Domestic Violence Recovery
What is domestic violence?
We are now into the full swing of December and the festive season! I hope you are all keeping well and safe after quite a year of ups and downs globally.
Most of us love the festive season, but with all this cheer also comes an increase in domestic violence. Sources such as Respect Victoria state a surge in domestic violence over the holiday season due to e.g. alcohol and drug use, more family gatherings etc.
This week on the Fitness To A Tee pages, I've been focusing on domestic violence. I decided to hone in on a specific area in which I could bring my fitness and nutrition knowledge to use as the area of domestic violence covers numerous aspects.
Definition of domestic violence
The United Nations defines domestic violence; domestic abuse or "intimate partner violence" as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorise, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating.
UN Women's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence(25 November - 10 December)
This is an annual international campaign which calls for an end to violence against women.
In this blog and on my pages, I've been referring specifically to domestic violence between intimate partners whether married or not. I feel that I can give back through my work on this area because well....(see below).
I’m a survivor! Image: Robbie Lall Photography. Outfit: Fitness Leaf
I'm A Survivor
This issue is close to my heart, not only because I personally know many other females who've experienced this - but because I was in an emotionally, mentally and verbally abusive marriage which really impacted me negatively. It took me a couple of years to recover and I see how much healing has happened within me as I can now talk/write about it from a perspective of giving back to other women, from my own painful experience.
I'm grateful to have gotten out alive; gone on a healing journey and I'm now in a joyful place.
To come to a place of healing like I am in now, not only did I rely on my spirituality/faith; trauma therapy but I also used various holistic wellness techniques, including exercise and healthy eating.
For those still in an abusive relationship
I want to acknowledge that there are those who may still be in domestically violent situations. If you are or suspect you are and are reading this - please find a few safe and confidential resources for help below.
• Speak to someone you can trust e.g. a friend or family member. I know it can feel scary and you might even wonder if anyone will believe you because I've been in that situation, but telling someone at least alerts them to what's going on. They can link you to hope, help you come out of any denial/see the reality of the situation and be part of your life line later on.
• Call 000 or your local police if you are in immediate danger.
• To access 24/7 counselling and support call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
If you suspect/know a loved one is in an abusive relationship
If you want to find out how you can help someone in a domestic violence situation, see the Domestic Violence Resource Centre here.
Survivors: Exercise + Healthy eating
There are various ways in which women, once they've escaped from such a situation - can start to heal including spiritually and through counselling/therapy etc.
Please note that I'm just focusing on fitness and healthy eating here as two of the many options available to you. These were a huge part of my healing too.
Exercise is a good healing method because it:
• helps you to reconnect with your body again eg after physical/sexual assault
• helps us start to feel a sense of empowerment and control over our bodies and lives
• releases pent up stress, anger and suppressed emotions
• brings "feel good" hormones endorphins, to boost emotional and mental wellness.
Please see this video where I show you 6 holistic wellness techniques and how to do them, including journalling and grounding. Click here.
Healthy eating
Achieving any health goal whether inner or outer, is always at least 80% nutrition. Eating healthy will help stabilise your mood, emotions and mental state.
Above is an example of this week's Fitness To A Tee healing salad with great nutrients eg in the broccoli and cranberries. Click here for the recipe.
Why broccoli?
To get the most nutrients out of it, have it raw. Broccoli has eg B vitamins and folic acid which relieve stress, anxiety + and depression.
Why cranberries?
Cranberries are high in Vitamin C which can help reduce mood swings, depression and anxiety. They also have polyphenols which can improve brain function including memory.
I hope that this has been helpful to you. Please feel free to reach out here if you want to ask any questions or if the post resonated with you in any way. You can also email me at fitness@fitnesstoatee.com.auThank you to those beautiful women who have reached out to me about this issue this week. For those who have survived it too, we DO recover and we can have a full life after. I'm with you.
View Domestic Violence Recovery video here.