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Vanessa’s Story
Hi. My name is Vanessa, and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. Here’s the reason I’m writing this—my abuser was over 1,000 miles away
My Survivor Story
My mother was abusive, and I replaced her in marriage. She followed me across the country and made good friends with my ex-husband, who drinks
A Guide to Becoming a Thankful Survivor
I have spent years of my life in turmoil, confusion, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and many other negative emotional states, but when I look back over time and through my healing process, I am grateful for numerous aspects of my journey.
My Own Holiday of Hope
I walked into that Christmas party on December 13, 2018, with both excitement and shame. My old co-workers from Get A Grip Total Fitness reached out and invited my kids and me to attend. They knew that we were going through a hard time, so I was honored that they wanted us to just experience a night of fun and laughter. Boy, did I need it. I was excited to see everyone, yet, full of shame knowing that my life circumstances were far from what they were when I was working there and hiding the abuse that I was enduring.
Better Health Through Giving
… it is important to remember that giving isn’t just about packages that can be wrapped and put under a tree for loved ones. Giving can be even more emotionally satisfying when it helps people we don’t know. When we give to someone who is truly in need, we get the biggest reactions and make the biggest impacts.
The Forgotten: How the Gabby Petito Case Highlighted Many Unresolved Missing Persons Cases
According to the FBI (2021), in the year 2020, there were 543,018 missing person records entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). By the end of the year, there was still a staggering 89,637 unsolved cases. Although white people tend to report the most missing people, not too far behind are black people, and yet, many are never seen in the media. Another shocking fact is that The University of Wyoming stated in the area where Gabby’s body was found, 710 Indigenous people were reported missing between the years 2011 and 2020 (Robertson, 2021). As much as Gabby was worth searching for, the question that many are asking is why aren’t these lives considered just as important as hers?
Looking For A Sign
By Rick Dougherty Social media has been a blessing and a curse for those of us who try to battle violence against women. Facebook, Twitter,
Medicine for the Soul: How giving can heal the broken pieces of a survivor’s heart
Your gift of giving as a survivor of domestic violence isn’t just beneficial to many, but it’s also healing to a wounded heart that deserves to be mended.
What I Learned (and Had to Unlearn) from Witnessing Financial Abuse
Even the women in his family didn’t think women should be treated equally. When I later married, they mocked my wife for not taking my last name. This didn’t come from the men in the family. It came from the women. The patriarchal family structure was comforting to all of them, as a protection from a scary world. Even if that structure suppressed them, it provided a feeling of safety.
Abuse or Homelessness: A Horrifying Decision for Many Victims of Domestic Violence
There came a point where the abuse was getting more and more dangerous. One night, in particular, I escaped and drove to a parking lot up the road. A few of my friends had encouraged me to call a domestic violence shelter. I was very hesitant because I didn’t want my kids to have to experience that if I can be honest, but it came to a point where they experiencing my abuse was far more damaging in my eyes. I took a deep breath and called. To my absolute shock and dismay, they told me that they were full and couldn’t take us.
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