![\"5](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-1024x683.jpg\")
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November 21, 2017<\/em><\/p>\n Holidays, Anniversaries, or special occasions\u00a0can be a challenging time for trauma survivors. Traditions and gatherings can bring uncomfortable reminders of a bad experience, or bring up memories of a more peaceful time, which can be upsetting. You may not feel as cheerful or happy as others expect you to be, or as you feel like you should.<\/p>\n Traumatic experiences are those that overwhelm a person\u2019s regular capacity to cope and process the situation. Trauma responses can leave you feeling, thinking, or reacting in ways that feel out of your control. If you\u2019re experiencing or recovering from abuse or violence, know that these experiences can be traumatic. Read below for ways to manage trauma on special days that don’t leave you feeling like celebrating.<\/p>\n Share these tips by clicking the graphic below:<\/a><\/p>\n Safe Horizon\u2019s Hotlines operate 24-hours a day, even on holidays. Your call is confidential. Whether you\u2019re in an extreme situation or you\u2019re unsure if your experience constitutes abuse, violence, or crime, we\u2019re here to help. Call us at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673).<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For survivors of crime and abuse who experience trauma symptoms, the holidays can be especially difficult. Here are five tips for dealing with trauma during the holidays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":{"id":5050,"alt_text":"5 Ways to Manage Trauma During the Holidays","caption":"","description":"","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":1000,"height":667,"file":"2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-e1511298960395.jpg","sizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-150x150.jpg"},"medium":{"file":"5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-300x200.jpg","width":300,"height":200,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-300x200.jpg"},"medium_large":{"file":"5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-768x512.jpg"},"large":{"file":"5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-1024x683.jpg","width":1024,"height":683,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-1024x683.jpg"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"1.4","credit":"Getty Images","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"Unhappy woman at home text messaging","created_timestamp":"1466891451","copyright":"Martin Dimitrov","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Woman at home texting on phone","orientation":"1","keywords":["Smart Phone","Using Phone","Text Messaging","Leisure Activity","Relationship Difficulties","Coffee Cup","One Woman Only","Women","Females","Weekend Activities","Surfing the Net","Domestic Life","E-Mail","Dusk","Leaning","Sitting","Choosing","Holding","One Person","Nostalgia","Relaxation","Sadness","Disappointment","Depression - Sadness","Loneliness","Solitude","Lifestyles","Indoors","Pensive","Worried","Recreational Pursuit","People","Poland","Paris - France","France","Night","Window","Home Interior","Internet","Mobile Phone","Telephone","Mug","Electric Lamp","Sofa","Social Networking","LypseFRA16"]}},"post":5047,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_photo-e1511298960395.jpg"},"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2015],"tags":[775,777],"class_list":["post-5047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safe-blog","tag-trauma","tag-trauma-reactions","issue-child-abuse","issue-domestic-violence","issue-human-trafficking","issue-rape-and-sexual-assault","issue-stalking","issue-victims-of-other-abuse","issue-homeless-youth"],"acf":{"page_header_title":"","page_header_image":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/silhouette_hero_image.png","original_url":"","related_initiative_title":"How do we help survivors of trauma?","related_initiative_link":"\/our-services\/what-we-do\/","related_initiative_link_text":"Learn about how we can help","featured_posts":[{"ID":4171,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2017-03-17 19:45:47","post_date_gmt":"2017-03-17 19:45:47","post_content":"Here are Five Tips for Dealing with Trauma During Holidays, Anniversaries, or Special Occasions<\/h1>\n
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![\"5](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/5-Ways-to-Manage-Trauma-During-the-Holidays_2018.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFinally, please know you are not alone. If you need to talk, we\u2019re here to listen.\u202fGive us a call.<\/h1>\n
\r\n\r\nBy Dana Rosenwasser\r\nMarch 17, 2017<\/em>\r\n\r\nFor victims of crime, help is just a phone call away. Safe Horizon operates three confidential 24-hour hotlines that are open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Heidy is one of the Client Advocate Specialists at our Crime Victims Hotline<\/a>, 866-689-HELP (4357)<\/a>, where she guides victims of any form of abuse or crime in obtaining help and services.\r\n\r\nHeidy's warm personality radiates through the calm and friendly tone of her voice. This invaluable quality is especially important since hers may be the first voice a victim of abuse hears when they call our Crime Victims Hotline.\r\n\r\nOften, a survivor's journey to safety and healing begins with a phone call. Heidy is knowledgeable about emergency and long-term resources available from Safe Horizon and other agencies. \"Although many callers have experienced domestic violence, we get calls from people of all genders and ages who need help with many different types of crime.<\/em>\" She explains. \"For example, they have experienced a hate crime or had their property stolen.\" <\/em>\r\n\r\n\r\nHow Do Our Hotline Specialists Help?<\/h1>\r\nSince every Hotline call is different, Heidy cites mindfulness as a crucial way to improve her response to the variety of concerns crime victims may have. Crime victims often experience trauma, which can elicit different physical and emotional reactions. These reactions can include body aches and pains, heart palpitations, fear, anxiety and hypervigilance. \"Based on what clients present, I analyze the risk and help them prioritize what is most important at that second.\"<\/em> She says. \"I then offer them information and available resources based on their concerns.\"<\/em>\r\n\r\nHeidy stresses that meeting a client where they are is fundamental to helping victims of abuse. That means being non-judgmental and pursuing remedies that suit a crime victims\u2019 circumstances. \"Especially when someone is in crisis, it can be hard to figure out where to go or what to do. It's my job to know about all of the services Safe Horizon offers and help the client choose what is right for them. That can be the beginning of the road to healing.\"<\/em>\r\n
How Heidy Became an Advocate<\/h1>\r\nHeidy found her calling as a high-school student when she was personally affected by domestic violence in her community. \"Domestic violence was something that I saw around me.\u201d <\/em>She explains. \u201cI knew then that I wanted to pursue a career where I could make a difference by helping survivors of crime and abuse.\u201d<\/em>\r\n\r\nWhile pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice at Morrisville State College, Heidy volunteered at a domestic violence hotline. That's where she heard about Safe Horizon. This experience helped Heidy become attuned to victims' needs without ever meeting them. \"If I put myself in a survivor\u2019s shoes, I often realize that this person is telling a complete stranger their whole life's story.\"<\/em> She says. \"That instantly forms a kind of trusting bond. It's amazing because abusers often break trust, so it goes to show you how resilient someone has to be to call our Hotline and ask for help.\"<\/em>\r\n
The Crime Victims Hotline\u2019s Impact<\/h1>\r\nIn 2016, our Crime Victims Hotline answered 9,354 calls from people in crisis. One of your friends or neighbors could have been part of these staggering statistics. If you, or someone you know, have been impacted by crime and would like to talk to someone to find help and options, please call 866-689-HELP (4357)<\/a>. Dedicated advocates like Heidy are standing by right now to help.\r\n
Your help ensures that Advocates like Heidi are able to answer the calls of victims of crime or abuse 24 hours a day. <\/a><\/h2>\r\n
Please consider a donation to Safe Horizon.<\/a><\/h2>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n ","post_title":"A Friendly Voice at the Crime Victims Hotline","post_excerpt":"How do Crime Victims Hotline specialists help victims of crime or abuse? Meet Heidy, a Client Advocate Specialist who guides people in obtaining help and services.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"crime-victims-hotline-heidy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-06-10 13:36:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-06-10 17:36:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=4171","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"page_header_excerpt":"","title_font_size":"42","sub-headline_placement":false,"custom_scripts":false,"show_author_bio":false},"yoast_head":"\n