Happy Holiday Triggers

The holidays are a beautiful time of year as the snow falls and the lights go up around us, and yet so many are still struggling. As a survivor of domestic violence, I can attest to the fact that this time of the year brings with it many triggers that have happened both good and bad. These triggers manifest themselves in different ways. One second were laughing with everyone else and the next our brain turns on the fight or flight mode. We go into this panic mode because of the life that we once lived. Our true happiness turns into a masked smile, fake laughs and depression. We just want to alienate ourselves and escape to a place where we don't have to feel. We harp on ourselves because of the lives we once lived and the people that made that time both good and bad. Some of us still have to see those individuals and try to make the best out of the situation. Some of us still live in this place and we hope for change and our abusers finding the desire to build a better tomorrow, yet tomorrow hasn't come yet. When will we find the "normal" again? Who are we now? As a survivor we often look back on the good times and reanalyze what made those times pleasant. Our identity is built off of the truth, we get to choose who we spend our time with now and how we want to spend it. Finally, we find freedom in who we have become and look back on the past to see that we are stronger, and we are safe to be ourselves again. We find our peaceful place and for once nobody can enter it. Our kids are becoming more aware of the situations we faced and understand why we left. We are finally living the life we always dreamed we could. If you find yourself reading this today and maybe you just need someone to talk to, please call us at 440-992-2727 our advocates truly care, and we would love to talk with you! Your story matters and there is help out there, people care!