Problem Solved

Chapter 2- Survivor.

This piece of advice was given to a friend of mine who was in need of reassurance that the abuse she had suffered was not her fault.

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Well let me just say the following few things Hun...

You were so young probably not even understanding what was going on, in your situation, the abuser was someone you know which makes the entire thing a lot more painful and confusing.

You are 100% not to blame, I know people always say this and it is hard sometimes to believe them but you have to realise that you are not to blame.

Also you think you are weak and the word victim to me always sounds weak, but think of it this way-

You are not a victim, you are a survivor of abuse. SURVIVOR.

Each and every day you will battle with emotions, but just keep remembering that in all honesty survivors are strong.

People say that I am strong. It’s hard to give yourself credit for surviving something that never should have happened in the first place, but as long as you in your head give yourself permission to be happy, to live another day the way you want to and to not hurt yourself, and yes to break down every now and then you are strong.

I think every person has their own way with dealing with what has happened, in truth I might not even be as over it as I think I am, what happened to me still pops into my head every day, but now I choose to think of it as a reminder of how I survived that and can do anything !

Start writing a list of things you want out of life and tick them off as you go along! You will feel so much more in control of your life and be happy at your accomplishment,

Start small, for example my list began with this:

Take up painting

Get the bus alone (which was a big one for me)

Talk to parents about how I feel

Camp in the garden

….And so on, I still do this now!

You have inspired me to begin writing my own story by the way.