Empowering Words: Inspirational Quotes for Survivors of Domestic Violence

"We do learn so much about ourselves in our experiences. But also, know that it shouldn’t have happened. This was not a lesson you needed to learn."

- Jordan Pickell

"If you walked away from a toxic, negative, abusive, one-sided, dead-end low vibrational relationship or friendship–you won."

- Lalah Delai

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

- Maya Angelou

"Part of the healing process is sharing with other people who care."

- Jerry Cantrell

"I don’t think people realize how much strength it takes to pull your own self out of a poisonous situation with someone you love deeply. So if you’ve done that today or any day, I’m proud of you."

- Horacio Jones

"I’m still coping with my trauma, but coping by trying to find different ways to heal it rather than hide it."

- Clemantine Wamariya

"We must send a message across the world that there is no disgrace in being a survivor of sexual violence—the shame is on the aggressor."

- Angelina Jolie

"Revenge is surviving, getting out, and being a better person than you were, and breaking the cycle."

- Kristy Green

"When a toxic person can no longer control you, they will try to control how others see you. The misinformation will seem unfair but rise above it, trusting that others will eventually see the truth, just as you did."

- Jill Blakeway

"Be gentle with your past selves for doing what they had to do to get through it."

- Jordan Pickell

"Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength."

- Henry Rollins

"I’ve overcome neglect and deprivation, abandonment and abuse."

- Tatum O’Neal

"If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment."

- Carlos Santana

"Refuse to inherit dysfunction. Learn new ways of living instead of repeating what you lived through."

- Thema Davis

"There is a fine balance between honoring the past and losing yourself in it. For example, you can acknowledge and learn from mistakes you made, and then move on and refocus on the now. It is called forgiving yourself."

- Eckhart Tolle

"If you alter your behaviour because you are frightened of how your partner will react, you are being abused."

- Sandra Horley

"Never stop fighting for your freedom, you are worth it"

- DA survivor – Anon

"You might not think you are strong enough to leave, but you are. You might not think you can cope, but you can. Look at what you’re coping with already. There is a brighter future without abuse, where you can be yourself. Reach out, ask for help. Change your life."

- Rebecca – DA survivor

"It is tough to make the decision to leave, but when you do, and you have the support around you to do so, it is good and it is worth it. It is good to talk. You must always talk to people to get through it."

- DA survivor – Anon

"Those days that you feel you cannot continue, remind yourself that it is your own strength that gets you through. That cannot be taken. You are a survivor. From one survivor to another, you are believed and you are not alone. “Inner Strength Cannot Be Broken”"

- Gina, Advocate – Aurora New Dawn

"Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t"

- Anonymous

"I am a survivor of domestic abuse experienced some thirty or more years ago. Back then, for a long time, I did not believe I could leave, or that I would be able to survive and look after my children if I did. But eventually, I did leave, and though living as a single parent was really hard, it became the best decision I ever made. It turned out everything my husband had told me about myself and what I was capable of was wrong. I could stand on my own two feet, I could manage alone, I could look after my children. For IDEVAW 2020, I want to tell any woman who is in the same position today as I was then: you deserve to be happy, you have the right to be free, and you deserve a life without fear or self-doubt. It’s ok to be afraid, and you’re not alone, there are people waiting to help you – just like the amazing team at Aurora. And whenever you’re ready, you can do this. We’re with you."

