ABSTRACT
In Chapter 8, we looked at the internal processes that victims and survivors of abusive relationships experience to overcome abuse and the stigma that surrounds it. The intensity of the internal challenges they face underscores the importance of fostering positive, uplifting communities that will provide the optimal levels of support to help these people overcome the adversity they face. And yet in Chapter 5 we discussed a host of examples of ways that survivors may encounter stigmatizing experiences when seeking help, including help from friends, family, and professionals. We view this as one of the great tragedies surrounding intimate partner violence today. First, it is tragic that anyone should be abused in the first place. Second, it is a further tragedy that people who face abuse are often re-traumatized and stigmatized again in the process of seeking help and safety.
