Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Wellness for Advocates and Survivors

Written by:  Mary Peck
     Since 1989, October has served as a time to acknowledge the struggles of domestic violence survivors and raise awareness for the violence that families around the world are facing. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 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.” 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is a call for awareness and for change, but it is also a call to support those in our community who are impacted by domestic violence. For survivors of domestic violence, and the advocates who work with those survivors, there are long-lasting effects that can reduce wellness. 

This DVAM, let’s look at some of the ways that advocates and survivors can improve their wellness, including mindfulness, creative expression, and spending time in nature. 

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: SURVIVORSAccording to the World Health Organization, 26% of women around the world have experience physical or sexual violence from their former or current male intimate partners. The American Psychiatric Association details the mental and physical impact that intimate partner violence can have on survivors, including:  
Symptoms of psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
Feelings of blame, anger, and resentment towards themselves;
Obsessive, compulsive, and self-destructive behaviors;
Physical symptoms such as hyperventilation, insomnia, and chronic pain. 

Every survivor of domestic violence has varying reactions to their experiences. Finding ways to promote wellness for survivors is important for their long-term health and quality of life. 

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: ADVOCATES Those who work closely with survivors of domestic violence, including victim advocates, healthcare professionals, social workers, counselors, and others, are exposed to an often overlooked type of trauma. 

Vicarious trauma, also known as compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress, is something that advocates experience as a result of hearing the traumatic stories of domestic violence survivors and witnessing the fear and pain that the survivors are experiencing. For many people that work with survivors, constant exposure to this vicarious trauma can lead to a long list of worrying symptoms. According to the American Counseling Association, some signs of vicarious trauma include: 
Losing sleep due to worry about the survivors they work with;
Feelings of anger, irritation, and jumpiness; 
Feeling hopeless or trapped in their current profession. 

Advocates experiencing vicarious trauma may experience changes in their job performance, values, behaviors, and relationships. The impacts of vicarious trauma are far-reaching and can negatively impact an advocate’s quality of life. 

WELLNESS TOOL #1: MINDFULNESSMindfulness practices have two main goals: 
Being aware in the present moment. 
Experiencing your thoughts and feelings without judging them as “right” or “wrong.”

Mindfulness doesn’t have to involve meditating for hours on end–it can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths and grounding yourself in the present moment. Meditation and mindfulness have been found to help people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and even high blood pressure. 

WELLNESS TOOL #2: CREATIVE EXPRESSIONFor some advocates and survivors, using creative expression can be a powerful tool for improving wellness. Some forms of creative expression you may find useful include: 
Writing
Visual art
Music
Dance and movement

The Alliance regularly offers creative expression workshops for survivors and advocates, including the three-part Healing Through Writing Workshop. This workshop focuses on improving wellness and resiliency through mindfulness, journaling, and poetry. Participants are able to try different types of writing, share their work with other participants, and begin to develop a journaling habit that can improve their wellness and provide an outlet for creative expression. 

WELLNESS TOOL #3: TIME IN NATURESpending time in nature is linked to cognitive benefits and positive effects on mental health. 

Getting outside and spending time in natural spaces, away from screens and technology, is a simple way to reduce stress, improve attention, and promote increased positive thinking and happiness. 
FINDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN AMERICAN SAMOA AND BEYONDBeyond the wellness tools listed above, there are resources that are available to survivors and advocates that can help you to deal with the stress and trauma caused by domestic violence. In American Samoa, organizations providing these resources include: 
American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Department of Health, Behavioral Services Office
Veterans Affairs
Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs
And many more! 

In addition to on-island resources, there are digital resources for survivors and advocates who want to improve their wellness. These resources, provided by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community group, create a network of care for survivors and advocates. These digital resources are widespread, but some examples include: 
University of Buffalo, School of Social Work’s “Self-Care Starter Kit” 
Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others (ebook PDF)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Mental Health Information

 
There are tools and community resources available for improving the wellness of survivors and advocates. 

ASKING FOR HELPIf you are a survivor of domestic violence or an advocate, there may come a time when you need to seek professional help from a counselor. Working with a licensed social worker, psychologist, or doctor can help give you access to guidance and resources beyond the wellness tips provided in this article. 

If your mental health has taken a sharp decline and you need help on your healing journey, there are people who are willing to help and support you. 

If you are a survivor or advocate in American Samoa who is looking for information about available resources on-island, please call the Alliance at (684) 699-0272.