There are so many of us, so many. I believe the more we talk about it, the easier it will be for people to hear, the easier it is for people to hear, the more likely we are to really get something done about it.
There are so many victims, and the overlap between victims and abusers, though present as abuser seeks victim after victim, isn’t vast. There are so many surviving abuse not because there are a select few abusers traveling the world terrorizing victims, but because there are so many abusers around the world seeking the pleasure of power by dominating a victim.
Domestic Violence Awareness covers so much. It’s making society aware it happens. It’s making victims aware they are not alone. It’s making abusers aware they can’t hide behind closed-doors any more. The silence has ended.
There are writers writing about abuse in its various forms and bringing awareness every day:
- A New Free Life
- Behind The Mask of Abuse
- Fish of Gold
- I’m Still Me, Only Stronger
- I Survived a Murder Attack, My Family Didn’t
- I Won’t Take It
- Knocked Over By a Feather
- Lady With a Truck
- Looking Forward
- Married To an Alcoholic
- Paula’s Pontifications
Deliberate Donkey 
Personally, I found it difficult to trust myself, and what I knew was abuse, when my close friend defended him and what he was doing. I remember talking to my best friend and I said, “This was abuse. I was in an abusive relationship. I had no idea.” It took a lot for me to not only admit that to myself, but it was terrifying to say it out loud to another person. She then told me, “I don’t really think he was abusive.”
Its hard to realize what you’d been living in, and to believe what you’ve endured wasn’t your fault, but the product of intentional crazy making. Its even harder when people who are supposed to support you just don’t understand. I found it very difficult to continue to work through accepting it, and moving past it when even my own best friend was making me doubt myself. The good news is that I realized I needed a support system. I also was able to realize that its not my job to change her mind, or to convince her that I was worthy of her support. I found a new support system. I found new people who understand that abuse isn’t just about being smacked around.
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Aw, thanks for the shout out, Melanie. Here’s hoping it does some good.
Anytime! I think it does do good. Every little bit helps.
Thank you Mel for the mention. Reading the list reminds me that we are not alone and many are speaking out. It has to make a difference! xo
It does make a difference. Thank you for talking about it.
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Thanks for the mention Melanie, you are right; awareness is the only way to change things. Not only to educate the victims so they can avoid abuse or leave an abusive relationship but for all of society so when someone comes to them and says I am being abused they are believed and supported. There is nothing worse than finally admitting to yourself you are being abused but then to be blamed or not believed by the people around you is devastating and often results in the victim staying or going back and every time they go back the abuse is worse.
People need to be told abuse does not always leave physical evidence and emotional abuse and financial abuse often leaves scars so deep they never heal. “just leave” , “get over it and be happy he’s gone”, “you must have done something to make him that way”, “you are co-dependent and attract these people” are not phrases that help the victim; people have to stop blaming the victim and put the blaming where it belongs.
Together we will break the silence and save lives.
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Thank you so much, Melanie. Alone, we whisper. Together, we ROAR!
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YES! Keep on going girl!
All of us who can talk should keep talking. 🙂
Melanie, thank you for mentioning my blog and providing the abused resources. Many domestic violence programs can offer a wealth of resources to help women to get out and stay out.
Of course. Thank you for talking.
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Glad I found your blog. I look forward to reading more. I am an incest survivor/advocate, an adult child of an alcoholic, and a survivor of domestic violence as a child. I use my blog Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker to speak out and to be an advocate for incest survivors.
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