The month of October is a time to recognize many things, one of them being National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as proclaimed by President Trump Thursday, October 1, 2020.

Domestic Violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.

It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse.

A victim can be the abuser’s spouse, fiancé, partner, family member, step family, or even a roommate.

Someone in your family, your neighbor, your trainer, or anyone you know can be a victim.

There is no set age, class, gender, or race that suffers from abuse.

Crisis Center of Anderson and Cherokee Counties offers help varying from their hotline and counseling up to their safehouse.

Call 1-800-232-8519 or visit mycrisiscenter.com to talk with someone or see about receiving help for yourself, your family, or someone you know.

Do not contact them on your home computer if that is a risk. Visit a library or other place, and use the computers there.

The National Domestic violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) if you wish to speak to someone there.

“Do not feel ashamed and most importantly do not feel alone,” Margaret Stephenson explains, “Domestic Violence is not prejudice; it does not favor one person over the next. It can happen to anyone.”

If you know someone who needs help, do not judge or ask how it happened. Instead be their friend and help them through this difficult time.

Stephenson, bravely using her own name to raise awareness, wrote to talk about how the Crisis Center helped her and her children get a fresh start when she decided to leave the situation.

Further, she said it took her nine years to leave, while living with the aftermath almost daily.

She is in a much better place now though, she explained while giving permission to use her name. “I kept quiet for far too long and I feel it’s time to speak up.”

Remember, it is not your fault. Do not blame yourself or judge yourself by what another has done or is doing to you.

Be strong.