Sometimes freedom carries unexpected grief.
Dear Survivor,
A survivor once told me that the more she healed, the worse she felt. She was no longer walking on eggshells, yet she carried a quiet ache. She felt guilty for laughing. Guilty for moving on. Guilty for feeling okay when others she knew were still stuck or still suffering.
That feeling is called survivor guilt, and it is real.
It happens when your healing creates distance from those who are still in pain. It happens when you remember the moments you were treated better than someone else who was also being harmed. And sometimes it happens when you look back and wonder why you did not leave sooner. That guilt is heavy, but it does not mean you did anything wrong.
Guilt is not always a sign of wrongdoing. Sometimes it is a sign of your heart.
Survivor guilt often stems from empathy. It reflects how deeply you care. But healing does not require you to carry the weight of everyone else’s wounds. You are allowed to step forward without looking back in shame. You are allowed to build a life that is not defined by your past.
You do not have to shrink your healing to honor your story.
It is possible to grieve and grow at the same time. If you need space to process that complexity, Reclaiming Strength can help you hold both truth and compassion. There is no betrayal in becoming whole.
You are allowed to feel joy without apology.
Blessings and healing,
Catrina
#narcissisticabuse #domesticviolence #DV #IPV #abuser #toxicrelationships #abusivepartners #emotionalabuse #narcissist #survivorstories #healingjourney #traumarecovery #relationshipabuse #abusesurvivor #mentalhealth #healingafterabuse #coercivecontrol