HIS STORY...

ENCOUNTER

 

“Home.” Tu Casa, Inc., www.slvtucasa.net/effects-of-domestic-violence-on-children.

This week, I had an encounter with a man who is currently being treated for depression. During our discussion, he stated how he was a victim of domestic violence and emotional abuse. At a young age, he constantly witnessed his parents fighting--verbally and physically--each other. Almost every night, the neighbors would call the cops on them, and his mom would claim that everything was fine. His older brother wasn't there much because he was in grad school, so he was more of a victim. This abuse went on for years until he left off to college.

During his years in college, he had night terrors, which affected his school work, his job, and his health. He went to see a physician, and he got diagnosed with anxiety and depression. During our conversation, he told me how severely depressed he gets on his worst days, and how rough his childhood was, and how he hasn't seen his family for a while, etc. While we were talking, I realized how domestic violence isn't taken seriously. In our community, we have more bystanders than we have people helping. In most cultures, this type of abuse is not even being recognized. Domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes. This just saddens me because the impact it had on him; like it changed his world. It changed who he could have become. He did good in school, graduated middle school & high school with honors, got accepted into a good college, but it was never enough. The saddest part is he's never really himself until he takes his meds and goes for therapy.

It shouldn't hurt to be a child. I think anyone who has experienced such abuse is very brave. So, I'm writing this blog to encourage every victim of domestic abuse, and I want to say to you all that through all the pain, tears, anger, self-blame, and confusion, at some point, you will find your "AHA moment," and realize that through all those pain, frustration, anger, and hatred, YOU have been gaining the strength and remembrance of your own self. Just trust that every experience is part of God's plan for you. YOU ARE WORTHY😊