Dear Survivor,
Thank you for making your way to this guide. Our goal is to create a space and community for you to safely show up exactly as you are, and exactly as you are not - all are welcome here. Everyone’s healing journey is different and we hope that you are able to use this guide in a way that feels right to you. As you flow through the different sections, please remember this:
- You are not alone
- It is not your fault
- Your feelings (yes, even those ones) are valid
It’s normal to experience many different feelings, such as powerlessness, unsafe, or out of control (or something completely different). And while you may be questioning why you are feeling the way you are, we want you to know that nothing is wrong with you; your feelings and responses to trauma are valid. This guide will hopefully provide you with some insight on how trauma can impact us, and how to address those different impacts.
We wanted to share this quote in hopes that it will resonate in the way that feels best in this moment:
“I am deserving of healing, of generosity to myself, of patience as I stumble and celebration as I grow. I commit to myself to pull from the tools within me to surround myself with the support, love, and guidance that I need."
- CARE Center, inspired by healers and those who engage in healing (Amita Swadhin, Adrienne Maree Brown, Brené Brown, Desiré Galvez)
Thank you for taking the time to look at this guide, to make time for yourself and to engage in healing even when it seems impossible.