When is Enough, ENOUGH!
This year in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month, our organization decided to not just write about it, and post about it, but we decided that we needed to talk about it! Like TALK about it for real! On Sunday, October 16th, 2022 we are creating a powerful day of awareness. A day of invigorating conversations, creative performances, and transparency. We want to destigmatize what it means to be a survivor while empowering survivors from all social classes. So...... we present to you the I AM Enough Survivors Symposium.
I AM Enough means showing up for yourself even when you do not want to and it also means showing up to get healthy tips, tools, and resources for you, your friends, your family, and your community. Knowledge is power and to stand in our power we have to be equipped with awareness. Awareness saves lives!
When is Enough, ENOUGH?! That's my thought for today. I recently learned of some disturbing news that tried to rock me to my core.
Let's be real, living in this world the chances of us hearing disturbing information and facts are always lurking and available. This particular news I didn't go looking for, but when I received it, my first thought was "Enough is ENOUGH!"
The cover photo for this blog is of recent and past news headlines from across the globe relating to domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Domestic Violence awareness month is just around the corner and currently, the month of September is Suicide Prevention Month. Pause, take a deep breath, and breathe!
Many people think that DV (domestic violence) or IPV (intimate partner violence) can't happen to them! BUT.......... it can! Heck, I never thought 10+ years ago that I would be sharing my story with the world of how I 'survived' and am still 'surviving' the effects of DV and IPV. It SUCKS! However, I have turned my pain into PURPOSE. No MORE Silence! I have had ENOUGH and I am constantly reminding myself that I AM Enough! That's right "I AM ENOUGH!" AND....... So are you!
Maybe it's not DV or IPV that you've survived, but perhaps it is the loss of a job, friendship, relationship, family member, pet, or a dream! I am sending you Light, Love, and HOPE for that space in your mind in your heart. Everyone seems to be under some sort of stress during these times of post-pandemic/epidemic, but for victims of domestic violence, it can be a living nightmare.
I'd like to share some sobering statistics: (as shared on the NCADV website)
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes.
Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.
19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime.1 60.8% of female stalking victims and 43.5% of men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.
1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.
Studies suggest that there is a relationship between intimate partner violence and depression and suicidal behavior.
Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
Just to think that the above is only 'some' of the statistics. For more information, please visit https://ncadv.org/statistics.
This is an event that you will not want to miss. There will be an awesome keynote speaker, guest panelists, a stellar lunch provided, giveaways, and networking! Help us do the work that we have been called to do. Support!
Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-am-enough-survivors-symposium-registration-404096522577 and are available through September 30th, 2022.
In Faith, Hope, and Love,
Maury Danielle