April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I bet you didn't know that. I didn't know it either until last night when I went to my favorite locally-owned bookstore and saw their huge sign and a table full of books on recovery.Although sexual assault is one of my personal curses and causes, it hit me that it's important to say (or write) a reminder to all women and men out there who are suffering -- YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There is no such thing as a unique experience. I've had many people say to me regarding my struggle with infertility, "Don't give up!". I always resented this sentiment, as genuine as the speaker might have been. I would never recommend to anyone struggling with any issue to continue indefinitely. I would say instead, don't give up on yourself. There are people who care and who can help, you just need to reach out your hand.
Adoption.com
AnxietyPanic.com
Divorce Resource Center
Exhale (After Abortion Resources)
Infertility Resources
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
Sexual Abuse Support Groups
I am not a member of nor have any affiliation with any of the groups or links offered. This is just a small sample of the available resources. Don't despair that you won't ever get over whatever it is...you probably won't. But you will get through it. You may come out of the ditch on the other side dirty, gasping for breath, maybe even bloodied, but you will continue to slog through, one step at a time. I am a survivor. You are too.
Simon & Garfunkle -- Bridge Over Troubled Water mp3
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush -- Don't Give Up mp3
That's a beautiful post Donna. You are right, you don't get over so many things but you get through them, with a lot of help!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right to remind survivors that they aren't alone. I felt completely alone in my experience for years until I reluctantly went public. Then I was shocked to find so many others who could relate to my struggles.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really powerful post. I hope that someone suffering out there can find strength and comfort from your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks, you are helping me to get over my strugles.. and im only 16
ReplyDeleteWell said and very kind.
ReplyDeleteBridge over Troubled Waters was one of the the albums my dad had when I was a little girl. It is still enormously comforting and inspirational to me. The other other song that often gets me through is "into the Mystery" by Van Morrison. "You've got to open up your arms to the sun, You know you've got so many charms, it's just begun." Beautiful.
I've tried to post a couple of times, I don't know what happened. It's funny - the time of the awareness month, my anniversary - your's, what is spring just the season for violence against women?
ReplyDeleteI wish I was the only one, I think I'd actually find a lot more solace in that then knowing how many others have suffered what I have.