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…
2017 in Review
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…
A letter from Angie
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…
A letter from Sarah
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 During the Holidays and Beyond
"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…
A letter from Tiffany
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…
A letter from Jennifer
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…
A letter from Hannah
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?”,…
A letter from April
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…
A letter from Grace
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…