*Please note that this event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation. We are currently planning another event for families with young children for later in the year, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and Events page for updated information! *
HRI was partnering with several local organizations for this event, many of which provide resources to families in face-to-face and online contexts. You can learn more about resources for families with young children in Guilford County by visiting our partners’ websites below:
We were planning on having several exhibits available at each resource fair to share information about how Guilford County supports families with young children. Instead, you can learn more about each of our exhibitors below:
A strong and positive support system is an important part of healing from domestic violence. Surrounding yourself with people who lift you up and stand by your side can help you as you move through your journey of recovery. After leaving an abusive relationship, it can be difficult to trust others and build relationships, especially if your abuser isolated you from social connections. Asking for help can feel scary and vulnerable, and it may take some time for you to feel safe enough to express that vulnerability and reach out for support. Be patient with yourself as you learn to trust others and work toward building a support system.
Friends and family members can be a source of emotional support to survivors by listening to their concerns and struggles, while providing encouragement, kindness, and love. Loved ones can also help connect survivors to community resources and assist them with transportation, shelter, and other resources, if possible. While friends and family members can provide tremendous support for survivors, this may not always be an option due to potential barriers, such as distance, lack of transportation or other resources, or lack of understanding. Know that if this is true for you, there are always other people and agencies you want to help.
There are many formal supports available for survivors such as counselors or mental health professionals, support groups, domestic violence shelters, and medical professionals. These forms of support can help survivors connect to resources, find community and belonging, and navigate their journey of healing.
Counselors and other mental health professionals can help survivors process their trauma and emotions, develop coping skills, rebuild trust, and identify goals for their recovery and the future. Domestic violence support groups provide a community of understanding and can help survivors feel a sense of belonging. Sharing your experiencing and being surrounded by others who have experienced similar situations can help you feel less isolated. Support groups can also help survivors feel validated and empowered during their journey of healing. Medical professionals can also help survivors connect to resources and supports within their community, while providing medical care after incidents of abuse or violence. Finally, domestic violence shelters can provide many forms of support for survivors of domestic violence as they are leaving their abusers and beginning to re-establish their lives. Shelters often have case managers, who can help survivors find housing, apply for employment, and connect to legal aid and mental health resources.
If you are a survivor of domestic violence or know someone who is, consider reaching out to the resources and supports within your community. Below are some resources to help you identify the services and supports available for domestic violence survivors in your community.
https://www.domesticshelters.org This website identifies domestic violence/emergency shelters and agencies within and near your community.
The Family Justice Center in Greensboro and High Point offers shelter placement, safety planning, assistance with filing emergency protective orders (50Bs), advocacy and support for both adults and children, medical care, legal assistance, mental health services, criminal investigation services, and emergency needs and support services.
Family Service of the Piedmont offers emergency shelter, court advocacy (including assistance with filing 50Bs), mental health services, support groups, case management, and a 24 hour crisis line.
In abusive relationships, there is an unhealthy and unfair dynamic of power and control, where the abuser uses a variety of tactics and “put-downs” to lower victims’ self-esteem and confidence. Many abusers engage in gaslighting, or using psychological manipulation that causes victims to question their sanity and doubt their own thoughts and feelings. These abusive patterns can lead to self-doubt, decreased self-confidence, and difficulty trusting oneself and others.
Living through manipulation and abuse can lead to negative beliefs about the self and the world, as well as a loss of identity. When you are constantly being put down through insults, manipulation, and emotional/verbal abuse, you my begin to believe the messages you are hearing. After leaving an abusive relationship, these messages may still be salient and play a role in your perception of yourself and the world. It is important to remember that you have the right to challenge these thoughts and rediscover who you are.
As you engage in your journey of healing and rediscovery, give yourself permission to recognize and challenge negative thinking patterns. When you recognize a negative thought or notice negative self talk, take a moment to pause and reflect. Ask yourself, “Would I say this to a friend or family member I love and care about?” The answer is likely no. You deserve to be treated with the same love and respect that you show those you care about. Be kind and gentle with yourself. If you notice yourself engaging in negative self-talk, don’t beat yourself up for having these thoughts. Instead, be kind and compassionate with yourself and challenge the negative messages.
It is also important to remember that you are worthy of self-love. You have showcased immense amounts of bravery, strength, and courage through your journey of survival and recovery. Honor the progress you have made by thanking yourself and engaging in self-love. Be mindful of your inner voice and the language you use when speaking to yourself. Choose kind and compassionate words and engage in positive self-talk. You are capable of recovery and deserve to give yourself the time and space to grow and rediscover who you are!
Domestic violence often has far-reaching effects and can impact survivors long after the abuse has ended. Years of physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, and/or financial abuse can break-down survivors’ self-esteem, lower self-efficacy, result in physical injuries, and lead to mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Survivors and victims of domestic violence showcase tremendous strength, resiliency, and courage while living through the abuse, as well as during the recovery process after the relationship ends. Healing from the trauma of domestic violence looks different for each survivor and takes time, patience, and self-compassion.
If you are a survivor of domestic violence, know that you are strong, capable, and resilient. Though the road ahead may not always be smooth, there is hope and recovery is possible! You have already shown so much courage, bravery, and strength, and these inner qualities are with you as you work toward healing and begin to rebuild your life.
In honor of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we will be sharing information to help survivors of domestic violence as they heal and recover from past abuse. This information is also important for friends and family members of survivors, as well as the general public, to understand. We hope that, by sharing tips to aid in healing and recovery, we can promote greater understanding of the effects of DV and build a culture of compassion and support among survivors, supporters, and the community.
Pay attention to the people you love. When you spend quality time with them and are mindful about staying in the present moment, you can develop deep and meaningful connections.
Strive for healthy communication in your relationships! When you aim for healthy communication, you establish mutual respect and understanding, leading to stronger, more intimate connections with your loved ones.
Vulnerability allows for deeper connection and intimacy within our relationships. To develop a deeper bond with those we love, we must open ourselves up to vulnerability.
An important part of engaging in healthy communication is understanding and processing your emotions. When you are able to regulate your emotions, you can convey your thoughts and feelings calmly and clearly.
Each family is unique and built differently. Family can be related to us or chosen, and we may find family in unexpected places. Regardless of what our family looks like or where we find our family, it is important to put care into our relationships. Take time to focus on your relationships and strengthen your family!
