No pre-defined survival kit could ever prepare a child for domestic violence. The horrors of having to grow in a hostile environment can cause both short and long-term trauma to any child. What if you find yourself in this kind of situation? What would survival skills help you recover? Here’s what we, at Community Access Network, a social services organization in California, have prepared for you:
- Acknowledge your situation
Accepting the emotional crisis you are currently in is way easier said than done. No matter how difficult it is to acknowledge that such a traumatic situation has happened to you, you must accept it. The greatest help you could ever offer yourself starts in you. Harness the strength you need to stabilize your emotions. Do not let negative experiences consume you. Take control.
- Seek support
Reach out to a loved one or any relative whom you can share your thoughts freely. Having someone to hold on to amidst a series of traumatic experiences will make the emotional load less heavy for you. Don’t hesitate to appear vulnerable to people who truly care about you. Allow yourself to be weak in order to regain more strength.
- Disconnect
Detach yourself from your abusers. Surround yourself with people who only radiate warmth and affection towards you. Disconnect yourself from things that remind you of dark experiences. Build pleasant memories and experiences with new people in a fresher environment. Seek and look forward to new beginnings, and gradually heal yourself.
- Meditate
If having direct communication to people is not an option for you, meditate. Mindfulness meditation will aid in easing your anxiety and depression. By training your brain to stay in the current situation, you allow yourself to lose grip on past experiences and lessen worries on what the future may hold.
- Improve yourself
Go out. Learn a new sport. Buy new clothes. Treat yourself to a scrumptious dinner. Express love and care towards yourself as a form of reward for being strong. Eliminate self-doubts. Remind yourself of how far you’ve come. You can survive anything that comes your way.
If you still find it difficult to cope with the effects of an abusive home, talk to us. Your comfort and safety are central to us at Community Access Network Inc., a youth development center community organization.