HOME

24-Hour Domestic Abuse Hotline: 208.343.7025

EXIT

Finding Freedom: One Survivor’s Story Part 3

24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 208.343.7025 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 208.345.7273 (RAPE)

Stars

After I started therapy and talking through my experiences, I realized my support system was completely disconnected. Friends I had known for years were a distant memory, and my family had been pushed away. I had allowed my abuser to always be right about how my family spoke of our relationship being so wrong. The relationship between my mom and I was broken, and I was desperate for the bond we had five years before. Any person I did have a connection with was a shallow existence of a true friendship, because they were my abuser’s friends.


As a victim to emotional and verbal abuse, evaluating and assessing that my support system had been subtly changing for the worst over the last five years was very hard to accept and acknowledge. Facing this reality showed me how much more my abuser had control over my life. Yet, at this point, I could step back and see how much more of myself I lost because someone did not value me. During this time of realizing I was in an abusive relationship, I was also creating new friendships. These were real and true, and they helped me to navigate a direction of hope and courage and kept me moving forward, despite the challenges of not knowing what was going to come.

However, I still felt very alone. I did not know if I could reach out to the family and friends I had known for years. I feared how they would respond. To my relief, everyone, including my mom, had open arms and a willingness to help me however they could. I was secretive in my approach to building my support system back up, so that my abuser would not know. In doing this, I learned that true friends and family will never leave you no matter how much it hurts them to see you go through the abuse. They were my stars in the darkness, guiding and directing me to find myself again. It was knowing that I truly was not alone, even at my lowest point. I will be forever grateful for their love and support during that time.

Now that I have left my abuser, my support system is stronger than ever. I know that even on my worst days, I am never alone, I am never disrespected, and I am never challenged by who I am. I am loved by being me. That should always be enough.

Back to Blog >>

EVENTS

Sep 29

2023

Domestic Violence Awareness Month – 2023

Domestic Violence Awareness Month October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the WCA will be holding a joint press conference on September 29 at the Idaho Peace Officers’ Memorial at 10am. The WCA and other Domestic Violence service providers will be on site with information and awareness raising materials for our community members. Elected officials […]

learn more

Oct 01

2023

Sue B Stroll and 5K October 1, 2023

Join us for the 14th annual SueB 5k  and  3k  Urban  stroll  for  Every-Body Continuing to honor the memory of Susan “SueB” Newby, the 14th annual SueB 5K Fun Run will kick off on Sunday, October 1st at 12 noon at Julia Davis Park. You can sign up to participate here with 5K registration starting at $25. […]

learn more

Oct 01

2023

SueB 5k and Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt October 1, 2023

Join us for the 14th annual SueB 5k and 3k Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt for EveryBODY! The 14th annual SueB 5k and 3k Scavenger Hunt will be on October 1, 2023 and we hope you can join us! We invite you to join us to raise awareness about domestic abuse, while memorializing the life of […]

learn more

Oct 18

2023

Witches Night Out at the Village

Mark your calendars for Witches Night Out on October 18, 2023 from 6 – 9 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 we will be celebrating Witches Night Out at The Village at Meridian, hosted by Meridian’s Centercal Properties and its marvelous merchants. Several sponsors help make the evening a resounding success, raising funds for the WCA’ clients’ […]

learn more

Dec 14

2023

Concert for Cause

Mark you calendars for 2023 Concert for Cause – December 14th Thursday, December 14th 94.9 The River is excited to present headlining artist Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness with Michigander and Arlie for their 2023 Concert for Cause benefitting the WCA! Join us at The Knitting Factory Concert House in Bodo for an evening of […]

learn more

GET INVOLVED

PREVENTION & OUTREACH

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

© 2021 Women's and Children's Alliance | Privacy Policy | Equal Opportunity Policies