Learning How to Trust Again
After abuse, trust can feel like a door you locked for a very good reason. Someone may tell you that it is time to open that door again. They may say you need to let go of the past, give people a chance, or stop expecting to be hurt. But they may not understand what […]
Sobriety: One Clear Mile at a Time
For some survivors, alcohol or drugs became a way to survive what felt impossible to face. They may have helped quiet the fear, soften painful memories, numb emotional wounds, or bring a few hours of sleep. When someone has lived through threats, manipulation, violence, or constant uncertainty, reaching for something that offers temporary relief does […]
From the RADV Archives: Taking Your Life Back
On August 28, 2019, RADV shared a simple message: “Your strength amazes me. You’ve told your abuser, ‘I’m taking my life back. You can no longer have control over me. The power is in my hands.’” Years later, those words still carry the same truth. Taking your life back does not always happen in one […]
Your Legal Rights as a Survivor: Knowledge Can Be Part of Your Safety Plan
Abuse often leaves survivors feeling powerless. An abusive partner may tell you that no one will believe you, that you will lose your children, that you have nowhere to go, or that the law cannot help you. Those threats are designed to create fear and maintain control. They are not legal advice. As a survivor […]
What to Expect When You Contact a Domestic-Violence Help Center
Reaching out for help can feel like one of the hardest steps a survivor will ever take. You may be afraid no one will believe you. You may worry that you will be pressured to leave before you are ready. You may not know what questions to ask—or even how to explain everything that has […]
The Warrior You Are
There are days when you may not feel strong. You may feel tired from watching every word, measuring every reaction, and trying to keep the peace. You may look in the mirror and see someone worn down by fear, stress, or disappointment. But RADV wants you to see something else today: The warrior you are. […]
Retaliation: Don’t Let Their Actions Decide Your Next Move
When someone has abused, controlled, humiliated, threatened, or betrayed you, wanting to strike back can feel understandable. You may want them to experience the fear they caused. You may want to expose them publicly, damage something they value, confront them face-to-face, or send one final message that makes them hurt the way you have hurt. […]
Whatever You Face, You’re Not Alone
Abuse can make you feel as though you are facing the whole world by yourself. You may feel alone when the door closes and no one else can see what happens inside your home. You may feel alone when people question your story, when someone you trusted turns against you, or when you are blamed […]
The Strength It Takes to Survive
People often talk about strength as if it always looks bold and fearless. But sometimes strength looks like getting out of bed after another sleepless night. Sometimes it is holding yourself together at work while hiding what happened at home. Sometimes it is protecting your children, searching for help in private, or simply finding enough […]
Coercive Control: When Abuse Is About More Than Violence
An RADV Australia Article Not every abusive relationship leaves bruises you can see. Sometimes the abuse looks like a password demanded. A bank account controlled. A phone constantly checked. A friendship slowly taken away. A partner deciding where you can go, what you can wear, who you can speak to, how money is spent, or […]