Ending Mental Health Awareness Month

bassveronica
Jun 1
3 min read

Mental Health Awareness Month puts mental health under a microscope for the world to see just how big the issue really is. For victims of domestic violence, no microscope is needed for the issue that is a big part of their daily lives. While the world brings attention to mental health once a year, for a month, for the survivor, their surviving of domestic violence keeps their attention in a chokehold. Their mind is the trigger place for the traumas that they’ve encountered. The Psychology of the Trauma can feel like a psychological trap, and that’s the reality of a survivor.

The Psychological Trap of a Survivor...

While most people can apply the below quote to situations in their lives, it isn’t that easy for the survivor of domestic violence. More often than not, a survivor tries their best to move on not only in their physical life but also in the most impacted area as well, which is their mental life.

Below is what advice looks like most of the time, but the process is much more complicated than that. I wish it were that easy. I have gone through the process of healing, but I must admit, it wasn’t easy, and eventually you just find ways to cope with your reality without living there for the rest of your life. There are days when my mind will bring an encounter back, and I must cope with it. Refer to the graphic below for some ways to cope with the triggers. I hope this helps you, too.

A New Way of Thinking…

Getting into the habit of thinking forward is a hard task for survivors of domestic violence, but it is possible. The Bible says in Mark 9:23 (KJV): ²³Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. For me, I had to learn to declutter my mind regarding my trauma of domestic violence. Although it wasn’t something I was able to do overnight, I eventually just had to find a scripture to assist with the process. For me, that was and still is Philippians 4:8: ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. This scripture helps keep your mind focused on the good things rather than the trauma, and eventually brings some clarity and shed light on some other things.

So the Month Ends, But The Mission Continues…

So here we are at the end of another Mental Health Awareness month in a different year. While the month ends, the mission has to continue. The psychological trauma and altered realities of victims and survivors of domestic violence don’t end because the awareness month ends; it continues. Their fight to get back to living a normal life as best as they can will continue. The mission of She Overstands is to continue to create a space for healing, understanding, and support because who else but the community that shares in the altered reality that we consider a universe of our own.

Before the Take Away, Just Remember…

The Take Away...

Like the village of support that a growing child needs to find its way in a new world it’s adapting to, the same is true for the Survivor of Domestic Violence, whose life will never be the same and ultimately alters their current reality.

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

²Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

9 Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

12 Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.