Barack Obama declares October as National domestic violence awareness month.
For the past couple of months I have been the worst blogger ever. I guess it has been a combination of feeling horrible all the time and not really having anything interesting to share. This may not seem that interesting to you, but this is something that I am passionate about. For almost the past year I have been volunteering on a weekly basis at a local shelter for women and children who have experienced any form of domestic violence including: physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. During that time I have met people who have been through some of the MOST HORRIFIC things I have ever heard, I have seen victims break the cycle of abuse, and I have met some of the most amazing people. It has been such a rewarding experience for me. I have come to understand more and open my eyes to abuse. Domestic violence will affect 25% of American women in some way throughout their lives. That means that about 1 in every 4 women you encounter will at some point experience a serious form of abuse. This breaks my heart! 50% of all children in a home where a mother is being abused will also suffer from abuse. Abuse is found in every social class, race, religion, etc... No group of people are exempt.
I commend Barack Obama for bringing attention to this matter. This is a serious and ongoing problem, but there is hope! We can all do our part to SEE and STOP abuse. We can also research the laws surrounding abuse in our communities and do our part to let our government leaders know how we feel about it. If you know someone who is suffering from abuse please let them know that there is help out there. There are programs that will give a woman and her children a place to live, food to eat, and give the woman resources to help her get on and stay on her feet financially and emotionally. Even if we are not the ones being abused we are all affected by it in one way or another. Let's try to break this cycle, even if it is only one victim at a time!
Here is a link to the official declaration: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office
/Presidential-Proclamation-National-Domestic-Violence-Awareness-Month/
For some more disturbing statistics about domestic violence check this out: http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National).pdf
4 comments:
Thank you for sharing this! I didn't know that President Obama did this until I saw it here. I want to commend you for the work that you do to help these women and children. I'm sure it helps you to appreciate Connor that much more!
I have known so many people, children, women, and even men, who have been the victims of domestic violence, it's really great that it's getting national attention. There's really NO reason that it should happen. There's no excuse for it. Thank you for making us all more aware!
Yeah- thank you for posting this. I agree this is an important issue we need to be aware of and help to end. Thank you for all the work that you do for this cause. Keep up the good work Sis! Love ya tons!
I am so glad you posted this. During the last two years of my life, I became one of the statistics of abuse. I had no idea what it could do to you, or your life. I had no idea how it could confuse you. I hope people who have not experienced it will start to understand that the cycle of abuse itself leaves the abused one confused and not trusting their own instincts. This is why when people say, "she should just leave him," they don't understand that part of abuse is that the person is being brainwashed, and controlled. It's very hard to sort out what is happening to you while it is happening, and leaving is not nearly as easy as anyone thinks, as abusers are almost always masters at manipulation and fear tactics. I used to think the same thing about abused women: "why don't they just leave?". Now I understand.
I know that if the stats are this high, many will read these comments in silence. It can be frightening to talk about it to anyone, because you think your abuser could find out. Also, it can feel extremely embarassing and humiliating and scary to make such a change, and you may feel so very alone, low, and so beaten down, that you feel you can't do it. You CAN. Read about it and compare the symptoms of abuse to your life. Read the stats. Educate yourself and find someone you can trust to help you. Be silent about any changes you plan to make, but make a plan, stick to that plan, and stay strong. Abusers will promise you anything and everything to keep you from leaving, and they can be very charming when they think they may lose control of you - but 5% of abusers actually change. 5%!!!
As well, most women leave their abusers 7 times before making their change 'final'. It took me 3 times of leaving to make the change permanent.
If you think you may be abused, but you are not sure, simply google 'abuse symtoms' or 'domestic violence'. You will find many things to help direct your mind through the confusion. That is how I finally realzed what was happening to me, though to everyone else it was as plain as day. You are NOT crazy. Listen to your instincts. Be brave. Read about ways to get out. Make a plan. Stick to it. STICK TO IT. You may have to put aside what is your natural inclination to be tenderhearted. The mind is a funny thing; you can easily sabotage yourself. But living in a world of fear is not right, and you deserve to feel safe, and to be treated with respect and love. You can change this. You MUST take the first step though.
If writing this helps even one person (I don't mean just women, I know men who are abused also) then it will be worth it for me to have shared part of this experience. I hope that God let me experience it for this reason - so I can help others. I hope that anyone who reads this will feel free to write me and know that ANYTHING they write to me will be kept absolutely safe and confidential. Reach out to others though. You will need that to help you.
Praying for all those who endure this. You can change your life. Believe it, and take the steps you need to change your life. You CAN do it.
Thanks for posting that Sarah!
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