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.