- Angela – Survivor of Domestic abuse

"I am sixty eight and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. When I was twenty two, my husband was failing at university, flunking the course and not attending lectures. He drank heavily and began taking his misery out on me. He throttled me repeatedly and broke my rib. Everything was my fault. He told me I was a rotten wife (I believed him) and that he had conjugal rights. There were rapes and still I did not leave him. I had nowhere to go as I had left home to escape abuse. I eventually found the courage to leave, walking out a couple of years later with nothing but the clothes on my back, my purse and five pairs of knickers in a plastic bag. No car, no mobile. Nowhere to go but a friend’s sofa. I’ve never felt so alone, but it was the best thing I have ever done. Nothing comes close to the amount of courage that took. My life changed completely, for the better, from that moment. I’m so proud of me. I took far too long to leave. I took far too long to get help. However I did it. And I survived. Everything I have done since, all the successes in my life, started from that moment. I have made a fantastic life for myself. The anger still burns, but I healed. Unfortunately, my history is a familiar tale to so many people reading this. I just wish I could go back and talk to that young girl that I was. What would I say? 1. It is not your fault. 2. Leaving is so hard because your confidence is destroyed, you feel trapped. Nothing will ever feel as bad as this. 3. Phone for help. Tell someone. Phone Aurora New Dawn. Listen; they have ways to keep you and your family safe, and when you are ready, you can escape. 4. You are worth so much more than this. 5. You are not alone. So many people can understand what you are going through, and can help you in all sorts of ways. I started telling a few trusted friends about my early life, as I got older. What amazed me was how many said: “Oh, that happened to me.” 6. You can survive this, and once you have, your life can begin again and you will realise how good life can be ….. and that you can survive anything."

- Valerie – survivor of Domestic Abuse

"To be rendered powerless doesn’t destroy your humanity. Your resilience is your humanity. The only people who lose their humanity are those who believe they have the right to render another human being powerless. They are the weak. To yield and not break, that is incredible strength"

- Hannah Gadsby

"You mean more to people than you realise, believe in yourself as much as your friends believe in you and you will break free"

- DA Survivor – Anon

"I just want to tell other women that when you feel like you are falling there is a whole army of us ready to catch you. You don’t need to explain because we have lived it, we know, we see, we are here for you and we believe you."

- Shonagh CEO

"Do not look in his eyes for answers. Do not look to him for kindness. Don’t hold your eyes down when he tells you you’re dirt. Look up. Look for women. Listen to what they tell you. Block your ears to his poison. Let women’s love show you the way out and then never look at him again. See your future clearly. It will be bright and clear and you will shine in it."

- Jean Hatchet – Survivor of Male Violence

"It’s not your fault, whatever has happened you did not “deserve it” no one deserves this treatment or abuse eventually the torment and pain will make you question what is actually happening, don’t be afraid to get help. Don’t let them win, fight with every ounce of strength you have left, especially in those really dark times when you cannot see the way forward, you feel worthless or question everything you do and why you are doing it. The true you will come through this, you will win this battle, don’t allow the shame and embarrassment to ruin your life further, there are people out there who genuinely care and love you for who you are."

- Childhood Sexual Abuse survivor – Anon

"It is all in your own time and it is all when you feel ready."

- DA Survivor – Anon

"Although I wish I had have recognised the abuse earlier talking to someone openly and honestly about what I have experienced helps me understand that I am not to blame."

- DA Survivor – Anon

"There is always light at the end of the tunnel"

- DA survivor – Anon

"I stood up for myself and I’ve shown him I’ve stood up for myself so it’s been worth it"

- Sexual Violence Survivor – Anon

"My children are the silent witnesses to the coercive and controlling behaviour which governed our lives. Although they are moving forwards, they, like me, are strong and practised against the dominator, we will always remember the fear of the unexpected, be vigilant to the change of tone, the treading of eggshells and the ultimate questioning of ‘self’. I now teach such abused children and I bear witness to the lasting damage to those children who have witnessed this abuse. I urge every authority to be vigilant of every health appointment being missed, any child unexpectedly being removed from school and the questionable responsibility of a new stepfather. This voice is sent especially to the Armed Forces to acknowledge and pay respect to the voices of the wives and children of the culpable perpetrators. It is OK not to be ok but it is NOT ok to do nothing about it."

- Sandy Noble – DA Survivor

"My father died three years ago and at 52yrs old this was the first time in my life I felt free from his control and bullying. The sense of fear never leaves you but with therapy and support you learn how to manage it. On his deathbed the Dr told me all I could do now was hold his hand and tell him how much I loved him – my heart sunk because I simply couldn’t do that but wanted more than anything to be like a “normal” grieving daughter; he took that away from me. I can’t change my lived experience and now use it to train the police and support victims – without my childhood experiences I wouldn’t have the empathy and emotional intelligence I now possess nor the passion for the work I am privileged to do. Every cloud has a silver lining and I have turned my bad experiences into a positive – I have chosen not to let my past define me as a person and to find happiness. Never underestimate the long term impact of DA on children."

