Survival is often praised as strength. But for many women escaping abuse, survival is followed by something unexpected: shame. Not because they did anything wrong, but because trauma rewires the mind in ways that make emotional wounds feel like personal flaws. Even after the physical danger ends, the internal damage
Leaving abuse is often described as “starting over.” People cheer the escape. Systems mark the exit. Society whispers “you’re safe now.” And in many ways, the danger ends. But the recovery? That part doesn’t magically begin. Rebuilding a life dismantled by control, violence, financial ruin, and trauma is far heavier
Trauma travels silently. It moves through behaviors, fear, tension in the home, the way a parent reacts to stress, and through memories a child never witnessed but still somehow feels. When a woman escapes abuse, the world expects that she and her children step into peace simply because danger is
Leaving a shelter is often described as the moment freedom returns. A fresh start. A new beginning. For many women, it’s the first time they can breathe without danger pressing against their ribs. But that moment doesn’t erase the weight of what they’ve lived through. Trauma doesn’t release its grip
I am Loree Tamayo, Founder of Yesterday’s Gone. We are a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing for abused women and their dependents right here in Williamson County, Texas. Our grand opening is scheduled for February 2024, and we’ve already received inquiries from several women eager to join us. The need is substantial, and we’re fully committed to meeting it head-on. Yesterday’s Gone supports women recovering from past abuse or trauma. We provide more than a safe place to live.
