October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and here's why we still have to talk about it.

We have to talk about it because the first time they call you a bitch, you won’t tell anyone. We have to talk about it because the first time they decide to take their frustrations out on the wall next to you, you won’t tell anyone because at least they didn’t hit you. We have to talk about it because the first time they make you cry by calling you names and accusing you of false things you won’t tell anyone because they’ll make some grand apology and you’ll move on for a couple of days until they do it again. We have to talk about it because when they tell you that they’ll kill themselves if you leave them you’ll think it’s a joke over and over again and you won’t tell anyone. We have to talk about it because when they get overly jealous or angry they’ll convince you it’s out of love and you won’t tell anyone about it. We have to talk about it because the first time they tell you they kept themselves from hurting you, you’ll be grateful but you won’t tell anyone. We have to talk about it because when the words turn to fists you still won’t tell anyone. We have to talk about it because eventually after all the times they call you crazy and stupid you start to believe them. We have to talk about it because even after you’ve become convinced that you have to leave them it becomes the hardest thing to do. We have to talk about it because it’s been years since I’ve heard his voice or heard him slam a fist against a wall and I still can’t talk about it because it’s too much for one person to handle.

So we have to talk about it because there are a lot of us and we’re survivors of all the abuse that someone else chose to impose on us. We are not responsible for the way we’re treated but we are responsible for moving on from it for our best interest.

We have to talk about it because I never want anyone to feel like they can’t talk about it out of fear of being judged or feeling like they have no way out. We have to talk about it to make more help available to survivors and current abuse sufferers. We have to talk about it because this problem is ever growing and we can’t keep pushing it under the rug.

We have to talk about it.

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation please reach out and please seek help. There are resources, for more information visit: http://ncadv.org/

http://www.feminist.org/911/crisis.html

http://lcadv.org/

http://www.thehotline.org/resources/