“I Made My Family Disappear!” Escapegoats Anonymous Breaks the Silence This Christmas with an Online Celebration of Healing and Freedom

NATIONWIDE - NOVEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) The holidays are often synonymous with family gatherings, joy, and celebrations. But for many people, these times are filled with pain, isolation, and the weight of toxic family dynamics. For individuals who have made the difficult decision to go no contact with harmful family members, Christmas can be a time of emotional distress, where traditional images of family togetherness seem distant and unattainable.

But what if the holidays could be reimagined as a celebration of healing, strength, and the freedom that comes with cutting ties from toxic relationships?

That’s exactly what Escapegoats Anonymous, a unique support group for survivors of family scapegoating abuse, is offering this Christmas. Founded by Bella Devorah, a survivor turned neuroscience coach, Escapegoats Anonymous is hosting a groundbreaking event titled “I Made My Family Disappear!” on Christmas Day, designed to provide estranged individuals with a space for joy, connection, and celebration of their freedom.

This online event promises to break the silence and create a community where members can share their experiences, connect with others who understand their struggles, and have a bit of fun, something that’s often hard to come by during a season that many feel excluded from.

A Holiday Tradition for the Estranged: Rewriting the Christmas Script

In a world where family bonds are often seen as sacred, the decision to walk away from one’s family can be one of the most difficult and isolating choices a person can make. The term “no contact” often comes with a stigma, and for many people who’ve chosen this path, it can feel like there’s no room for celebration during the holidays.

Enter Bella Devorah, the founder of Escapegoats Anonymous, who understands the complexities and pain of family estrangement firsthand. Bella’s story of survival and resilience is at the heart of the organization she’s built, which helps individuals who have been scapegoated, abused, or manipulated by their families to regain their sense of self and power.

Escapegoats Anonymous is a safe space for individuals who have chosen to cut ties with toxic family members, offering the support and community needed to heal from the emotional and psychological scars of family dysfunction. But what makes this group even more special is Bella’s ability to create an environment where people are celebrated for the strength it takes to walk away.

This year, Bella and Escapegoats Anonymous are taking it one step further by offering something truly revolutionary: an online Christmas celebration for those estranged from their families. This event, “I Made My Family Disappear!”, is an opportunity for people to celebrate not what they’ve lost, but what they’ve gained, freedom, self-respect, and the ability to choose a healthier, happier future.

The Power of Fun and Games: A Holiday Party for Survivors

At its core, “I Made My Family Disappear!” is an invitation to have fun and connect with others who share similar experiences. For many survivors, the holidays are a time of intense emotional strain, as societal pressures to “reconcile” or “make amends” with family members often clash with the painful realities of abuse and manipulation.

But Bella’s approach is different. Instead of focusing on the pain of estrangement, this event flips the script, turning it into a time to celebrate healing and the power of choice.

On Christmas Day, starting at 9 PM GMT (4 PM EST / 1 PM PST), participants will gather online for an evening filled with lighthearted games, themed activities, and the kind of joy that is often hard to find when dealing with toxic family relationships. Games like “Pin the Tail on the Flying Monkey”, “Blame Game Bingo”, and the “No-Contact Confession Circle” are designed to provide a safe, supportive space for fun, healing, and connection.

“Just because you’ve chosen to go no contact doesn’t mean you have to suffer through the holidays in silence,” Bella explains. “This event is about finding joy in the fact that we made the hard choice to put ourselves first, to create boundaries, and to walk away from situations that were damaging to our mental and emotional health.”

Healing and Connection Through Shared Experience

What makes Escapegoats Anonymous different from other support groups is its focus on empowering individuals to reframe their trauma into strength. For many people who’ve been through family scapegoating abuse, the traits they developed to survive, resilience, strategic thinking, crisis management, are the same qualities that can make them unstoppable in their personal and professional lives.

During the “I Made My Family Disappear!” event survivors will not only be able to engage in games and festivities but will also have the opportunity to share their stories and connect with others who understand their journey. In Bella’s words, “At Escapegoats Anonymous, every member is seen, heard, and celebrated. We understand that healing is not just about getting over the past; it’s about creating a future where you can thrive, free from the chains of toxic relationships.”

The event’s theme, centered around freedom and celebration, is a reflection of the transformative work that Escapegoats Anonymous does year-round. For survivors, the idea of building a “found family”, a community that isn’t based on blood ties, but on shared experiences and mutual respect, becomes a source of strength. The online party will be an extension of this concept, creating a temporary family unit that celebrates the achievements, struggles, and victories of each individual.

A Community Built on Neuroscience and Empowerment

What truly sets Escapegoats Anonymous apart is its unique approach to healing. While many support groups focus on validating pain, Escapegoats Anonymous goes a step further by helping members transform their experiences into powerful skills. As a trained neuroscience coach, Bella uses her background to teach survivors how to reframe their past trauma into tools for personal growth.

The group’s methods include a focus on self-leadership, crisis management, and strategic thinking, skills that survivors of family scapegoating abuse often develop as a means of coping with chaotic and harmful family dynamics. These traits are not just survival mechanisms, they are leadership qualities that can be applied to every area of life.

For example, forced independence becomes a form of self-leadership, overthinking becomes strategic analysis, and resilience transforms into crisis leadership. At Escapegoats Anonymous, survivors are encouraged to see themselves not as victims of their past, but as empowered individuals with immense transferable skills that make them capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.

“Too often, survivors are made to feel like they’re broken or damaged,” Bella says. “But the truth is, the very qualities that helped us survive are the ones that will propel us forward in life. The event on Christmas Day is a celebration of that transformation, from surviving to thriving.”

Join the Celebration: A New Kind of Holiday Gathering

If you’re someone who’s spent the holiday season in isolation, feeling the weight of family estrangement, “I Made My Family Disappear!” offers a new way to look at Christmas. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, this event celebrates what you’ve gained, freedom, strength, and the courage to build a healthier future.

Tickets for the event are £27, but Escapegoats Anonymous is offering a limited number of free spaces for those in financial hardship. No one should have to miss out on this celebration because of financial constraints, and Bella’s commitment to inclusivity ensures that everyone who needs support can access it.

10% of all profits will also be donated to Nacoa, the UK’s leading charity for those affected by their parents’ alcoholism.

To RSVP or to learn more about Escapegoats Anonymous and the upcoming event, visit their website at www.escapegoatsanonymous.com, or check out the event page on Eventbrite.