In this article, I wrote about how It Ends With Us, the novel-turned-film, offers a powerful chance to highlight the often overlooked issue of childhood domestic violence. Like the main character in the story, I grew up witnessing domestic violence and often asked myself what I could do to stop the violence. But the real question should have been, “What do you call it when you grow up witnessing domestic violence?”
This is where the impact of It Ends With Us is significant. Witnessing domestic violence as a child is known as childhood domestic violence—a term that isn’t widely recognized despite its deep and lasting effects. Many mistakenly believe that witnessing violence doesn’t harm them, but it does.
Naming this experience is crucial. Understanding childhood domestic violence is the first step toward healing and resilience, much like the recognition of PTSD provided a path to validation and treatment.
Today, 275 million children around the world need this awareness. And double that number of adults who experienced it just a generation or two prior. It’s the key to overcoming the challenges they face. As Dr. Renee McDonald, a leading researcher, says, “Even a small change in perspective can transform a life.”
If you’ve thrived despite growing up with domestic violence, you are a role model. Knowing the term childhood domestic violence can accelerate your growth. You’ve already overcome immense challenges, and you’re capable of even more.
By sharing your story, you can provide the awareness and support others need. If It Ends With Us can help raise awareness of childhood domestic violence, it’s more than a story—it’s a catalyst for change.
Brian F. Martin is the author of Invincible, the 10 Lies You Learn Growing Up Living with Domestic Violence and the Truths to Set You Free, and founder of the Childhood Domestic Violence Association – www.cdv.org