Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse
Miri* reached out to us regarding a drug addiction that had developed after years of avoiding the trauma resulting from sexual abuse she had suffered as a child.
Miri grew up in a home with a constant stream of guests, in a busy environment where it was easy for things to go unnoticed. When she was eight, Miri was molested by a neighbor who was there for the weekend; she felt too ashamed to tell anyone what happened.
For years after, Miri became a “difficult” child with issues at school; but her parents never delved into why their daughter had changed. They chalked it up to growing pains and a teenager acting out.
Fast forward several years, and Miri got married and had three children. She began turning to drugs to cope with the painful emotions bubbling beneath the surface. Eventually, Miri realized she was on a dark path that could destroy her life; she found the courage to confide in her husband about what had been done to her as a child and how she had turned to drugs for relief.
Miri’s husband was supportive and suggested that they call Amudim. He was on our subscriber list and had seen the weekly stories describing other individuals facing similar challenges.
Our case manager helped connect Miri with an inpatient treatment center that could provide the help she needed. We are grateful that we have a network of donors devoted to aiding those in the community who need our assistance. They also discussed options for daycare and help in the house, so that Miri could enter rehab without the added anxiety of how her family would manage.
Miri is currently mid-treatment; her case manager checks in regularly with her care team. She is doing well but still has a long road ahead. We are hopeful that with continued support, Miri will heal from her past and current challenges and emerge stronger, happy, and ready to move forward.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Amudim is a phone call away and here to help.
*Names and details have been changed for privacy purposes
Each week, Amudim fields calls covering a wide range of crises and addressing various human concerns, including addiction, depression, abuse, health and domestic emergencies and many others. We track the calls and breakdown of issues for many reasons, foremost of which is to consistently improve and strengthen our knowledge and ability to address community’s needs.
Tip of the day: Supporting a survivor of Sexual Abuse
DO NOT OUT THE SURVIVOR
Victims and survivors can find it difficult to trust people because of their experiences. So, it's important that you don't betray their trust by telling someone else what happened to them without their okay. It is their story to share when, how, and if they want to.
This is specifically referring to past abuse that is no longer ongoing.
If you suspect abuse is still ongoing please take all necessary steps to alert the proper authorities and stop the abuser immediately.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone.
Contact Amudim today.
#mentalhealth #sexualabuse #survivor #tipoftheday
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Zvi Gluck x The Aaron and Eli Show
Zvi founded @amudim, to support people in crisis.
We recorded a podcast talking about the work he's doing, in all different types of addictions and abuse.