that the man she called her soulmate was a sociopath.
Sociopaths, or psychopaths as they are also known, live and breathe among us. They look normal and they sound normal.
Typically they come across as being charming, charismatic and the life and soul of the party.
But underneath the mask they are predators, searching for people and situations that will give them their next 'hit' whatever that might be - money, status, sex, a façade of credibility.
They see other people as nothing more than providers, who usually don't notice what they're doing until it's too late.
Leaving trails of chaos, confusion and destruction behind them, they'll simply move straight on to their next willing target without even a backwards glance.
When Mel discovered the truth about the man she called her soulmate, she pulled on all her life experiences to fight her way back to life and to ultimate victory.
Here she shares her journey with candid and often brutal honesty in the hope that she can help others recognise and escape the clutches of emotional abuse.
"When my world collapsed the last time around, I doubted that I would have the strength to pull myself through.
A good friend of mine told me to 'write it out' and I found that blogging provided an online diary where I could record my thoughts and keep a track of what was happening.
I began receiving some incredibly encouraging messages, saying that my writing was inspiring and that I should share it with others. More than one person suggested I should make it in to a book - and that was the start of creating I'm Still Standing," says Mel.
Mel Carnegie is straight talking, challenging and committed to being the best that she can be.
She is the founder of a successful leadership development company. She is also a survivor.
Her experiences have all played a part in strengthening her spirit, making her determined to share her story so that it may help others.