In the Spotlight – Caroline Abbott
Community Advocate
Author, blogger www.carolineabbott.com

Caroline Abbott Found Success after Living through Childhood Domestic Violence

Caroline Abbott is a former child of domestic violence who is now a self-published writer, blogger, and community advocate, working to support and empower others who are impacted. She is a passionate supporter of CDV’s work and role model for what a former child of domestic violence can become.

Domestic Violence isn’t Always Physical

The domestic violence Caroline grew up with was non-physical. She represents hundreds of millions of men, women, and children who experience this type of domestic violence in childhood, which has a profound and lasting impact on their lives. She always felt on edge, guilty for her inability to protect her siblings, and, most of all, driven by the need for approval and validation. Although she was the model daughter, her efforts and accomplishments went unnoticed and unrewarded, which left her feeling intrinsically WORTHLESS.

Caroline grew into an adult who believed the Lie that she was “worthless”. This flawed self-concept paved the way for what followed, inadvertently repeating the cycle in adulthood. Marrying someone a lot like her stepfather, who reinforced her false beliefs and negative self-concept, Caroline experienced many years of domestic violence without realizing it, because the abuse was never physical. Instead, it was non-physical, as it had been in her childhood home.

Through Time, She Overcame the Lie that She was Worthless and Discovered the Truth

But as years passed, she began to slowly awaken to the Truth. A series of experiences, interactions with others, and her own actions slowly led to a realization that she is not worthless but is actually accomplished! This ultimately was the catalyst for change in her life.

Caroline lived alone for a long time, with no one to talk to or share her feelings with. Additionally, even when she did develop a circle of friends, she felt embarrassed and found it difficult to share her feelings with them. So, she turned to writing. It was her way of starting a dialogue – expressing herself, having a voice. It became a transformative force in her life, as she kept a journal and chronicled her daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Caroline also discovered guidance, support, and positive reinforcement through her faith community and a wide circle of friends she had made there.

Self-worth Began Erasing the Feeling of Worthlessness She had Lived with for So Long

A growing sense of self-worth was eroding the Lie she had held for so long. She also took further action by proactively seeking information and answers, becoming increasingly aware of her situation and the significant impact on her children. The final straw was when her husband’s abuse turned physical. Physical violence was something she couldn’t accept. Her expanded awareness and newfound confidence gave her the strength to end the cycle and change her life.

After pursuing other educational and healing resources, which brought even greater empowerment and a sense of worth, Caroline was inspired to give back. She trained to be a domestic violence advocate and funneled her passion for writing and journal entries into a self-published book, A Journey through Emotional Abuse: From Bondage to Freedom. She started a blog (www.carolineabbott.com), sharing information, resources, and words of support to educate and empower others. She also extended her efforts through Facebook, feeling a great sense of healing from giving help and hope to others.

Caroline has contributed to multiple CDV efforts, including serving as a voice on social media, writing guest blogs, and sharing her story and journey in our upcoming book, scheduled for release in October 2014. She is a strong voice and champion for others who grow up living with domestic violence.

READ CAROLINE’S FULL STORY HERE