As an advocate for people over the years who have been in challenging situations, I’d like to share some thoughts as we recognize October being National Awareness Month for Domestic Violence.

As most of our stress levels will start to increase with the beginning of the holiday season, it is a good time to pause and perhaps slow down to do a personal check in. When everyday life and its circumstances cause anxiety and chaos in our being, we can remember to choose kindness, let go of minor offensives, think the best of others, and choose compassion.

When dealing with domestic violence if only taking the high road was enough…

• Step 1-Becoming educated on domestic violence and the inner workings of patterns, cycles and the damage it wreaks on the victim and family unit can be a good first step.  Knowledge is the beginning of stepping into the reality of our situation.  I believe most of us are living in a certain amount of denial to continue living with domestic abuse.  It is painful that the one we love (and who is supposed to love us) is harming us and our family-too painful to fully admit.
• Step 2-Getting emotional support is another healthy step as we start to unpack and sort what has been accruing at home.    A woman’s clinic or domestic violence support group are trusted areas to access this support.   These places have tools and resources for you.  Knowing your options as you navigate through this very difficult time will help equip you for further steps.

A important thing to remember is to give yourself grace as you walk through this process.  Uncertainty and fear are some of the feelings you might be experiencing.  It can take time to be clear on what you want and how to make a plan to move forward in a way that brings safety and peace.

If you are involved in a domestic violence situation, please consider these words because YOU MATTER….   Yes, your life matters very much!

We are here to help, just let us know.