Heart to Heart: How East SOS Support Inspires Caring for Others
Every story of support begins when handling things on your own becomes too challenging. Emotional fatigue, anxiety, loss, and uncertainty – these can accumulate over the years, taking away the sense of stability. At times like these, it is especially important not to be alone.
Within our psychosocial and legal support hubs of Zatyshno Space, East SOS teams help visitors regain their inner balance and restore their emotional well-being amidst the ongoing war. Many people arrive feeling utterly exhausted, struggling with anxiety or the weight of the thought that they simply no longer have the strength to hold on.
“There can be various reasons for emotional exhaustion. For some, it is closely linked to professional workload and the weight of constant responsibility, much like emotional burnout. For others, it is the result of prolonged stress, loss, the toll of caring for loved ones, or living in a state of uncertainty where tension has built up over many years. It is crucial to understand that such conditions do not resolve on their own and cannot be “treated” with rest alone. Psychological support allows individuals to recognize their own needs, relieve internal stress, gradually restore their resources, and create sustainable self-care routines. This is what gives a person the ability to feel supported once again, regain stability, and move forward at their own pace,” explains Iryna Moroz, a psychologist at the East SOS team.
Often, the most sincere words of support come from those who have traveled their own difficult path in search of it.
Below, you can find stories and advice from our visitors who sought psychological support, regained their self-confidence, and learned to overcome their fears. Perhaps these very words will provide the support you need right now.
Natalia’s family had to move to Vinnytsia from Chernobyl 30 years ago. Raising a son with a disability, she knows all too well what it means to live with constant responsibility and prolonged stress. When the full-scale invasion began, she realized the urgent need for psychological support. She began attending individual psychotherapy and joined group support sessions. This became her way of healing and reclaiming her inner resources.
“I have come to realize one thing in this life: after the April rains, the May flowers will always bloom.”
Yuliia is a math teacher. She originally brought her son to the Zatyshno Space in Mykolaiv, but soon realized that she needed the space just as much as he did. She began participating in family activities and group therapy sessions. Her individual request specifically addressed emotional burnout. Working with a psychologist helped her recover, ease the pressure she had been placing on herself, and find a more balanced pace of life.
“Today, I can confidently say that my emotional state is more stable; I feel energized and recognize exactly when I need to take time for recovery.”
Tetiana is a displaced person from Luhansk Oblast, forced to leave her home in 2014 due to the war. She now lives in Kharkiv, where she helps her daughter look after her grandchildren. For the second time, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russia in 2022 took away her sense of stability and confidence in the future. At the space, she began attending both individual counseling and group sessions with a psychologist. This helped her restore her strength and find hope once again.
“The changes in me are very noticeable—I feel like a person who has value and looks to the future with positivity. After every visit, I always feel a sense of relief.”
Olha came to the space so that her son could spend more time with children his age. One day, she attended a psychological session herself and realized that she, too, was in need of support. She felt crushed by the constant shelling of the city, difficulties with work, and the separation from her parents, who remained in the temporarily occupied territories. After consultations with a psychologist, it became easier to cope with stress and fears.
“This helped me act in the here and now, and stop putting my life on hold. I’m learning to stay calm, set healthy boundaries, and say “no” without feeling guilty—something I could never do before.”
Do you need support? Get psychosocial and legal support at Zatyshno Space by East SOS. Find the contact details for our centers via the link below.
The spaces in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv operate under the project Protection and Psychosocial Support for War-Affected Populations in Ukraine’s Frontline Regions with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office. The Vinnytsia center provides assistance with the financial support of the Solidarity with Ukraine Program by Fondation de France.
Previously, we covered how our spaces support women in their search for employment.
