Dear Friend, 

Happy Holidays! From our family to yours, we wish you a season of peace and joy.

We know that the holidays can be a time of mixed emotions for many. Joy and happiness and sadness and grief often coexist and can be magnified at times like this. And, for many survivors of trauma, the holidays can be even more difficult with mounting pressure and potential triggers. We asked Wendy Blanco, our Director of Counseling Services & Trauma Recovery, to share some holiday self care and wellness tips.
 

Holiday cheer or holiday fear?

Self-care is needed year round but often it is tough to find moments to recharge and reset. What makes it hard to prioritize self? Guilt? Shame? Fear of what our minds will think of when we stop to rest? All of these are trauma responses, and they are more evident during the holidays. Take a moment to sit with your thoughts, feelings and sensations in your body.

Notice what is happening in your body during the holidays and the constant reminder of the “season.”

Notice that stores are filled with high sensory stimulation with holiday music, blasts of colors everywhere, saturated scents of cinnamon and pumpkin spice. This can be a dream for those who associate good feelings with the holidays but can be triggering for those that have negative memories or traumatic experiences. This is also tough for folks that are sensitive to sensory stimulation.

Notice what happens in your body when you are in stores. Are you being attacked by your senses, are you picking up on the buzz of the season stress and chaos or maybe you feel yourself more connected to community or more recharged with more social engagement.

Once you notice how your body is responding to external stimulation it is important to identify what fills your cup. Are you recharged with healthy social connection, or do you need more alone time? Do you enjoy being in nature or in a quiet space that feels safer to your nervous system? The best way to fight anxiety is to take action. Taking action by creating a holiday survival plan. Create your own traditions and ritualize self-care. Here are a few tips for the season:

1. Say no to events that you are dreading to preserve energy for those that you enjoy!

2. Take moments to re-engage your senses (smell, touch, taste, sight and/or hearing) at your own pace. One at a time.

3. Set planned times to attend events and give yourself permission to be flexible.

4. Create a habit of how you start your day and how you end it. For example: journaling in the morning to set an intention for the day and end with taking deep breaths as you prepare for rest. Whatever you choose, stay with it for 21 days.

Year End Campaign

New Counselor Advocate Training: Apply Today!

Peace Over Violence encourages caring and compassionate individuals from the diverse communities of LA County to become trauma informed Counselor Advocates working directly with survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Upon completion of the 84 hour training, you will be part of the Peace Over Violence Intervention Division’s Emergency Response Team, volunteering for either of the following programs: 24-Hour Hotline and Emergency Response Team or Domestic Abuse Response Team.

Our new cohort starts in January and will be a hybrid training with both in person and virtual meetings. To apply and for information regarding the training, please contact [email protected].
 

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Holiday Gift Card Drive

Please mail or deliver gift cards to:
Peace Over Violence
Attn: Quiana B.
1541 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Fl
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Email [email protected] with any questions.
 

Increased Website Accessibility

This past year we introduced Recite Me, an accessibility tool for our website. This toolbar allows visitors to our site to customize their experience in the way that works the best for them, providing language and accessibility support in real time. Being able to offer this support is essential for over 25% of the population who may encounter barriers when exploring websites due to having a disability, learning difficulty, visual impairment, or if they speak English as a second language.

To ensure all our website visitors can access information and services barrier-free, everyone can now customize their experience through a range of tools. You can activate these tools by clicking the accessibility icon located in the bottom right hand corner of every page on our Peace Over Violence and Denim Day websites. We’ve also added a page that provides more details about the specific tools available.

POV is hiring!

• Emergency Services Case Manager I
• Part-Time Hotline Counselor Advocate
• Part Time On-Call Hotline/Emergency Services Coordinator