Sarah Hyland is using her voice for an important and personal cause.
While accepting Diversitythe first Courage Award for her work in animal welfare and domestic abuse awareness Modern family The alum, 33, opened up about how she survived domestic violence and why it was important to open up about her experience.
“We haven’t talked about it in thousands of years,” she said Diversity suffering from domestic violence. “I believe the community hasn’t shared enough. And I feel that if we talk about it more, more women — and men and human beings in general in abusive relationships — will feel more comfortable talking about it with their loved one instead of letting their abuser isolate them of all, which is the first thing they do, so you don’t have that community.”
Hyland said “talking about it” is “really important” to helping those in need. She said the PTSD caused by the experience often affects survivors long after their relationship ends.
Sarah Hyland. Julie Bowen recalls the support Modern family Sarah Hyland’s daughter during a previous allegedly abusive relationship
“[It stays] in that abused place of your soul, where you think all the time that it’s your fault and that you could have done better, you could have come out earlier, you could have told people,” she added.
The actress admitted that there comes a point where “you don’t want to talk about it anymore. You want it to be over, and that’s it.”
“I completely understand the dissociation pattern,” she explained. “I’m very guilty of it myself… until something happened where I was triggered, and I realized that part of me was healed.”
Hyland said of overcoming the trauma, “I don’t know if that part [of] every woman will ever be completely cured of it. It’s something that leaves a little bit of scars in her soul. It’s more important to love that scar instead of hating it and ignoring it.”
Julie Bowen thrilled with Sarah Hyland’s ‘Baby Girl’ performance on Broadway: ‘I couldn’t be more proud’
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(L) Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
In September 2014, Hyland secured a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Matt Prokop over claims that he verbally and physically abused her during their five-year relationship. The submission, obtained by PEOPLE at the time, states that Propkop showed violent behavior, made multiple threats and at one point tried to strangle her.
One month before issuing the order, she Modern family actress Julie Bowen intervened and helped Hyland end her relationship, which allegedly led to Prokop threatening to kill her dog and burn down her house.
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In the statement given DiversityBowen shared how proud she is of her former co-star for coming out on the other side despite the trauma she went through.
“Without adversity, there can be no way to define your own character and sense of self,” Bowen told the news outlet. “Sarah’s path forced her, from a very early childhood, to face challenges — physical and emotional. She met each moment with determination, grace and vulnerability. I’m so proud of it Diversity honors her strength and heart with a bravery award.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education