Healing Is Not Immediate: Why Long-Term Support Matters—Anita’s Story
YWCA Delaware provides support that extends across a lifetime—meeting people where they are in crisis, and walking with them as they rebuild safety, stability, and independence.
For Anita, a Wilmington native, her journey to healing began after more than two decades in a domestic violence relationship.
YWCA Delaware provides support that extends across a lifetime—meeting people where they are in crisis, and walking with them as they rebuild safety, stability, and independence.
For Anita, a Wilmington native, her journey to healing began after more than two decades in a domestic violence relationship.
For years, she did not recognize her experience as abuse. There were no physical injuries, but there was constant emotional strain, control, and the responsibility she carried to keep her children safe while navigating a relationship shaped by fear and obligation. Like many survivors, leaving did not feel simple or immediate—it felt financially and emotionally out of reach.
Over time, she came to understand that what she was experiencing was abuse. And with that realization came both clarity—and fear about what to do next.
Honorary Board Member, Leslie Stanford (Left) with Anita Lois (Right)
Over time, she came to understand that what she was experiencing was abuse. And with that realization came both clarity—and fear about what to do next.
When she was ready, Anita reached out to YWCA Delaware’s helpline. That call became a turning point. It did not erase the pain, but it created a first glimpse of possibility—somewhere safe to go, and someone to guide her through what came next.
The process of healing was not easy. It was deeply emotional and, at times, overwhelming. She experienced periods of depression and intense emotional distress, but continued to take small steps forward with support from counselors who saw strength in her even when she could not see it in herself.
Through YWCA Delaware, Anita found more than services—she found community. Being surrounded by other women who had lived through similar experiences helped her feel understood, supported, and no longer alone.
Over time, she began to heal.
Today, Anita is in a place of peace and stability. She has transformed her experience into purpose and now volunteers with YWCA Delaware, helping facilitate enrichment activities that support and empower other women on their own journeys.
Her story reflects something larger: that surviving domestic violence is not always a single moment of leaving—it is often a long process shaped by safety, finances, and opportunity.
And when housing stability and support are in place, the impact reaches beyond one person. It strengthens families and creates a foundation for the next generation to thrive.