Women of Abuse

Emotional, Physical and Sexual Abuse

A Christ centered 12 step/8principle support group learning to deal with emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

Abuse is the most personal and damaging form of betrayal. Recovery from abuse is the most intense and emotionally challenging form of recovery.

Survivors of abuse often struggle with powerful issues such as shame, thoughts of suicide, addictions, and even dissociation.

Recovery is a two-fold process. The first step is healing from the traumas done to us in our past; and second step is healing from the influence these past experiences continue to have in our present lives.  

Recovery from the effects of abuse does not follow a precise path.

The experiences and responses of those in this support group will vary widely.

(Most) Survivors of Physical / Sexual / Emotional Abuse . . .

•       Are hesitant to identify themselves as victims of abuse.

•       Feel isolated, depressed, worthless, and helpless to change.

•       Are struggling with feelings about God in relation to their life experiences of being abused.

•       Condemn themselves, denying that the past abuses affects their present circumstances.

•       Feel out of control and defeated in areas of compulsive behavior.

•       Feel angry, bitter, rebellious; have trouble with authority figures.

•       Feel a lack of self-worth.

•       Are preoccupied with thoughts of what it means to have a “normal” relationship with others; mates, friends, family.

•       Question their own sexual identity and may experience confusion regarding their own sexuality.

•       Desire to regain their sexuality and feel safe in intimate relationships.

•       Question self-reality; “Who am I?”

•       Question whether life has a purpose.

•       Feel “at home” in crisis situations.

•       Struggle with perfectionism or “all or nothing thinking.”

•       Desire to have victory through Christ over the life experience of abuse.

Scars remind you of where you have been…but they don’t have to determine where you will go.

Recovery is an ongoing process.

Together…

• We recognize that we are powerless to heal the damaged emotions resulting from our abuse. We look to God for the power to make us whole.

• We acknowledge that God’s plan for our lives includes victory over the experience of abuse.

• We understand that the persons who abused us are responsible for the abusive acts committed against us. We will not accept the guilt and shame resulting from those abusive acts.

• We look to God and His Word to find our identity as worthwhile and loved human beings.

• We are honestly sharing our feelings with God and at least one other person to help us identify the areas that need healing.

• We accept the responsibility for our responses to abuse.

• We are willing to accept God’s help in the decision and the process of forgiving ourselves and those who have perpetrated against us.

• We are willing to mature in our relationships with God and others.

• We are willing to be used by God as an instrument of healing and restoration in the lives of others.

The information and bullet points are partially taken from the books:

“Helping the Victims of Sexual Abuse” by Lynn Heitritter and Jeanette Vought

And “Shelter from the Storm” by Cynthia Kubetin and James Mallory, M.D.

The Hope of Sobriety…

As you advance in your recovery from abuse, be assured that God will grace you with the ability to function in meeting life’s inevitable challenges and surprises.

Living a sober life from abuse means viewing ourselves as ‘survivors’ rather than ‘victims’. We choose to see ourselves as survivors who are strong and who can make life-enhancing and Christ-honoring decisions. Once, we were victims…but now we can and will be survivors who can thrive through God’s grace!

While working toward sobriety in recovery, we will make a faithful commitment to consistently work the program which includes working or having worked through the Celebrate Recovery Step Study, steady attendance at the Friday night meetings including the Open Share Group time, and to have an ongoing relationship with a sponsor and accountability partners. We advocate journaling, daily inventory, transparency, and rigorous honesty.

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.