A letter from Galen
Dear friend, fellow survivor, and future advocate for justice, My history with domestic violence started at a very early age. I grew up in a small town of Anderson, SC and I had to witness my mother being beaten almost…
Dear friend, fellow survivor, and future advocate for justice, My history with domestic violence started at a very early age. I grew up in a small town of Anderson, SC and I had to witness my mother being beaten almost…
As the manager of grants at Safe Harbor, I spend a lot of time with statistics – both external statistics based on research and internal statistics based on our agency’s work. Often, both types of data anchor me into the…
Dear friend, The pattern of relationship violence began early for me. Starting with an abusive ex-boyfriend in high school, I fell into one abusive relationship after another as an adult, never quite sure how to end the abuse or who to reach out…
When I first sought counseling from Safe Harbor, I felt alone and hopeless. I was four years into a bad marriage that I truly believed would only end when my husband either killed himself or killed me. I was anxious,…
"Self-care is an act of self-love." While the holiday season is often filled with messages of joy and celebration, this time can bring on additional stress and pose unique challenges for survivors of domestic violence. Developing a plan for emotional safety can be a great…
I wish I could answer the questions in your mind. For you I wish that I could turn back time. I wish I could fix that man you love. And make his heart soft and pure as a dove. I…
Dear WOMAN-Rising, Our past paths are similar, dear one, we have been unmade in a way that most individuals cannot comprehend. It was and is still unnerving, painful, and terrifying at times. Let me tell you, the most important thing…
To a suffering woman, I remember once also feeling unable to talk to anyone about my painful secret, but spending hours reading on the internet about domestic violence. I wondered, “Is this really abuse?”, and then, “Can an abuser really change?”,…
Dear friend, I am 64 years old. I was married for 14 years to a graduate of Ivy League colleges and corporate CEO. I had 5 years of college without a degree and was a homemaker. In his mind, this…
To the woman who feels alone, My name is Grace, and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. We have never met, and we probably never will meet. You may not have had the same experiences that I have, but…