Love is not always enough, but understanding can be everything.
Dear Survivor,
A client once shared how isolating it felt after she left her abusive partner. People praised her for being brave, but when she struggled to sleep, missed her ex, or doubted her decision, they grew impatient. They told her to just move on, be grateful it was over, or stop looking backward. She felt more alone than ever.
What she needed most was permission to be where she was.
Survivors need more than encouragement, they need safety. They need others who are willing to sit in the discomfort without trying to fix it. Healing is not linear. It is full of grief, guilt, confusion, and longing. The trauma does not end when the relationship does. That is often when the real work begins.
Support means listening without judgment or timeline.
One survivor told me her turning point came when a friend said, “I believe you, and I am not going anywhere.” Those words mattered more than any advice. Survivors need reminders that they are not broken, that their feelings make sense, and that healing is not a performance. It is a process.
If you are supporting someone, presence matters more than perfection.
And if you are the one healing, you deserve support that honors your story. The Red Flags of Abuse Freebie can help your loved ones understand more about what you went through, and how to show up with empathy instead of expectation.
You are not too much for needing care.
Blessings and healing,
Catrina
#narcissisticabuse #domesticviolence #DV #IPV #abuser #toxicrelationships #abusivepartners #emotionalabuse #narcissist #survivorstories #healingjourney #traumarecovery #relationshipabuse #abusesurvivor #mentalhealth #healingafterabuse #coercivecontrol