It can be easy to dismiss abuse when it is not physical. Yet, in the work that I do, I know that emotional and verbal abuse can be far more destructive than the physical hit …
Black and Blue on the Inside
While that may be hard for someone who has never faced domestic violence to understand, if you listen to a survivor, most will say, it was the sabotage of their self-esteem and self-worth that left the deepest scars.
As we focus on mental health in May, I want to encourage each of us to take time to truly look at others around you and how they are living. Is there someone in your life who might be struggling with their significant other, yet, because it hasn’t risen to the level of physical abuse, they aren’t reaching out?
If so, know that Hands of Hope has resources specifically for them. We have a therapist trained in trauma just a phone call away for no cost. We also have a weekly support group called Safe Connections where anyone can come and learn more about living a life free from any form of violence.
I will never forget the woman who told me she wished her abuser would just hit her, so she could show someone a black and blue eye or a broken bone. For her the emotional trauma she was suffering from on a daily basis left her black and blue on the inside and she didn’t know how to get anyone to hear her.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, now is the time to reach out, to let us be that place where you can begin to heal and live a life free of any form of abuse. Call Hands of Hope, any time, at 765-664-0701.
