This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we announced a new campaign to share domestic violence survivors’ stories of healing and support. Using the hashtag #SupportAfterDV, we invited survivors in our community to share the ways they were best supported after their experiences on social media or through our anonymous online survey.

We were moved by the hundreds of responses we received. Our community told us stories about their loved ones joining them for court appearances, collecting their belongings from previous homes, or providing shelter when they had nowhere else to go. Others shared the words that resonated most with them after domestic violence: “I believe you.” “You’re not alone.” “This wasn’t your fault.”

We have compiled a selection of the answers we received in the gallery below. We invite you to click through these powerful stories and keep them in mind as you reflect on your healing journey or support a survivor through theirs.

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It is humbling and emotional to be entrusted with a survivor’s story. Domestic violence affects at least one in four women and one in seven men in the United States, yet many survivors carry the weight of what was done to them alone. Survivors are too often blamed, belittled, disbelieved, or discouraged from coming forward.

Encouraging conversations about domestic violence—including creating safe spaces for survivors to share their stories if they choose—can help survivors reclaim their voices and find strength, not shame, in talking about their experiences. This was our goal.

Thank you for joining us in recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. You can continue the conversation by sharing your stories and by reading others’ words using #SupportAfterDV on social media.

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, please know you are not alone. For support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. Si necesita ayuda en español, visite nuestras páginas. Learn how you can support a survivor.