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 things like a song, a scent, or a memory. I wondered if healing was really happening at all.
It was.
There were days I laughed and felt light, and days I wept like I had just left. I didn’t understand how both could be true. The moments of joy felt fragile, and the grief kept circling back. It was messy and nonlinear, and it made me doubt my strength.
But I was strong. So are you.
Survivors of narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse, and coercive control often internalize the idea that healing should be fast. We blame ourselves for not bouncing back. We measure progress by how little we feel instead of how deeply we are able to face what we’ve survived. Real healing is not about how quickly you move. It is about how honestly you allow yourself to feel.
And every feeling is proof that you’re alive and reclaiming yourself.
If you’re in a slow season or questioning your pace, I encourage you to explore The Recovery Roadmap. It offers structure without pressure, support without shame. Let it walk with you gently through this part of the path.
Blessings and healing,
Catrina
#traumarecovery #abusesurvivor #mentalhealth #healingjourney #DV #IPV #narcissisticabuse #emotionalabuse #coercivecontrol #relationshipabuse