Domestic Abuse Awareness

62% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed.

2 million people suffer from domestic abuse each year.

85% of victims sought help an average of 5 times before stopping the abuse

October is domestic abuse awareness month, a topic which is very important to me and so many people. Domestic violence can effect people in so many ways. Which is why raising awareness is so critical. Although there is help out there, so much more needs to be done to support this area.

The main areas include physical abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse. But under those headings hold a much deeper story.

An area I want to focus on is emotional abuse. This is a problem which is so much bigger. The scars of emotional abuse can be left untreated for so long and sometimes will never heal. At it’s the aftermath which hits harder at times being in the abusive situation.

The healing process is difficult. Extremely difficult which people massively underestimate. Thinking that being out the situation is “better”. And it will be – in the long run. You just have to get over those hurdles first.

Unlike a physical wound, your mental wound cannot be seen. But if your body showed that wound physically you would treat yourself with more care. For example….. you have a broken leg. You develop into not putting weight onto it because you want it to get better, you don’t want to hurt yourself. You want it to heal as quick as you can. You elevate it at night, you take pain relief when it hurts. You take care of it. Why? Because it’s there, physically you can see it. Where as the cut in your mind is hidden. But you want to move on. So you put that pressure on. More and more, weighing it down heavier. It doesn’t “hurt”. But deep down it does. And that damage is so powerful. It will control you. Overrun you. And your broken, with everything becoming overwhelming. Everything becomes harder and you become weaker.

Which is why spotting the signs of domestic abuse is so important and more help needs to be available. Because I don’t want no one to fall back because of the lack of help and support.

It’s important to understand that you don’t have to be in the relationship to be effected by a domestic relationship. The pain comes in many different ways and forms.

I promise you that it will get better. I’m a survivor. X