Recovering / healing from abuse of any kind is a process that consists of deep emotional and psychological healing. Through my studies done for my book, “Surviving domestic abuse: formal and informal supports and services” I have found that the empowerment model and theory works best.
While I will not go into details of the empowerment model and theory, it is featured within my book, so if you are interested in reading more about that topic I highly encourage you to purchase it, which is available on the homepage.
Regardless, there are other small tactics that you can incorporate into your life today to take one step closer to Healing from abuse.
Small ways to recover
Recovering / healing from abuse is not a one-size-fits-all situation, but the below can be a great start. I would like to advise that before applying these principles to your situation, it’s best to seek help from a trained professional.
Tell yourself the truth. Denial is a hallmark of abuse. Come to terms with the abuse and recognize the damage it has done.
Seek professional help and guidance. As stated before, there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for healing. You need a trained professional to assess your situation and your safety, to help you deal with emotional baggage from the past, and to help you develop a strategy for change. You’ll need help and professional guidance to walk through potentially explosive and destructive situations.
Set appropriate boundaries. Learn when to say “yes” and when to say “no” in order to establish control again in your life.
No matter what the circumstances of your abuse may have been coming aim to not blame yourself or convince yourself that you “deserved it”. This is a common occurrence and can be detrimental and toxic.
Incorporate positive affirmations into your life In hopes to reprogram the subconscious mind and put an end to the self-sabotage.
Channel your pain, hurt, and anger turn on self-destructive activities, such as yoga, working out, painting, and even journaling. Take time to find what works best for you.
Support groups led by a trained professional are wonderful sources of healing and comfort. Work to build healthy, biblical, and/or social friendships and relationships. Research has shown that healthy social connections contribute to better overall health.
With all this being said, as pointed out within my book, “A woman who is empowered and self-sufficient does not feel trapped, isolated or alienated from her support systems. Additionally she is able to communicate for needs in a way so she feels heard, she has a voice and she is understood by the people around her. A woman who achieves self-sufficiency has a more developed and established sense of self and she better understands her wants and needs. Finally, a woman who has self-efficacy has control and a sense of power needed to achieve her goals so she can live her life to its fullest potential. She is an empowered woman.”