About

Over the last two decades, I’ve worked in the field helping people, teaching people, and sharing stories.

Who I am

I am Dr. Cyndy Caravelis, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University. I have worn many hats and have served in many roles over the years, but perhaps none of those roles has been more impactful than that of a domestic violence victim advocate. I came to this work after I processed leaving an unhealthy relationship myself. As I tried to come to terms with how things ended up so sideways, I recognized that I could be a strong voice and advocate for others like my past self. I have spent the last several years serving my community as an educator, board member, and volunteer court advocate. Through this work, my therapy dog, Atlas, and I do our best to make people feel supported during some of the worst days of their lives. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that fewer things help more than knowing that regardless of what you’re going through, you are not alone.

How this project came to be

While I am currently happily married to my second husband, my first marriage was not a healthy one. During the trauma of deciding to get a divorce and navigating the many months that followed, I found an online community of single parents that became a lifeline for me. I realized that many others felt as shellshocked as I did. One of the threads of our community was that for those of us who were formerly in toxic, abusive, or unhealthy relationships, we found comfort in sharing our own ‘I knew when…’ moments. The unburdening of such tremendously powerful memories allowed us to help newcomers to our group and to show them that while it’s not easy, it does get better. This book is an extension of that experience. My hope is that by gathering (and sharing) stories of courage, people reading can get help in finding their own way out of the darkness.

Book timeline

The goal is to gather stories far and wide on an ongoing basis. I will begin curating stories for the book at the end of August with an eye towards sharing diverse experiences. Stories that aren’t included in the book will be shared on the companion blog housed on this website. I want every voice shared to be heard.

Book proceeds

Proceeds from this book will go to two places: (1) To non-profit domestic violence and sexual assault client services, and (2) Funding research on the prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.