With the New Year upon us, our team has been reflecting on all we are grateful for through this past year. For many, 2021 may have mixed reviews…uncertainty, loss, change. For others, it promulgated significant transformation and growth. Whatever 2021 brought to you, we hope you find peace, joy and healing as you begin 2022 with new hope.
Our highlights from this year can be seen best through the diverse testimonies we have received from a wide variety of M3ND’s supporters (keeping confidence, we use pseudonyms for our authors). Scroll through and find one that resonates. Know that you have played a part in our success and we are thankful for your support.
May their words of hope and encouragement warm your heart.
To those supporters who refer friends to M3ND, thank you:
. . . [Friend], I can’t thank you enough for sending The Mend Project link – the single most helpful resource I have read – it has illuminated the covert, confusing and abusive tactics I have experienced for 11 years…I felt God speaking to me and confirming this is what I have experienced. Each tactic has been used to control me and for years I thought it was me. This was so helpful . . . My brain has been so compromised from ongoing stress and confusion but resolving the confusion has started healing that I have been praying for so much. I think God may have connected me to you to make this connection to Mend Project information. I am so grateful.
– Alison, a survivor
To those who consistently read our blogs, you bless us:
-Genelle, survivor
Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents; What Happens When They Grow Up?
“The information given on this website has opened my eyes & mind to what I have been going through . . . Now that I understand, I have a new outlook of my own behavior and a better ability to set healthier boundaries. Thank you for putting this educational information available for those who truly needed it & benefit from it.” [insert blog link]
-Annette, survivor
Reactive Abuse ~ Is a Victim’s Reaction Abuse?
“I have read a few posts on your site now and I can’t express enough how thankful I am to see this is being talked about. I understand how the abuse can happen to either gender, male or female, but being the male in my circumstances, there is very little content on the web that expresses the abuse from a man’s perspective or just information in general where the female is the abuser. I think content like this just helps the victims who are trapped in these situations, because let’s be real, if you have ever been in a relationship with a covert narcissist then you know how subtle the quicksand can be… it took me 10 years to finally recognize my spouse for who she was at her core and once you see what is behind the masks, it cannot be unseen.” [insert blog link]
-John, Survivor
To those authors who write and share their story of healing for our readers, we honor you:
-Brianna, survivor
Story of Healing: Wounds Deeper Than Bruises, by “Jessica”
To those who repeatedly visit our website, thank you:
-Alyssa, survivor
I recently came across your website and am thrilled to say that you are one of the only organizations that seems to understand abuse in a church setting. It is drastically different than most every place that refuses to tolerate even a hint of abuse. Because of bad teaching, unrivaled arrogance, and an unwillingness to understand, the Church finds itself unable to help the abused/abusers. As a male, approaching this issue, I am very discouraged. Thank you for openly discussing these important issues and helping me to find at least one place who understands what I have been through.
-Curtis, survivor
I work as a nurse on a medical mobile unit providing care in pregnancy. The information on your site is invaluable to provide, share, and use to educate the women we serve. I would be interested in any educational material you may have available to share/educate the culture we provide care to in the community. Thank you so much.
-Kathy, Nurse & responder
Thank you SO MUCH for your website and your work on the MEND project. I discovered it last night and cried very hard from relief. …. The shortest version of the story is that I was primed to marry a covert abuser and was in marriage counseling with him for ten years. To use the term “double abuse” (which I appreciate – thank you for coining a term!) in my case is an understatement. I was invalidated by more than just my therapist, and was so confused that I defended my (now ex-) husband constantly….
Thankfully I have found hundreds of other resources but was desperately wishing for something like The MEND Project. I do not know if I will ever be able to share MEND as a resource for my family, but I am so grateful to know I have that choice. I can’t thank you ENOUGH for all the work you have put into this.
-Deanna, Survivor
For all of you who listened to podcasts or interviews Annette was on, we loved hearing from you:
-Melissa, a survivor
I listened to Annette speak about covert abuse with Karla Downing last night in my car, and hung on every word that she spoke. To have someone put into words exactly what I am experiences is worth everything. I may listen to it over and over to remind myself (when things are kicked under the rug repeatedly) what I am really enduring. I am coming out of the fog. It has taken much time. . . . Thank you, Annette for helping other women! God bless you.
-Stephanie, Survivor
I recently came across Annette’s interview on the Split Frame of Reference podcast and was astounded because she was the first person I’d heard speak so similarly to my current marriage. Since then, The Mend Project website has been so helpful and I even watched the videos on your YouTube page. So… thank you so much for your work and resources!
That list of covert emotional abuse behaviors gave me something tangible I could show our therapist and I felt like I had tried to explain these things to my husband and therapist before but couldn’t clearly do it. The list you created did that for me and I am so grateful. My therapist admitted that he was not trained on this issue. …
Thanks so much for everything you have done to help others.
-Maggie, Survivor
For those of you who attended our one of our trainings, we are grateful:
-Rudy, a survivor,
Participant in Virtual Introductory Training
I really love all the work that your organization does. It has been tremendously helpful for myself as a survivor of abuse. I am a women’s health physical therapist and as a result I often encounter victims of sexual abuse. I was really interested in your webinar on compassion fatigue and how to better support my patients and myself on those more difficult days.
-Rayne, Physical Therapist
I found this program to be beautiful, professional and absolutely life changing. I don’t want to exaggerate but I rarely have something that impacts me, STICKS with me and so quickly impacts my thinking like this has. I believe that is partly due to the impact it had on me personally but also because I am presently walking alongside several women in abusive situations. Going through this has changed my approach to them and I find myself more gentle and more empathetic.
-Yardley, Responder,
Trainee in M3ND’s 7-week Virtual Training Program
The M3ND Project curriculum…was a real eye-opener for me. Even though I have been involved with Human Options, a non-profit based in Orange County which serves victims of domestic violence, for over twenty years, I found that the curriculum simplified complicated topics and gave me new and accurate language which makes this topic easier to discuss openly (versus keeping domestic violence in the shadows). I thought the focus on training first responders is much needed and feel EVERY one from pastor to police officer should have the opportunity to take this course.
-Celina, Responder
Trainee in M3ND’s 7-week Virtual Training Program
My strong endorsement for The M3ND Project curriculum comes after many years of experience in counseling, teaching, and mentoring couples and individuals as a minister, author, teacher, and counselor...In this curriculum, The M3ND Project does an excellent job clarifying the complicated elements of domestic violence in a manner that will encourage and equip clergy, counselors and congregants to care for the abused in life-affirming ways…”
-Kathy, Responder
Trainee in M3ND’s 7-week Virtual Training Program
I love the course website. It’s so intuitive, easy to use, and helpful that it automatically tracks where you are in the course. The definitions of abuse allow clients to feel known and understood and I have already begun to use them in sessions as I have met with my clients that have been through abuse. I forward every M3ND blog and other educational piece to our staff and volunteer teams weekly.
-Chelsea, Responder
Trainee in M3ND’s 7-week Virtual Training Program
May you find peace, healing and joy in the New Year!
Love,
Annette, Stephanie, Lauren and Jill
As we move into the end of the holiday season, The M3ND Project would like to thank you for your constant support. The M3ND Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that relies on charitable contributions to educate, equip, and restore those impacted by abuse. We educate on covert emotional abuse and train individuals and organizations on the frontlines who are addressing and responding to victims. Please consider helping us continue our work by making supporting our Giving Tuesday campaign with a small monthly or one-time donation here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/m3nd-project-inc/m3nd-2021
To stay informed on our latest training opportunities register here- https://themendproject.com/i-want-to-help-someone-being-abused/gain-tools-to-respond-to-abuse/
