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Helping a Friend to Survive Domestic Violence
I am sure you’ve experienced your friends navigating through challenging times. Observing those close to you who are going through devastating events is emotionally painful and even frightening. Yet, you recognize that you’ve got to stay strong so you can be there for your friend.
Perhaps in the past, one of your friends had an abusive partner. And maybe you didn’t know what to do to help. The following strategies will inform you how to help a survivor of domestic violence.
1. Acknowledge to yourself what you’re feeling about the violence. This must be your first step. Otherwise, your feelings, fear, disgust, or anger will leak out of you onto your friend who needs you. And you surely don’t want that to happen.
To quickly help your friend. You need to first recognise your feelings and resolve them within yourself before trying to help your friend.
2. Prepare yourself that your friend who’s been abused might show physical signs of harm. Bruised eyes, face, or arms, cuts on the face, and possibly even broken bones or worse can result from a domestic violence incident.
Although she’s alive, walking, and talking. Remind yourself that your friend might have been greatly harmed. Also, remember that these physical signs will heal and hopefully not leave scars.
