Erin Molan suffered horrific violence at the hands of an ex-boyfriend ...

Erin Molan remembers vividly the harrowing violence she suffered at the hands of an ex-boyfriend.

The acclaimed Sky News and 2Day FM star was just a young woman starting out in her career when she found herself being physically and mentally hurt by the man.

Molan, the daughter of late Liberal Senator Jim Molan, endured various attacks, including having her head stomped on repeatedly amid her partner’s drunken rages, and even being dragged into a car by her hair.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

The radio star also had a bottle smashed over her head and a pillow put over her face so she couldn’t breathe — the moment she thought her life would end.

On Monday, Erin joined Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies on The Morning Show to discuss how Australia’s epidemic of male violence against women can be addressed.

Erin Molan appeared on The Morning Show on Monday, where she spoke of being the victim of domestic violence at the hands of an ex-boyfriend. Credit: Seven

“The one thing I think we’re not doing well enough; before men strike for the first time, they have urges. They have the urge to be violent. They can’t control their emotions,” Molan said.

“They get angry and it scares them generally. But they don’t do anything about it. We need to create a safe space where men who struggle with their emotions, who maybe had parents who were violent, who maybe had awful things happen to them.

“There is no excuse once you perpetrate, that’s it, full force of the law. But when you (men) start to have those feelings, they can’t talk to their mates about it because there’s so much stigma and shame.

“Let’s create a safe space and some kind of campaign where men, who start to struggle to control (their feelings), they might yell and go, ‘oh God, I feel awful’. (Then we can say) get help. You can get help.”

Molan reflected her on her own experience of violence, recalling an incident in which a friend witnessed abusive behaviour and reported it to police, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.

But at the time, Molan’s mindset was such that she ended up arguing with her friend.

“I saw it as her hurting me because he was arrested. He was charged. I wasn’t allowed to see him,” Molan said.

“They beat you down so much, when you’re in that situation physically, emotionally, mentally, that the only one who can then bring you out of it is your perpetrator.

“And that’s why this cycle is so toxic, because you’ve got nothing left. They come and put their arm around you, and you go, ‘oh, I’m safe again’. It’s too hard to explain (how twisted it becomes).”

Molan said her abuse led to feelings of intense shame.

“I’ve done so much advocacy in different spaces. Yet in my personal life, I was being subjected to something horrific and wasn’t strong enough to fight that,” Molan said.

“People have always said, ‘you’re so strong and this and that’ (but) I feel very vulnerable. I feel a bit embarrassed, I feel a bit ashamed.”

Molan said despite having a very supportive family, over the period of the abuse occurring, she would isolate herself.

“You hurt people without trying when you’re in that situation, you isolate away from people. You don’t see your family as much because it’s hard to hide the signs of abuse,” Molan said.

Molan said she chose to come forward years later to help other women.

“(If other women know) I’ve been there, (and it) makes someone feel a little bit less ashamed — because you feel ashamed, you feel like you’re too weak to fight it, or too weak to escape.

“I just thought, if I can share my story and one woman says, ‘You know what, I can do this. I can ask for help. I can get out and you can (too).’

“Then it’s worth doing.”

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

In an emergency, call 000.

Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491