Healing doesn’t always move in a straight line. Dear Survivor, I thought leaving would be the hard part. I believed that once I got out, the pain would fade and peace would follow. I imagined progress would feel like clarity, like I had crossed a finish line. But instead, I found myself triggered by small […]
Survivor Strength: Healing Isn’t Linear and That’s Okay Read More »
Sometimes, the bravest thing a survivor can say is no more. Dear Survivor, There was a moment in my own journey when I whispered two words that would change everything: no more. I didn’t shout them. There was no dramatic scene. Just a quiet declaration made in the middle of an ordinary day that felt
Survivor Wisdom: The Power of No More Read More »
You’re not losing your mind, you’re losing the version of you that tolerated emotional chaos. Dear Survivor, If you’ve ever thought, I feel crazy in my relationship, I want you to pause and take a breath. That feeling, that disorientation, that fog… it’s not a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s a signal
Why Do I Feel Crazy in My Relationship? Read More »
Your pain is part of your story — but it is not the end of it. Dear Survivor, One of the cruelest lies abuse leaves behind is this: you are broken beyond repair. When you survive narcissistic abuse or an abusive relationship, you may carry shame so deep it feels fused to your bones. You
You Are Not Broken: The Myth of Permanent Damage Read More »
Boundaries aren’t walls — they are the doors to your peace. Dear Survivor, After surviving an abusive relationship, setting boundaries can feel almost impossible. You may fear being called selfish. You may worry that saying no means you are “just as bad” as your abuser. You may wonder if you even have the right to
Survivor Strength: Building Boundaries Without Guilt Read More »
Isolation feeds shame — connection breathes life into healing. Dear Survivor, Abuse thrives in isolation. It teaches you to keep secrets, to distrust others, to believe you’re the only one who feels this broken. Narcissistic abuse, in particular, carves out loneliness like a second home, leaving survivors stranded in their own pain. But you were
You Are Not Alone: Finding Your Survivor Community Read More »
Thriving isn’t a destination — it’s a daily act of choosing yourself. Dear Survivor, There was a time when survival was your full-time job. Every day was about enduring, navigating, keeping the peace, staying invisible. You measured success by how little you upset your abuser, by how much you could endure without breaking. You were
From Surviving to Thriving: What Recovery Can Look Like Read More »
Minimizing your pain doesn’t make you stronger — it only makes healing harder. Dear Survivor, How many times did you tell yourself, “It wasn’t that bad”? Maybe you stayed because you thought others had it worse. Maybe you believed love meant forgiving everything. Maybe your abusive partner convinced you that the harm wasn’t real. Gaslighting
The Myth of “It Wasn’t That Bad.” Read More »
Your intuition often sees the truth long before your mind can explain it. Dear Survivor, In every abusive relationship, there are warning signs — little moments that make your heart race, your stomach tighten, your spirit shrink. Maybe it was the way they mocked your dreams, isolated you from loved ones, or twisted every argument
Red Flags Aren’t Red for No Reason Read More »
Some wounds are invisible to everyone — except the one carrying them. Dear Survivor, Emotional abuse leaves scars no one else can see. It seeps into your self-worth, erodes your confidence, and twists your understanding of love. You begin to question your instincts, your memories, even your sense of who you are after surviving a
The Silent Scars: Healing After Narcissistic Abuse Read More »