- Childhood survivor of DVA – Anon

"What would I tell other women? Whatever I did say when I opened my mouth, it sure as shit wouldn’t be judgmental or dismissive. I would open my ears, and my heart to help women. My connection with other women in the aftermath of fatal abuse is essential to my mental and physical well-being. Women helped my healing. Protecting myself through the sharing of knowledge, experience and activism, telling Dawn’s story. Reach out. There are Women who will help you get to a life you want, free from abuse."

- Kirsty – Sister to Dawn Rhodes a victim of Domestic Abuse

"My dad was abusive to my mum when I was a child, and some of my earliest memories are of feeling afraid for her and for myself. There was no support for me when I was a child. We weren’t picked up by social services, my school didn’t notice, no one ever asked me whether anything was wrong at home. I am often amazed that now, almost 40 years later, there is still little dedicated support for children who have lived alongside or directly suffered domestic abuse. We recover from the scars left on our bodies, but those left unseen in our minds may never heal. The effects last a lifetime, and if I had one wish for IDEVAW 2020 it would be to improve support and funding for services, not only for adult victims of abuse but for children. If I could travel back in time, I would tell that little girl who was me just one thing: It’s not your fault."

- Sarah – Childhood Survivor of Domestic Abuse

"Your growth comes not as you work harder to get something you don’t have, but as you live in the reality of what you have already been given"

- Nancy Guthrie

"Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose"

- Michelle Rosenthall

"And here you are living despite it all"

- Rupi Kaur

"If you want to know where to find your contribution to the world, look at your wounds. When you learn how to heal them, teach others"

- Emily Maroutian

"I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do"

- Brené Brown

"The enemy doesn’t stand a chance when the victim decides to survive"

- Rae Smith

"Survivors of abuse show us the strength of their personal spirit every time they smile"

- Jeanne Mcelvaney

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles"

- Christopher Reeve

"Someone once asked me how I hold my head up so high after all I have been through. I said it’s because no matter what, I am a survivor, not a victim"

- Patricia Buckley

"You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage"

- Alex Elle

"You survived the abuse. You’re gonna survive the recovery"

- Olivia Benson

"Please know that you can get out and it will not always be an easy road, and it will be lonely at times. But it only gets better, life is too beautiful to live it trapped and abused and hiding under the shame of it all"

- Anonymous

"So often survivors have had their experiences denied, trivialized, or distorted. Writing is an important avenue for healing because it gives you the opportunity to define your own reality"

- Ellen Bass

"Each time a woman stands up for herself without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women"

- Maya Angelou

"If we are to fight discrimination and injustice against women we must start from the home for if a woman cannot be safe in her own house then she cannot be expected to feel safe anywhere."

- Aysha Taryam

"Sexual assault and domestic violence are difficult things to talk about. Talk about them anyway."

- Mariska Hargitay

"Domestic violence can be so easy for people to ignore, as it often happens without any witnesses and it is sometimes easier not to get involved. Yet, by publicly speaking out against domestic violence, together we can challenge attitudes towards violence in the home and show that domestic violence is a crime and not merely unacceptable."

- Honor Blackman

"Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal."

- Thomas Moore

"Violence needs to stop. All of us - men and women - need to speak up and teach our children that violence is never the solution. Together we can all make a difference. The best place to start is with yourself."

- Will Young

"Violence against women is an appalling human rights violation. But it is not inevitable. We can put a stop to this."

- Nicole Kidman

"Gaslighting is the systematic attempt by one person to erode another person’s reality by telling them that what they are experiencing isn’t so — and, the gradual giving up on the part of the other person."

- Robin Stern

"Narcissists withhold affection to punish you. Withhold attention to get revenge. And withhold an emotional empathetic response to make you feel insecure."

- Alice Little

"You’re too sensitive’ victims of sexual abuse are told over and over by those whose reality depends on being insensitive. Most adults who have been in the victim role cringe when anyone tells them they are sensitive. In fact, sensitivity is a lovely trait and one to be cherished in any human being."

