Survivors in Their Own Words: Brianna’s Story
Before I connected with SafeHomes, life felt chaotic, overwhelming, and hopeless. I was mentally and emotionally broken in ways I never imagined possible. Every day felt heavy, and I truly could not see a way out of my circumstances. I had finally found the courage to leave my ex-husband, but I had no job (because I had not been allowed to work), no car, and no sense of direction. I had lost myself completely. I had been conditioned for so long to believe I had no value and that there was nothing better for me beyond the life I was living. Eventually, I realized the cycle had to end. I made the difficult decision to leave everything behind, except my son, because I knew I could not continue living that way. I often experienced fear, anger, guilt, and shame. I blamed myself for what my life had become. I feared what would happen after leaving and how it would affect not only me, but also my son. I felt angry that I had allowed someone to gain so much power and control over my life. During the marriage, and even after leaving, I struggled with panic attacks and severe anxiety. I lived in a constant state of tension and survival, never truly feeling safe or at peace. I realized that I needed support when I understood that I had been a prisoner in my own life. Not behind physical bars, but mental and emotional ones. I realized that if I did not make a change, I would remain stuck for the rest of my life.
One of my biggest fears about reaching out to SafeHomes was the shame of admitting I was in a toxic and harmful situation. I had suffered in silence for years, hiding my pain from others, so opening up to an organization about what I had experienced was terrifying. However, I was surprised by how comfortable and supported they made me feel. From the very beginning, I was treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. The woman who completed my counseling intake was kind, understanding, and encouraging. They did not make me feel broken or fragile. Instead, they made me feel human, valued, and safe. Through SafeHomes, I have now been in counseling for about three years. I have also attended workshops and support groups that have been a huge part of my healing journey. The support groups allowed me to connect with other women who understood what I had been through, and the workshops provided practical tools while creating a sense of community and encouragement.
Counseling has helped me heal not only from the abusive relationship, but also from childhood trauma and years of emotional pain. Every session with my counselor makes me feel seen, heard, and believed. She has walked with me through some of my darkest moments and always helps me see my situation and my pain from a healthier perspective. She asks thoughtful questions that challenge me to look deeper within myself and helps me process emotions I used to avoid. Every time I leave a session, I feel lighter, stronger, and more hopeful. Because of the support I received through SafeHomes, practical changes began happening in my life. I learned breathing and grounding techniques to help manage anxiety and overwhelming emotions. I learned how to recognize my triggers and understand the different parts of myself that needed healing. One of the biggest changes is that I returned to college to pursue my dream of becoming a dentist. My counselor told me about a grant available to survivors returning to school and even wrote me a recommendation letter. I have now completed two quarters, and I am determined to finish my degree. I truly believe I would not have taken that step as soon as I did without the guidance and resources SafeHomes provided.
During this journey, I discovered great resilience in myself. No matter how much life tried to break me, I still carried joy and hope in my heart. After leaving my marriage, I went through a painful divorce, a child custody battle where my son was taken from me after I was falsely portrayed as an unfit mother, and within seven months, I lost both my aunt and my father. Even before that, chaos and instability had surrounded much of my life. I witnessed domestic violence at only two years old and experienced emotional and mental abuse growing up. Yet through all of it, I kept going. I kept believing better days would come, even during moments when I felt completely hopeless. I am proud to have had the courage to confront my pain and work through my trauma. I struggled for years with low self-esteem and self-hatred that damaged every part of my life. To now be able to look at myself and honestly say that I am learning to love myself and no longer hate who I am is one of my greatest accomplishments.
Today, I am wiser and more self-aware than I was when I first reached out for help. For a long time, I ran from my pain because I did not know how to face it. But through counseling and healing, I learned that true growth comes from allowing yourself to feel, process, and confront the pain instead of hiding from it. I have learned from my mistakes, from heartbreak, and from disappointment. Those lessons have helped shape me into a stronger person. I also used to be a major people pleaser, but now I have learned to stand up for myself and protect my peace. Healing is not something that happens overnight. Sometimes memories resurface, and emotions can make you feel like you are reliving painful moments all over again. Healing requires choosing forgiveness repeatedly — forgiving others and forgiving yourself. It is painful, difficult, and uncomfortable at times, but it is also beautiful, freeing, and deeply rewarding.
My hope for the future is to become a dentist, but more importantly, to continue healing and growing into the person God created me to be. I want to be healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I want to walk fully in purpose and use my experiences to help others. I also hope my son grows into a confident, healthy, compassionate young man who positively impacts the lives of others. To anyone in a similar situation, I would say this: please do not lose hope. I know it can feel like things will never get better, but hold on to your faith and keep moving forward one step at a time. Hope is powerful, and it is something no one can take away from you. Even in your darkest moments, there is still a future waiting for you. You owe it to yourself to keep going.
SafeHomes is a place where people can begin again. It is a place where you are seen, supported, and reminded that your life still has value and purpose. SafeHomes creates an atmosphere of safety, belonging, and healing while providing resources and opportunities to help rebuild your life. The tools and support they offer can truly change your life if you are willing to take those steps forward. SafeHomes has been an incredible blessing in my journey.
To protect survivor safety and confidentiality, this testimonial uses a fictional name and image, and certain identifying details have been changed. The story is based on the experiences of a survivor served by SafeHomes.