words of care
This section includes words from Survivors to those who are working to heal from abuse, regardless of where they find themselves in their journey.
Acacia
"And you can heal. And you'll never be who you were before. And you wouldn't want to be. But if you choose to be, you can be better than you've ever been."
Antoinette
"If you are capable of loving an abuser, you are absolutely capable of loving yourself ten times more."
Aspen
“I guess I would just say to other people, like there's going to be things that you do that are also not clean and pretty, and it's okay. This is a really messy process, do your best. But, it's okay.”
Spruce
“Do exactly what you want to do for yourself, and do not let anyone take it away from you.”
Lilac
“It's an up and down process, some days are better than others. Often times, you're going to react, and then you're going to feel guilty about how you reacted. But it's- it's part of what you've experienced. It's the trauma.”
Jonae
“I would say to a person who is working to heal, that your healing is not in vain and to endure the process, although it may seem very hard.”
Juneberry
“I would tell them that they were told many lies, that were not true, and they have to find the truth within themselves.”
Chestnut
“You really just need to just to show yourself the respect and kindness of allowing yourself to heal"
Amy
“One thing that I would tell someone that is healing from abuse is that you're not alone. And that you are also, like, so unique. And your situation is yours. And I honor what you're going through.”
Tomicka
“Who your abuser is- what gender they are- doesn't matter. It doesn't take from their God given right, not a right as an American, or as a citizen- no, they're God given right to be happy. Anybody who doesn't understand, anybody who stigmatized them because of it- that's the other person's problem.”
Ororo
“Every day is going to be different. Embrace the roller coaster. And in order to heal, the way that you deserve to heal, you have to allow yourself to go through every single emotion that comes your way.”
Cedar
“It might take a long time to realize, but it can be one of the most transformative experiences.”
Oak
“This isn't it forever. This is not your life forever. This is something that you will get past. You have gotten past other things. You will do it again and you'll just come out stronger than before.”
Foxglove
“No one else is really going to do it for you. You can have help, of course. But you're the only one who can speak for you, you're the only one who can really advocate for what you truly feel, what you truly want- to feel safe.”
Ash
“One thing I would tell someone who is healing from abuse is that you might be in a very awful situation right now, but there is light, and healing, and light, at the end of the dark tunnel that you're in.”