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Seek help. And unlike me, report to the police. Make the abuser face what they have done and suffer the consequences. I get up every day, I make an affirmation to mind myself, that the memory is getting farther away with time and that yes, I am healing but by but, day by day. I have a wonderful partner who is very sweet and patient with me when I am having flashbacks. Communication is the key there.

Healing for me was learning to love myself again. I had felt worthless. It is being comfortable in myself. It is knowing what a healthy relationship is and knowing that the abuse i suffered was not my fault.

Healing to me is finding courage to know who you are, and not letting your trauma get the better of you. everything that went wrong in my life made me who I am today. I am stronger because of my pain. And no one can take that away from me.

Sexual violence is the most Earth-shattering and world view altering experience to endure. But speaking as somebody who endured it and came out the other side a more compassionate, stronger woman - you will be ok. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or the next day, but eventually you will be.

It will get better, it will get easier to live and actually be conscious of the life you have and the life you could have. At the start it can be difficult, you may feel alone but truly you aren’t. You may feel failed, and together we can push through that and change it into a positive in helping others speak up, requesting more changes and penalties and raising awareness

Healing is allowing yourself to be seen and known and loved, even when you are carrying all you have been through and everything that has made you feel broken. Healing is realising you don’t need to be ‘healed’ to be loved, by yourself or anyone else. Healing is knowing you are perfect and worthy just because you exist. Healing is finding home in your body again. Healing is being your own safe space.

It is never too late - there are skilled people out there who will make a difference.

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

If you have experienced rape, know there is supports available. People will listen and believe you. Their is always hope. Take it one day at a time or even one hr at a .time,if that means you feel safe. Know the help is there when your ready to take that step, when you feel lost, alone, angry or upset. Talk to someone. There is always someone at the other end of the line and there is always hope.

A number of years on, I am still healing from my experience, but it begins to get a little easier as you build more positive memories beyond what happened to you in the past. Having a relationship that is healthy, and that we all deserve, is healing because I feel more safe now and I know my boundaries will be respected and I will be loved regardless of the level of intimacy. I am healing by enjoying experiences that make life feel worthwhile.

Healing for me is to view myself with compassion and put the shame onto them instead of continuing to carry it.

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

Healing is finding my voice. No longer being afraid to share my story and be listened too. Holding in those feelings and thoughts, what happened to you is never the best way to heal. Find your voice and I promise you’ll be heard.

At first it was hard to do anything. I stopped seeing friends, I stopped eating healthy, I stopped going to the gym. I was late for work every day because I could hardly get out of bed. Now I’m going to the gym regularly, keeping up with all my friends, and doing well in work. I’ve been attending therapy with the intention of balancing healing with maintaining my real life responsibilities. I’ve found comfort in talking to my friends. One day I hope to be able to let romance into my life. Ive noticed that I need time to build trust so I know now that when I do start dating again he will have to be patient and kind.

Healing to me is being kind to yourself and allow yourself to have those hard days, allow your heart to love yourself because you are pretty amazing. For me art was my way to express those feelings even though I was not good at it, I just let it be and kept going.

Healing to me is never feeling the reoccurring nightmares again, never feeling nervous in any social situation and being able to trust again.

Being believed

I am healing albeit slowly. There are so many places now that can help. I have no doubt that there are others who were in the same position as me, married, so felt there was no way out! The Government rolling out new Stalking Laws is a step in the right direction for sure, but the support groups for people should be there too and not necessarily attached to either the Support Serviceor the Support Service.

Healing is the hardest part of being assaulted. Living with the guilt, shame and embarrassment makes it feel impossible. Speaking up and getting support allowed me to begin my healing journey. It’s not linear, but every day makes me stronger.

To me, healing means learning to live with what happened and carrying that with you.