Beyond physical violence, many survivors face a quieter but equally damaging attack — the smear campaign. Abusers use this tactic to discredit and isolate their victims, weaponizing gossip and misinformation to erase the truth. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it’s time to expose this hidden form of abuse and stand with those whose voices have been stolen.

When we think of addiction, we usually think of substances: alcohol, drugs, nicotine. But there are other, more insidious forms of addiction — ones that don’t come in a bottle or a syringe but in the form of another human being. Trauma bonding, especially in abusive relationships, is one of the most misunderstood emotional traps. It’s why so many women (and men) find themselves going back to someone who has hurt them — again and again. And it’s not because they’re weak, naive

Every time a story surfaces about a woman experiencing domestic violence, a question almost always follows: “Why didn’t she just leave?” It’s asked by news anchors, friends, family members—and sometimes even survivors themselves. This question may seem simple, even logical, to someone looking in from the outside. But when we really examine it, we see that it’s the wrong question entirely. In fact, it’s a question that reinforces misunderstanding, blames the victim, and comple

October is a time to recommit ourselves as a community to standing with survivors. Here are a few ways to do that:Learn the signs. Abuse isn’t just bruises. It’s isolation, financial control, constant criticism, intimidation, or the feeling that you’re always “walking on eggshells.” Have conversations. Talk to your friends, your kids, your coworkers. Normalize discussing healthy versus unhealthy relationships. Believe survivors. When someone opens up, your first words matter.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up, I see you. I know how heavy that hopelessness feels. Please know that your life matters. Your story isn’t over. You are not disposable. You are not broken beyond repair. And if you’ve lost someone you love to suicide, I know the ache that never fully leaves. That’s why awareness matters—not just one day a year, but every day.

Recognizing you’re in an abusive relationship is one of the bravest steps you can take. The next step? Reaching out. Community resources—hotlines, shelters, support groups—aren’t just about safety. They’re about hope, healing, and reminding you that you are not alone. How to find support: • Call the National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) • Search “domestic violence support near me” for local orgs • Check hospitals, libraries, or community centers—they often have resource

For me, wings are a symbol of resilience—not the shiny, social-media kind of resilience, but the quiet, messy, gritty kind. The kind that rises from the ashes of betrayal. Of surviving what was meant to break me. Of learning to move through grief and betrayal. Falling down but getting back up after heartbreak and abandonment. Wings are not inherited—they are earned. Each time we choose to believe that something better is possible, even when the evidence feels thin, our wings

There’s a moment in every healing journey when you realize: your voice matters. Silence may have once felt like protection—keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, simply surviving. But over time, silence can trap your pain, delay your healing, and quietly chip away at your power. When you share your story, you rise, begin to heal and in doing so, you help others in similar situations.

You Are Enough: Dismantling the Lies Trauma Tells You Trauma distorts how we see ourselves. It whispers lies like “You’re not enough” or “You’ll never be whole.” But these are not truths—they’re wounds talking. Healing means peeling away the shame to uncover the truth: You are not what happened to you. You are worthy. You are lovable. You are enough. Even on the hardest days, your value remains untouched. You can still be healing and still be whole. You are not broken—you

Healing isn’t linear. It’s not a straight path with checkmarks and milestones neatly laid out. It’s a winding road—full of progress, pauses, and unexpected turns. Some days you’ll feel light, strong, and full of hope. Other days, the weight returns, the tears come, and the pain feels fresh again. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re still healing.

Our experiences, no matter how painful, are never wasted. When we use them to lift others up, we take something dark and turn it into light.

Through rose-colored glasses, the victim may start to see the relationship as ideal, ignoring warning signs of abuse.

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