- Renee Fredrickson

"Do not look for healing at the feet of those who broke you"

- Rupi Kaur

"I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become"

- Carl Gustav Jung

"Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong"

- Sarah Dessen

"There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power strong than both, that of women"

- Malala Yousafzai

"I am not a victim. No matter what I have been through, I’m still here. I have a history of victory"

- Dr. Steve Maraooli

"Our wounds are our sources of growth"

- Rachel Naomi Remen

"I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become."

- C.G. Jung

"You are always stronger and more resourceful than you give yourself credit for."

- Rob Moore

"Domestic abuse happens only in intimate, interdependent, long-term relationships—in other words, in families—the last place we would want or expect to find violence."

- Leslie Morgan Steiner

"The remedy for life’s broken pieces is not classes, workshops, or books. Don’t try to heal the broken pieces. Just forgive."

- Iyanla Vanzant

"Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong."

- Sarah Dessen

"Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'"

- Mary Anne Radmacher

"Domestic violence is not physical violence alone, it can be verbal. This case of violence can happen to anyone regardless of age and gender. Many people who experience domestic violence don’t even realize that they are in an abusive relationship."

- Zisilia Alvsa

"Victims of domestic violence need assistance and deserve justice. I commend the crime unit’s efforts to put offenders behind bars and reach out to victims."

- Bob Riley

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone"

- Robin Williams

"You do have a story; it lies articulate and waiting to be written behind your silence and your suffering."

- Anne Rice

"Don’t confuse “familiar” with “acceptable”. Toxic relationships can fool you like that."

- Steve Maraboli

"Toxic people be like, ‘How dare you set boundaries and not allow me to control and manipulate you?’"

- Wingheart

"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you."

- Ovid

"Strength isn’t measured by the ability to cause harm."

- Nina Varela

"One day, I plan to love so loudly, my body abandons every demon harvesting me"

- Arati Warrier

"When I talk about my trauma I am not asking you to carry it or relieve me from it"

- Blythe Baird

"Survivors of abuse show us the strength of their personal spirit every time they smile."

- Jeanne McElvaney

"Music is like my secret garden. It’s where I heal myself from every pain that I feel. It’s like a therapy."

- Jain

"Domestic violence is an epidemic, and yet we don’t address it. Until it happens to celebrities."

- Nelsan Ellis

"Being able to make a cup of coffee, in my own kitchen, without fear is the best thing imaginable"

- DA survivor – Anon

"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them."

- Dalai Lama

"The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about."

- Jonathan Harnisch

"Just because it’s explainable, doesn’t mean it’s excusable."

- Anonymous

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."

- Raymond Lindquist

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

- Winston Churchill

"You are the hero of your own story."

- Joseph Campbell

"The wound is the place where the light enters you."

- Rumi

"After a while I looked in the mirror and realized...wow, after all those hurts, scars, and bruises, after all of those trials, I really made it through. I did it. I survived that which was supposed to kill me. So I straightened my crown...and walked away like a boss"

- Unknown

"Survivor Psalm: I have been victimized. I was in a fight that was not a fair fight. I did not ask for the fight. I lost. There is no shame in losing such fights. I have reached the stage of survivor and am no longer a slave of victim status. I look back with sadness rather than hate. I look forward with hope rather than despair. I may never forget, but I need not constantly remember. I was a victim. I am a survivor"

- Unknown

"Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives."

"You are stronger than the abuse; believe in your strength."

"The strongest hearts are those that have endured the most."

"Surviving is not about never falling; it’s about getting up every time you do."

"Survival is victory over the hardships of life."

"Your story of survival is your greatest strength."

"Survival is proof that you are stronger than you ever imagined."

"Leaving abuse is the first step to freedom."

"You are stronger than the pain you’ve endured."

"The bravest thing you can do is walk away."

"You are worthy of love and respect, not fear."

"Breaking free is the beginning of finding yourself again."

"The chains of abuse are heavy, but you have the strength to break them."

"You are not the bad things that happened to you."

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the will to go on despite it."

"Empower yourself by believing in your worth."

"Overcoming challenges makes you stronger."

"Your survival is your strength, and your strength is your survival."

"Strength is not about never falling; it’s about rising every time you do."

