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Holistic Healing for Survivors of Domestic Violence

October 20, 2022

When it comes to holistic mental health services, many different modalities can be helpful for survivors of domestic violence. Trauma-informed yoga, meditation, and mindfulness may be especially beneficial. These practices help people to connect with their bodies and emotions in a safe and supportive environment. They can also help to build self-confidence and self-esteem. If you or someone you know is a survivor of domestic violence, please consider seeking out holistic mental health services. You may find that they offer the healing you need!

How do you self-soothe after an abuser?

These 5 Self-Care Practices Can Save Your Life After Emotional
  1. Meditation
  2. Yoga
  3. Reality check anchoring
  4. Self-soothing and inner child work
  5. Exercise.

 

Psychological violence is something that can be traumatic and deeply scars the victims. They may still feel like their lives aren’t worth living, or they’re constantly on edge waiting for another attack from their abuser due to how close these bonds became during abuse cycles.when reminded of the trauma; nightmares where they relive scenes directly associated with what impossible sometimes just go about day-to assistive tasks without feeling overwhelmed by
When we’ve been traumatized, the areas of our brain related to executive functioning, learning, memory, planning, emotion regulation, and focus become disrupted. Meditation has been scientifically proven to benefit some of the same areas of the brain that trauma affects – such as the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala and the hippocampus.

If the effects of trauma live in the body, it makes sense that an activity combining mindfulness and physical activity can help restore balance. Yoga has been proven by research to help ease depression and anxiety; it has also been shown to improve body image, and emotion regulation skills, increase resilience and self-esteem for high-risk populations and improve symptoms of PTSD in domestic violence victims

Survivors of emotional abuse are likely to have been gaslighted to believe that the abuse they endured wasn’t real. They must begin to “anchor” themselves back into the reality of the abuse rather than re-idealizing the relationship they just left. This is extremely helpful for when survivors begin to question the reality of the abuse or when they struggle with mixed emotions towards their abusers, who periodically showed affection towards them to keep them in the abuse cycle.

Although you were traumatized by your abuser, there may have been other traumas that were brought to the surface due to the abusive relationship. You could have a wounded inner child that also needs to be soothed by your adult self when you’re feeling particularly emotional. This experience likely compounded your unmet needs in childhood, so self-compassion is needed during this time.

A daily exercise regimen can save your life after abuse. Whether running on the treadmill or going to dance cardio classes or long walks in nature, commit to a practice that you enjoy. If you lack motivation, start small. For example, commit to thirty minutes of walking daily rather than an hour. Exercise releases endorphins and lowers cortisol levels, potentially replacing the biochemical addiction we develop with our abusers with a healthier outlet.

If you are a survivor of domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. Many people have been through what you have been through. You deserve to receive the support and care that you need to heal. Please reach out for help if you need it. You deserve to live a life free from violence. Holistic mental health services can help you to achieve this!