Speak Up. Stand Tall.

I decided today it was time to jump back to the myth-busting with a subject that has always been heavy on my mind. One serious problem that victims of abuse go through is an odd one-- people who act like they know more about the situation of abuse than the victim themselves. While this might seem crazy, it's a common occurrence that usually adds up to statements such as " He isn't that kind of person ." A lot of people seem to think that an abuser has to have some sort of noticeable problem in public, in front of the rest of the world, in order to be so hateful and abusive in private. This myth, in my opinion, encompasses many different myths I have found between sources such as  "Intimate" Violence Against Women: When Spouses, Partners, and Lovers Attack, NewHopeForWomen.org, and the website for Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. I plan to cover all of these in order to provide more clarity, both to those who struggle in trying to be und

I think that going to a counselor was one of the best things I did after exiting the abusive relationship I was involved in. It wasn't something I had really considered, and I am not sure if it was something I would have gone to without being pushed. After something such as an abusive relationship, it's hard to figure out exactly what to do. I had kept so many things to myself, both out of shame and fear. I would never have thought to go tell all of what I felt to someone I didn't know. Moreover, I wasn't exactly in the headspace to make good decisions. I was in a spiral. I honestly don't remember much of the time directly after ending my relationship, but I do remember the first day I went to see my first counselor. I had a sort of block class-- meaning it was two separate classes that fit together with the same teacher. I had missed the first of them, having hidden in the courtyard of the science building to cry. I did come to the second part though. I didn

On May 3rd, I got the incredible opportunity to speak to the teens at the public library on the subject of teen dating abuse! This is the second time I was able to speak there, the first time being with tweens about toxic friendships in April. I am so happy to live in a community where people are open to speaking about these issues, where they are open to letting young people learn about the possibilities out in the world and the challenges they might face. The library meeting went incredibly well! Even with a small crowd, I feel like hearts were touched and ears were open. Even though the girls were a bit shy in asking questions, the moderator for my presentation was able to guide such things, allowing me to grow in knowing what I might want to add in for next time. Currently, my program involves three parts:  Awareness, Prevention, & Support . However, I really want to broaden support to talk about  support systems  as well as add a section on  Recovery  and  Speaking Up . These

Recovery from abuse is something that takes time, and it is a difficult process especially when dealing with emotional trauma. There are some wounds deeper than others, some that take longer to heal, and when it comes to emotional abuse, invisible scars can be left on your heart. I know coming out of my abusive relationship at eighteen after over four years, I was broken. I didn't even recognize myself, and the question of 'how do I put myself back together' was a hard one to answer, especially when I had people on the outside prodding further at fresh wounds. The amazing thing, though, was how my friends and family all rallied around me, even when I was in the darkest place of my life. Healthy Place (healthyplace.com) has inspired me this week with their article titled How to Recover From Emotional Trauma of Domestic Abuse. I saw the words 'domestic abuse,' and as always I had to wonder how well it would fit for teen abuse-- the answer is like a glove. Aside fro