'Family Ties' star Meredith Baxter alleges on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC) that she was the victim of domestic abuse by David Birney, her former husband and co-star of 'Bridget Loves Bernie.'

Baxter said she broke the cycle of mental and physical abuse after a period of intense introspection. "I'd been committed to being a victim for a long time because it felt really warm and comfortable and familiar, but it was a disastrous position to be in," she said. "I had to look at what was in my thinking that told me it was OK to be in this relationship."