COLUMBIA, S.C. — Silence was the scariest part of Malissa Addison's sexual assault experience.
"I think the silence is truly the silent killer," Addison said. "I was truly killing myself keeping this dark secret."
Addison is a retired lieutenant with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and a survivor of sexual assault. Addison feels being in a position where strength is the perception made it harder for her to speak up about her abuse.
"I believe I have a type of unique perspective that I don't think is really as far fetched as some would think, because I'm part of law enforcement, so I think people have this concept and belief that we cannot be victimized," Addison said.
However, silence doesn't have to be the answer, no matter who you are or what you do. That is something Addison realized, thanks to therapy and time.
With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) launched a new webpage where individuals in need of local resources can find the help they need to escape the suffering.
One of the thirteen resources available and found on the web page is YWCA of the Upper Lowlands.
Cleyardis McDonald-Amaker is the organization's executive director.
"If individuals are unsure of when and how to leave, the first and most scariest is saying, 'I'm going to make a change today. I'm going to reach out to agencies like the YWCA Upper Lowlands and gain an understanding,'" McDonald-Amaker explained.
The YWCA, which has been operating since 1958, operates in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties but serves anyone anywhere according to Amaker.
Directly, the YWCA organization has helped almost 400 individuals a year with shelter, counseling, and other related services.
As for domestic violence and sexual assault as a whole, about 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 4 men in the United States report having experienced severe physical or mental violence from a loved one in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
If you or a loved one is in need of help, check out DHEC's new webpage HERE.