Life After Abuse

If you’ve recently left an abusive relationship, you’ve already taken one of the most important steps of the process — leaving. The abuse you experienced was not your fault, and there is never a reason for abuse. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Learning how to heal and take care of yourself after an abusive relationship can help you navigate what comes next. When it comes to dating and love after abuse, it requires lots of learning and unlearning and being patient with yourself. Know that you will have good days and bad days- this is a part of your journey and that is okay.

Some days, you might feel strong, happy, and confident and other days you may be overwhelmed by sadness and anxiety and question everything. All your feelings are normal, feeling all of your feelings is healthy, and there is nothing wrong with you.

To anyone feeling unsure, we are here to help you on your journey to safety and healing. The healing process isn’t linear, but there are ways to find relief and support along the way, here are a few tools to practice self-love.

You may be wondering what healthy self-love looks like, and that is an excellent starting point for becoming a better advocate for yourself.

Some practices of self-loving people include:

• Listening to your emotions

• Establishing a positive inner voice

• Identifying your calmers

• Creating a vision for your future

• Feeding your passion and exploring your talents

If you are struggling with self-love, show yourself grace as you embark on this journey. Know that you are taking the right steps towards your healing. You are a survivor, and you deserve to feel happy and safe!

On your journey you may find that you’ve started to think about dating again.

Dating after being in an unhealthy or abusive relationship can be complicated and can feel overwhelming. If you’ve experienced abuse, you might have more trouble connecting emotionally with potential partners, you might have a hard time trusting people or you might feel like your ideas about what is healthy/unhealthy in a relationship were damaged by your abusive partner. If you'd like to start dating again after experiencing abuse, here are some things to consider:

• Educate yourself

• Trust your instincts

• Practice safe dating

• Take things slow

Your healing can take on many different directions on your journey. Remember-there are resources available at each and every step of the way. Above all, know that you are loved, and that you are not alone.

We are always here for you when you need to talk. Call or text our 24-Hour Helpline: 216.391.4357 (HELP) or live chat.