How I Healed From Trauma & Abuse [1]

For many, New Year’s is a time of parties, resolutions, and tacky sequined dresses. For me, it’s quite the opposite. This New Year’s day marks the 5 year anniversary of my sexual assault. While it has been the most devastating event of my life, it has also been the greatest catalyst for my growth. [2] It would cheapen the pain to say I am grateful for it, but on some level I know that I wouldn’t have become my true self without it.  

More difficult than the event itself is the aftermath.  The reactions of those I loved, the unsolicited advice on how to deal with it, the repression, the depression, and the nights of too many drinks. And while ignoring my feelings was not a coping strategy I intended to choose, it was certainly the one my body and mind chose for me.