Longing for someone who hurt you does not mean you’re broken. Dear Survivor, Many I work with tell me how confusing it feels to miss their abusive partner. They ask themselves, “Do I want to be hurt?” “What’s wrong with me?” “Why do I still love someone who caused me pain?” These questions are incredibly […]
Why Do I Still Miss Them? Read More »
Some choices save your life even when they shatter your heart. Dear Survivor, “The day I blocked him, my hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the phone. I felt nauseous, terrified, and strangely guilty. No one had taught me how to walk away from someone who claimed to love me while tearing
Going No Contact Nearly Broke Me But I Would Do It Again Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
There’s something powerful about knowing you’re not alone — and this month, survivors around the world are rising together. Dear Survivor, April holds deep meaning in our community — it’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and next week, we honor Denim Day — a movement that began as a protest against victim-blaming and has since become
Survivor Voices: This April, We Rise Together Read More »