Every 15 seconds, somewhere in America a woman is battered, usually by her intimate partner. (UN Study On The Status of Women, Year 2000) Millions of people are in abusive relationships, or directly affected by one. After living in an abusive relationship, problems don’t end when victims escape the nightmare. The abuser’s psychological and physical attacks leave deep wounds that are difficult to heal unless carefully attended to in the aftermath of such trauma.

There is hope for survivors of domestic violence. A new 24 hour helpline in Bradenton has been launched by Light Under The Bridge Ministries, Non Profit.  Recovery from domestic violence is a step-by-step process; a journey no one should take alone, and it begins with a simple phone call asking for help. Light Under The Bridge offers a 24 hour helpline for domestic violence victims to call for help along with an option to get out safely of that abusive relationship and immediately relocate confidentially to rebuild their lives at Light Under The Bridge's Christian Transitional Restoration Homes, Lighthouses. 

 Jael Heart, Women's Director at the Lighthouses, explains, "Everyone experiences domestic violence differently. The way in which you respond to and recover from your experience depends upon a number of things, which might include: the types of abuse you experienced; any past experiences of abuse and violence; the strategies you used to survive the abuse; other stress in your life; and the support or lack of support you received from friends, family and services. Whatever your experience, recovering from domestic violence is a recovery from a significant trauma. At Lighthouses, we walk the journey of healing alongside of our residents, offering them a residential atmosphere of support, love, counseling, and help."

Although difficult and painful, recovery from abuse is possible. The healing process starts with recognizing how domestic violence impacts its survivors. Survivors of domestic violence recount stories of put-downs, public humiliation, name-calling, mind games and manipulations by the abuser. Psychological scars left by emotional and verbal abuse are often more difficult to recover from than physical injuries. They often have lasting effects even after the relationship has ended. The survivor’s self-esteem is trampled in the course of being told repeatedly that she is worthless, stupid, untrustworthy, ugly or despised.

It is common for an abuser to be extremely jealous and controlling, and insist that the victim not see friends or family members. The victim may be forbidden to work or leave the house without the abuser. If the victim is employed, she often loses her job due to the chaos created by such relationships.

This isolation increases the abuser’s control over the victim and results in the victim losing any emotional, social or financial support from the outside world. This increases the victim’s dependence upon the abuser, making it more difficult to leave the relationship. If she does leave, she often finds herself totally alone and unable to support herself and her children.

Domestic violence is a traumatic experience for its victims. Traumatic experiences produce emotional shock and other psychological problems. The American Psychiatric Association has identified a specific type of mental distress common to survivors of trauma called posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Common reactions to trauma include fear, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, guilt, shame, blame, grief, depression, being in "danger mode", jitteriness, being easily startled or distracted, concentration problems, impatience and irritability are all common to being in a “heightened state of alert” and are part of one’s survival instinct.

If you’re trying to decide whether to stay or leave, you may be feeling confused, uncertain, frightened, and torn. One moment, you may desperately want to get away, and the next, you may want to hang on to the relationship. Maybe you even blame yourself for the abuse or feel weak and embarrassed because you’ve stuck around in spite of it. Don’t be trapped by confusion, guilt, or self-blame. The only thing that matters is your safety. If you or someone you know needs help, they can call Light Under The Bridge's 24 hour helpline at (941)479-7407.  To donate to support this cause, or for more information, visit www.LightUnderTheBridge.com.