‘People think you just snap out of it’: Women describe rebuilding life after abuse

For a mother of three, leaving an abusive relationship meant starting over and finding understanding from others. At a WIZO conference in Tel Aviv, women shared their experiences of rebuilding their lives following trauma. "People think you just snap out of it, and that's not true," the mother of three explained to the conference attendees.

"I was looking for a sense of belonging." Her story is echoed by other panelists who talked about the challenges of managing daily life, ensuring their children felt secure, and finding people who recognized their struggles. The conference, held ahead of International Women's Day, focused on prevention, protection, and rehabilitation.

One participant described the loneliness of leaving a shelter, while another highlighted how abuse can rob individuals of positive emotions and make it difficult to explain their experiences to someone who hasn't lived through it. The Tzomchot Yachad program, which supports women and their children after abusive relationships, aims to build a network of communities across Israel to help women and children establish independent lives.

The program addresses practical and emotional difficulties, such as finding housing and employment, and includes training for human resources professionals to recognize and respond to workplace violence against women. Panelists emphasized the importance of community, prevention, and involving men in the solution, while also addressing the impact of war and the responsibility of the wider public in addressing domestic violence.