Grief can come not just from loss, but from finally seeing the truth. Dear Survivor, Letting go of an illusion can hurt more than letting go of a person. I remember grieving not just the relationship, but the future I imagined, the words I believed, the version of love I tried to hold together. It […]
Survivor Grief: Letting Go of the Relationship You Thought You Had Read More »
No is a complete sentence, even when your voice trembles. Dear Survivor, Saying no used to feel impossible for me. I remember the weight in my chest every time I wanted to speak up but didn’t. My silence wasn’t because I agreed. It was because I had been taught that protecting others from discomfort mattered
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There is a quiet power in hearing yourself again after surviving what tried to silence you. Dear Survivor, Your voice is still yours. It may feel buried beneath doubt or fear, but it has never truly left you. I remember the first moment I heard mine clearly again. It happened during a small decision, one
Survivor Strength: Reclaiming Your Inner Voice Read More »
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 »
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 »