You Are Still Here: An Empowering Message for Survivors
If you're reading this, you're already stronger than you realize. Surviving trauma—especially the kind that leaves no visible scar—takes a courage most people will never understand. The wounds left by sexual assault, emotional abuse, and deep betrayal don't fade with time the way bruises do. They linger, echoing in your thoughts and shaping how you see yourself and the world.
Your Feelings Are Valid
Let's start here: whatever you're feeling is valid. Anger, sadness, numbness, even the desperate urge to say "I don't care"—these are all real, human responses to pain that cut deep. Sometimes, the world expects us to "move on" or "get over it," but healing isn't a straight line. It's messy, and it's yours.
Numbness Is Not Weakness
If you're reaching the point where you feel nothing at all, where tears don't come and the world feels gray, know this: numbness is not weakness. It is a survival mechanism, your mind's way of protecting you when the pain feels unbearable. It means you've endured more than anyone should ever have to, and your body is trying to shield you.
But numbness isn't the end. It's a pause—a sign that you need gentleness, not judgment. Even if you can't cry, even if you feel empty, you are still here. And that matters.
You Are More Than What Happened to You
Trauma tries to rewrite your story. It tries to convince you that you are broken, unworthy, or defined by what someone else did. That is a lie. You are not your pain. You are not what happened to you. You are the person who survived, who is still surviving, who is reading these words and searching for hope.
Healing Is Not Linear—And That's Okay
Some days you'll feel strong. Other days, you'll want to hide. Both are okay. Healing is not about forgetting or pretending it didn't happen; it's about learning to carry your story with pride, not shame. Every step you take, no matter how small, is an act of rebellion against the darkness.
You Deserve Kindness—Especially From Yourself
You deserve love, patience, and understanding—especially from yourself. If you can't feel hope today, that's okay. If you can't cry, that's okay. If all you can do is breathe, that's enough. You are enough.
You Are Not Alone
There are people who care. There are people who understand. If you ever feel lost, please reach out—to a friend, a counselor, a support group, or a hotline. Your pain is real, but so is your strength. And so is your future.
You are still here. That is your power. That is your victory. And no one can take that away from you.
If you need support, here are some resources:
RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline) — 1-800-656-HOPE
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — Call or text 988
You matter. You always have, and you always will.