The Curve in the Wave: Healing for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Hello Readers of Our Wave,

Thanks for reading an important edition of The Curve in the Wave for the month of October. Like all months, this month is important to the discussion we support on Our Wave; but October is particularly relevant for the awareness of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence. 

According to the National Coalition Against Violence, every minute, an estimated 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, roughly 10 million people per year, and 1 in 10 women are sexually abused by an intimate partner. 

Like sharing any story of trauma endured, the silence survivors might feel around sharing stories of abuse is common for many factors. Sometimes it can take years for survivors to feel emotionally or physically safe from an abusive relationship. Sometimes they feel shame or judgment because advocates teach us that it is common for partners to return to their abuser multiple times before breaking free from the cycle of violence.

Whatever a survivor may be feeling, it is essential to know that you are not alone and that there is no timeline for healing.

October Collection

Book Pick 

This October, our book pick is Daddy’s Girl, a collection of graphic comics by author and artist Debbie Dreschler. Described as a “quasi-memoir”, the collection of children’s book styled drawings tell the stories of three young adolescent girls as they survive in a home full of abuse and emotional confusion. The depiction of abuse, inspired by the real life traumas of their artist, is painted in honest detail, rough lines and exaggerated proportions that depict an abusive household as true to a child’s perspective as possible. 

Oftentimes, it becomes a struggle for survivors of sexual assault to tell their stories through art when depictions of their abuse feel too abstract or upsetting for others. While difficult to stomach and frequently disturbing, the stories depicted in Dreschler’s graphic novel are true to life and may hold a sense of comfort for those who struggle with similar traumas.

Media Pick

Advocate and author, Tenaj Moody is the podcast host of State of Blossoming and founder of the consulting company Light to Life. The State of Blossoming streams stories and resources that focus on healing, reentry, criminal justice reform, trauma, relationships, domestic violence, motivation, and mental health paralleled with guest’s very own vulnerable experiences. Its purpose is to challenge current perspectives to new ones and prompt listeners to think about their own journey of blossoming.

Writing Prompt

As we get older, the sounds in our memories trigger a stronger sense of nostalgia, write about a sound that reminds you of a pleasant point in your life.