When the Hardest Part Isn’t the Bruise

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Rainbow House we want to name something that often goes unspoken: the mental and emotional weight of living with abuse can be just as heavy as anything physical. Sometimes heavier.

If you are exhausted in a way sleep does not fix, if you second-guess your own memory, if you feel anxious before they walk through the door, if you have stopped doing things you used to love, if you feel numb, jumpy, ashamed, or like you are slowly disappearing, you are not broken. You are responding to something that would wear anyone down.

Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, and feeling disconnected from yourself are all common responses to abuse. They are not signs of weakness or proof that something is wrong with you. They are signs that you have been carrying too much, for too long, often alone.

You do not have to be in crisis to reach out. You do not have to be ready to leave. You do not have to have the whole story figured out. Our advocates can listen, talk through what you are feeling, and connect you with counseling and support at your pace, on your terms, and at no cost.

Whatever May looks like for you this year, please know there is space here for the parts of your story that do not show up on the outside.

Call: (715) 735-6656 Text: (906) 290-9081 24-hour confidential support

How to Get Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing unhealthy or abusive warning signs, reach out the the Rainbow House for free and confidential support 24/7 at (715) 735-6656

Rainbow House Agency Mission Statement

We believe: No one deserves to be abused be it emotionally, physically, financially, or sexually. Our prime service is the safety and empowerment of all victims and their children.  We Will: Provide prevention, education, and information to communities, families, and schools.