Safety and Security: An Introduction

   The next section is about Safety and Security. These concepts are universal but a little hard to adjust down to a personal level. Abuse survivors generally have a place, time, set of people that they consider to be "safe". Safety and security are important to most people, but both are also vital to healing after abuse. Survivors with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and DID may struggle more to reclaim feelings of safety and security.

Safety can be a number of things depending on the person. It can be the "state of not being dangerous or harmful" or it can be "a place that is free from harm or danger," according to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. An abuse survivor may have a mental illness or behavioral issue that makes finding a safe place important to protect others or they may need a safe place to hide from danger. Safety is mostly about finding a physical location where danger is not present.

Security is "freedom from danger, fear, or anxiety," according to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. It is very similar to safety, but focuses on the internal feeling of safety rather than the external dangers.

  It will take time for any survivor to reclaim the feelings of safety and security that were lost during their abuse or assault. The process may be simpler for some than for others. Safety can be changing locks or moving location. Security is more about changing behavior and thinking to practice realistic caution opposed to extreme fear or paranoia.

This section will explore the ways one can be safe and find a sense of security in their day to day life.