Stories

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Welcome to We-Speak.

On this page are stories shared by survivors that highlight hope but can also be hard to read. A grounding activity can help you to feel calm and make it easier to read these stories. Do you want to try one of our grounding activities?

Normalise sexual assualt

There is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is always hope as "hope is a thing with feathers." There is help out there and there is always someone willing to listen. Things always get better in the end, there is so much more to look forward to. You are not your past trauma. There is a future out there, waiting.

I never thought I had to be wary of women.

I'm trying not to judge myself and be kind to myself and to not blame myself. What would I say to a friend? I try to say that to myself.

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN....IT WAS NOT

You as a Survivor are incredible. Only you know what your story is like. No body understands what it is truely like unless they have experienced it themselves. You are not alone. Other Survivors understand you better.Stay strong always and never let anyone discredit your story.

A date to always remember but never forget

Each year it crashes in like the waves beating the stand.
It brings a swirl of emotion and feelings unbeknownst to my fragile mind.
My body seises as it struggles to stay afloat.
I gasp as the sharp prickly water traps my body,
unable to move,
but only to breathe,

“You are not broken; you are not disgusting or unworthy; you are not unlovable; you are wonderful, strong, and worthy.”

The title of the story is: Stare the Stalker Down

Absolutely. If my story is of help to anyone or anyone needs to share their story with me, I would be so happy if anything helps. I survived that part of my life and am working on the other parts.

#781

What happened was not your fault. You deserve to be speak and be heard.

Stalked by a professional in Ireland

Speak up and speak out about your experiences and you will be amazed at the outpouring of support you will receive. And above all, never give up.

Saoirse ; Freedom

You've got this! You are unbelievably strong and you are not alone!

#708

Just know that it was never your fault for what happens. You are strong and deserve to be happy in who you are.

“I have learned to abound in the joy of the small things...and God, the kindness of people. Strangers, teachers, friends. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, but there is good in the world, and this gives me hope too.”

Fearless

You have a strength in you to fight .
The best revenge is not letting him have a hold on your future.

Liberation

There is always light at the end of the tunnel - guaranteed.
Never give up.
Your victory story will help others. You have a purpose.
In my darkest days I wish someone told me this.
You are worthy.

a voice

When I was 23, after having lost my father to cancer and moving into my first home as a single parent, I was "sexually assaulted" by my uncle who was now one of my neighbours. It was what was possibly deemed a harmless move by him, a drunken misunderstanding where he accidentally but forcefully stuck his tongue in my mouth while consoling me on my loss. The weight of him pressing me into the sofa of my new home. My new place of safety.

Survivor

Things can get better. You will never fully forget what happened to you, but you will grow around your trauma. It will never disappear, but it doesn't have to have a happy life.

#681

It’s never easy, but you learn to be okay again. Trust the process.

“Healing is different for everyone, but for me it is listening to myself...I make sure to take some time out of each week to put me first and practice self-care.”

#682

I was sexually assaulted while living abroad for college. I did not accept what had happened to me for some months and allowed my life to spin out of control. I am doing better for myself now and picking up the pieces after having accepted the reality. But I am finding it harder and harder to process and work though the thought of memories of the incident. It feels like im taking one step forward and two steps back. Luckily I have people who I confided in but I feel like asking to talk about it is too much to ask.

Month

If you think you may have been assaulted you probably have. Take time to deal with it don’t brush it off. It is not the new normal.

Don't give up

Do not ever give up. I have got this far and u can too. The weaker and more vulnerable I feel the more God can shine His light through me and on to other people. I am 56 now but finally starting to really live my life through the power might and gentleness of my God who has saved me. I am His child. I am beautiful in His eyes. He loves me so much and sends me people who really care about me. He can save you too no matter how lost u think u are.

678

It does get better. It doesn’t mean it will happen again. There is still love and joy in the world, even after it all. It just might take time to see it.

Dear reader, the following story contains language of self-harm that some may find triggering or discomforting.

#676

You are more than your trauma.

Taking ‘time for yourself’ does not always mean spending the day at the spa. Mental health may also mean it is ok to set boundaries, to recognize your emotions, to prioritize sleep, to find peace in being still. I hope you take time for yourself today, in the way you need it most.

11:11

I was assualted, sexual assualted by a man I trusted, who I looked up to. I was 21 at the time, modeling, doing shoots, stepping into the modeling industry.
Little did I know how dark things would get. These women who would stand by these abusers. He groped me from behind and touched me sexually on a shoot. I froze, I couldn't say anything. Couldn't process what was happening. He drove me home, told me to play with myself and let him watch. I ignored his requested and he told me if his wife found out, she'd die from the stress (she was sick a...

#672

You can use this to be your motivator. You can use this rock bottom to show how far you can really push yourself and go. You can take back your life.
Journaling changed my life and so did therapy. Three years after it has happened and I can honestly say if I could take back what happened I wouldn’t because I learned just how strong I am. Spirituality helped me a lot to feel clean again and I used it to get me where I am today. There is hope I promise.

Autistic voice

I've a lot of healing to do. Starting with counselling to try understand everything and why it wasn't all my fault.

Healing Can and Does Happen!

Don't give up on you. Healing can and does happen. With practice and dedication to your own healing you can recover from the trauma of sexual violence. I have learned so much about myself. I am proud of the woman that I am. I am proud that I never gave up on me and I hope that those who take the time to read this piece don't ever give up on themselves. You are worthy. You are deserving of support, care and of love. You matter. You are enough!

A shared experience

Like everything no matter how painful - this too will pass - and you will make it out the other end.

“We believe you. Your stories matter.”

#655

I was inappropriately touched and groped by an older uncle. I have only disclosed this with 2 people. The uncle is my moms brother and our family (particularly his immediate family) have suffered horrible losses and deaths over the years and I just don’t want to add fuel to the fire. I feel like I don’t want to tell anyone and make it public so I am so so happy to have found this space. I know my mom would be fully supportive, my whole family would but I just can’t bring myself to say it. I’m 30 now and although the abuse never got far, it sti...

Name

You are still here despite everything. You are the strongest, most resilient person. Keep going, the pain may never go away, but it will fade with time, I promise you that.

#652

I don't know if its possible.

Dear reader, the following story contains language of self-harm that some may find triggering or discomforting.

Coercive Rape

Don't let someone use you, manipulate you, deceive and gaslight you, abuse you psychologically, financially, sexually. You (and your children) can do better than survive without them. You can find peace and a new life. Help is out there. Talk to someone now and believe you can start anew.

#641

It's not your fault. I used to think after the amount of times it had happened to me, it must be me. I must give off energy that makes men want to control and do this to me. It turns out, there are just so many people who want full contol and domination over others.

“It can be really difficult to ask for help when you are struggling. Healing is a huge weight to bear, but you do not need to bear it on your own.”

Because we were married…

I’m sharing here because I hope I can reach out to other women who may have gone through marital rape or may still be going through it and I want you to know you are not alone. For years I felt as if I was asleep as I couldn’t face up to what was happening to me, why I was losing weight and why I so depressed. I minimised everything, even to him. I would try and make him feel better afterwards. Most of the time it was as simple as me saying no to sex and him doing it anyway while I was completely disconnected, and it was so often, I would lie...

Safety Exit

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