"Resilience is the ability to bend without breaking."

"Your strength is in your ability to keep going."

"Resilience is born from overcoming challenges."

"Strength is knowing you have the power to change your life."

"Resilience is the heart’s way of saying, 'I won’t give up.'"

"True strength is found in the face of adversity."

"Resilience is what keeps you moving forward."

"Strength is in your spirit, not just your muscles."

"Resilience is the art of bouncing back."

"Your strength is in your perseverance."

"Resilience is about finding hope in the darkest times."

"Strength is not about being unbreakable; it’s about being unshakable."

"Resilience is the courage to keep going when you feel like giving up."

"Resilience is the secret to surviving hard times."

"Resilience is what makes you unstoppable."

"Strength is not measured by what you can lift, but by what you can overcome."

"Resilience is the power to rise above."

"Every challenge you overcome makes you more resilient."

"Your strength lies in your resilience."

"You are not a victim; you are a survivor."

"Survival is proof of your inner strength."

"Empowerment starts with self-belief."

"Survival is the first step toward thriving."

"Courage is the spark that lights the fire of change."

"You have the power to overcome anything."

"Empowerment is the art of knowing your worth."

"Recovery is about rebuilding, not replacing."

"Recovery is about reclaiming your power."

"Healing is a gift you give to yourself."

"Recovery is about finding yourself again."

"Healing is the key to opening the door to your future."

"Healing is not about forgetting; it’s about growing stronger."

"Recovery is the path to finding peace."

"Healing comes when you let go of the past."

"Recovery is about learning to live again."

"Healing is a process, but the result is worth it."

"Recovery begins the moment you choose to heal."

"Healing is the first step to reclaiming your life."

"Overcoming is about embracing the future, not reliving the past."

"Surviving means choosing life over fear."

"Overcoming adversity is the essence of being human."

"Every storm you survive makes you appreciate the sunshine more."

"Survival is the ultimate act of defiance."

"Overcoming is about rising above, not sinking below."

"Overcoming is finding peace in the chaos."

"Strength is about staying true to yourself."

"Survival is the art of keeping hope alive."

"Overcoming is about moving forward, even when it’s hard."

"Surviving is about standing tall even when you feel small."

"True empowerment comes from within."

"Believe in your power to change your life."

"Empowerment comes when you decide to stand up for yourself."

"You are braver than you think."

"Courage is the first step to empowerment."

"Every small step forward is a step in the right direction."

"Empowerment begins with self-love."

"You are capable of more than you know."

- Unknown

"Courage is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets."

"Freedom from abuse is the greatest gift you can give yourself."

"Don’t let anyone dim your light with their darkness."

"Every setback is a setup for a comeback."

"Loving yourself means walking away from abuse."

"Abuse hides in silence; break it with your voice."

"There is always a way out; find it."

"Stand tall, even when others try to bring you down."

"Abuse is a choice, and so is leaving."

"Your life matters. Choose safety, choose you."

"You survived the abuse. You’re going to survive the recovery."

"No one has the right to control you."

"You are not alone. Reach out, help is there."

"Violence is never the answer; leaving is."

"Your safety is more important than someone else's feelings."

"Abuse is not love; love doesn’t hurt."

"Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you."

"Healing means taking one step at a time."

"Healing is the art of becoming whole again."

"Don’t suffer in silence; your voice matters."

"Love should never hurt. Seek help, find peace."

"Your voice is your power; use it wisely."

"The only limits to empowerment are the ones you set yourself."

"Courage is the bridge between fear and freedom."

"You have the power to create your own path."

"Empowerment is the key to unlocking your potential."

"Courage is contagious. When you stand up, others are inspired to stand with you."

"True courage is facing the unknown with a hopeful heart."

"No one deserves to be treated badly. Stand up, speak out."

"Overcoming is about rewriting your story, your way."

"Healing is a journey, not a destination."

"Recovery is about progress, not perfection."

"Healing takes time, but every step forward is a victory."

"Recovery is the bridge between who you were and who you are becoming."

"Recovery is a journey of self-discovery."

"I am so much more than you told me I was."

- Unknown

"I am stronger than I ever thought possible."