Talk about it

As I sit and contemplate my life, I am reminded of another life that was taken from us way to soon. I have spent many hours wondering as I am sure some of you have, could I have stopped this from happening? Am I easy to talk to, did I miss a sign? Although I am not a psychologist, or a psychiatrist I do know what it is like to be a Domestic Violence victim. It is true that we don't know what goes on behind closed doors but are there signs that we can look for that might give us a hint of what is happening at home? I think we all owe it to ourselves to become familiar with the signs and learn to ask the right questions or at least become approachable when it comes to talking about domestic violence.

From my personal experience, I was embarrassed about being a victim, and I never told anyone at work. I didn't know where the domestic violence shelters were, or even how to contact them. I had a great job and money was not an issue. I know I was in denial myself. You never want to believe that someone you love or had loved could hurt you or take your life. In my situation it was a slow process to the escalation of violence. Although I knew what made him mad, I didn't think that it could escalate to the level of violence that it did. I am one of the lucky ones. I made it out alive.

I am now a Community Advocate for the Canyon Crisis Center.

If you think that you or someone you know is in a Domestic Violence relationship please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and ask for help.  

1.800.799.SAFE (7233)

Red Flags of Abuse

The following is a list of early warning signs that someone may be abusive.  This list was put together by survivors of domestic violence who reflected on the early phases of the battering relationship and identified some of the early warning signs of abusers.
Someone who:
Wants to move too quickly into the relationship.
Does not honor your boundaries.
Is excessively jealous and accuses you of having affairs.
Wants to know where you are all of the time and frequently calls, emails and texts you throughout the day.
Criticizes you or puts you down; most commonly tells you that you are "crazy," "stupid" and/or "fat," or that no one would ever want or love you.
Says one thing and does another.
Takes no responsibility for their behavior and blames others.
Has a history of battering.
Blames the entire failure of previous relationships on their partner; for example, "My ex was a total bitch."
Grew up in an abusive or violent home.
Insists that you stop spending time with your friends or family.
Seems "too good to be true."
Insists that you stop participating in leisure interests.
Rages out of control and is impulsive.
Pay attention to the "red flags "and trust your instincts.  Survivors of domestic violence frequently report that their instincts told them that there was something wrong early on but they disregarded the warning signs and didn't know that these signs were indicative of an abusive relationship.  Always take time to get to know a potential partner and watch for patterns of behavior in a variety of settings.  Keeping in touch with your support system and participating in good self-care can lower your risk of being involved in an abusive relationship.

The warning signs above have been provided by the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Why a Monster?

Why do we have a Monster truck? I have been asked this question so many times that I thought it was time to answer.  I have always liked monster trucks, and the way that they bring whole families to each event.  I love the way they transform grown men and women into little kids, screaming and yelling jumping up and down while their favorite driver races across cars, buses and  challenging driving courses.  I love watching the kids that are jumping up and down with crazy hats and monster gear.  It becomes an adventure while these giant trucks fly through the air, roll over, lose pieces of their bodies and still get up and keep going.  When it's all over the drivers emerge from the monster to the sound of thousands of people screaming their names.  The adreneline that goes through your body as you watch your favorite truck and driver fly through the air is amazing. 


It became clear to me that there was a wonderful opportunity for Break the Chain to become one of these giant super heros.  When that opportunity was presented to us I didn't even think about it for a minute.  Wow to have a Monster that we could actually have crush domestic violence, bullying, addiction, child abuse, and other social ills was an amazing thought.  After the collaboration of many businesses and fans we have finally been able to put this dream together.  We have been blessed by having this opportunity, and are going to make the most of it.  September is going to be a huge month for us.  We will have this Monster at the Sublimity Harvest Festival  the second week of September, and the Monster will do what we intended it to do. 

If you or your company would like to get on board with this grass roots effort, and Sponsor the Monster please email Jim@breakthechainapparel.com

Throwing out a Life Preserver

Looking out the window at yet another rainy and dreary day, I am reminded that this blustery, cold and damp feeling can also be how some of us are feeling. This can be a description of how many feel in this storm we call life. After contemplating the economic down turn, the price of gas and other commodities rising, job loss, relationship issues and addictions, it is easy to get swept up in the storm. But.... do we notice others that are no longer treading water and are actually slipping into the dark abyss? Unable to hold their heads above water they simply sink out of view. It is important to pay attention to the signs of people around us to help them avoid a choice that may not be able to be undone. I am talking about suicide.

Below I have included the warning signs of suicide from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

What Are The Warning Signs For Suicide? Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK if you or someone you know exhibits any of the following signs: Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person Feeling hopeless Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking Feeling trapped - like there's no way out Increasing alcohol or drug use Withdrawing from friends, family, and society Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time Experiencing dramatic mood changes Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life

For more resources regarding the prevention of suicide please click on the link.

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/ResourcesAndLinks.aspx