Women For Hope

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.   

Domestic violence is such a scary thing to me.   Being a survivor of rape makes me know what it is like to be affected by violence, but to have that violence come from someone who is supposed love me is something I can’t imagine.  To be scared to be in your own home, how awful!     I know it must be sheer torture for someone to have to flee their home and run from the person they love or have to protect their children from this person.  

Unfortunately, because people don’t want to think about Domestic Violence or Sexual Abuse, it gets pushed under the rug.   Victims feel shamed instead of supported and don’t know where to turn.    They also tend to blame themselves, because many stand in judgement of people in those situations.    I see the reaction when my husband and I talk about what we do with Women For Hope and we say that we work with organizations like RAINN or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.   We see eyebrows raised, instant uncomfortablility and sometimes a blantent change of subject, as it to say…uh…don’t want to talk about that - time to go - and why do you help those people?    And then people wonder why victims in violent households don’t get help.   (this isn’t even mentioning the reactions I get when I say I am a rape survivor - but that is for another post.)

That being said,  there are those who want to help, but don’t know how.      Most areas have a crisis center or shelter who are always in need of items.    They house women, men and children who are virtually homeless, because the place they should call home is a place of violence.   Of course, you could donate money to help their cause, but dropping off a bag of shampoo, hair brushes, tooth paste, even toliet paper can make a difference.   Maybe even send them a teddy bear for a sad boy or girl who has been hurt by one of his or her parents.     For a list of crisis centers, check the NCADV site for your state coalition site.  Once there, you should be able to find the shelter near you.

And wear a purple ribbon and when some asks you about it, say it is for Domestic Violence Awareness.   The more people who talk about it, the more people will be accepting of those in the situation.  Then, they might not be afraid to go get help.

‘Till next time….

Pam - www.womenforhope.com - In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness, we will be increasing our normal donation of 10% of the proceeds to NCADV to 15% for any purchase of domestic violence awareness jewelry during October.

As many know it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.     It is a great time to get in to the habit of doing a self-breast exam or reminding your female loved ones to do the same.       I do mine the first day of the month…that way it is easy to remember and I know I have done it once a month.    Here are some tips on how to breast self-exams:

1)  I usually do mine in the shower - it makes it easier with soapy hands.

2) Always check in the mirror to make sure that you don’t see any changes in color or texture of your skin.   Hold your arms up in the air to see  under your arms.   Also, examine your breast while bending at your waist, with your hands on your hips.   This allows ou to check for any dimpling of the skin.

3) Either lying down or in your shower, use your three middle fingers of the opposite hand to make small, circular motions in an up and down pattern.   Apply different measures of firmness to each area of the breast.   Check all areas including your armpit and collarbone area.

 4) If you find something that is suspect, make an appointment right away to see your physician or gynecologist.   Don’t be scared or ignore it.   The faster they check it out, the faster you will be on the road to treatment.

I had a small scare a few years back when I found something that felt funny.    Thankfully, it was just some fiberous tissue.    And of course it was scary getting a mammogram, but I am thankful that there are medical tests like to help doctors diagnose cancer in its early stages.

 So start your self-exam schedule.    If it has been a while since you had your last mammogram….then call your doctor and schedule one.   

I will be posting other tips through out the month…

 ’Til next time,

 Pam - www.womenforhope.com  - In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have increased our donation to CancerCare from 10% to 15% of the proceeds for all Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry purchased during October.