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You are not alone , there is always hope and you didn't deserve what you went through, you are loved , none of this was your fault

It gets better. I know you’ve heard that and probably raising your eyes to heaven as your reading this. But it does. There was one time where I thought this would define me for the rest of my life, but it doesn’t. It’s not who I am, it’s something that happened to me, the blame is on another person.

Healing isn’t a linear journey. It took me a year to open up to people. It took me another 2-3 years to go about my life without getting triggered or having panic attacks. I still to this day get triggered in large crowds, around people who are very drunk. I still have days where the sadness and anger at what happened to me is overwhelming. I still struggle with an eating disorder when I start to lose control, which I have the assault to thank for that. But I also have days where I don’t think about what I experienced. I can see the joy in little things again. I have days where I truly love myself and being a survivor is just one facet of my being. I also have been able to share my story openly and loudly, showing other survivors they are not alone. I’ve been able to take back so much power from my survivor. It’s been number years since my assault and I can ground myself when I start to get triggered finally. Healing is never going to be linear. But for me, it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done. If you’re on your healing journey right now, I know it isn’t easy, but keep going. I love you and you deserve a life of so much joy and happiness. You deserve every good thing that has ever and will ever come your way, I promise you.

Sharing and seeking help will do more good for you than you’ll see or feel for a long time. People are genuinely here to help, you’ll be surprised who has similar stories.

There's always more fight left in you. Hope is your guidance. You are not alone, it's never too late and you will be believed!

This poem by Rupi Kaur captures the essence of healing "What is stronger than a human heart which shatters over and over and still lives"

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.

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

I'm hoping that I can live with this and be more kind to myself. I will be reporting and I know that it may not go in my favour or that anything will happen. And I am OK with that

Healing is possible Its a long road Dont be afraid to reach out for support Feel all feelings to fully heal

My definition of healing is time alone. After nearly 4 years, I lost the definition of myself. Time alone, allowing myself to do whatever I wasn't permitted to by my previous partner was freeing.

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.

Healing to me means realising it was never about me . Its about dominance and control . Its the realisation these people are cowards and predators who prey on the vulnerable of society.

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.

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

Healing to me means realising none of this was ever my fault - it wasn’t what I was wearing or because I was drunk. And it also means working hard to make sure women and girls are safe

Not thinking about what happened all day, every day, 24/7/365. Feeling like myself again. ❤️

Firstly, remember you are not alone; there are plenty of people who will listen to you. You may find it hard to trust others because people have been minimising or gaslighting you, but Secondly, get involved in activities outside your home and work. You need to have the kind of social circle you can dip in and out of, where there is no pressure (because you don't have to live with them and you're not depending on them for a job). Mixing with more people will make you more socially aware which, in turn, will help you set healthy boundaries; if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, you will know. Thirdly, look after your physical health. Get fit. Eat well. Rest. Learn techniques such as yoga.

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's not our fault.

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.