Welcoming the new versions of us begins with giving ourselves permission to acknowledge the changes we realize, and those that other people may realize, without judging the changes or ourselves.

Engaging in meaningful activities reminds us that we’re more than what was done to us. And, every time we choose to participate in life, we challenge the belief that sexual violence has the final say.

Having healthy relationships is a key contributor to our being able to have healthy survivorship journeys, because healing does not happen in isolation.

Yes, it’s true! The sexual trauma we’ve endured impacts our bodies in such a way that it causes us to “age faster”. But, there’s something we can do about it.

The hardest conversations aren't always the ones we have with therapists, friends, or family. They're the ones we have with ourselves. And, solitude creates room for those conversations.

While some impacts of sexual violence are widely understood, many are not. And it’s those overlooked effects that can quietly shape a victimized person’s health for years.

Unsafe people are everywhere, not just lurking in dark corners or fitting some obvious "stranger danger" physical stereotype. In fact, the most dangerous individuals often present themselves as friendly, charming, and deeply empathetic.

Accepting trauma without traditional justice doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning what was done to us. Instead, it means finding peace where possible and creating meaning despite pain.

In part three of the three-part series, we’re focussing on those items that may help sexual assault survivors to better sustain.

In part two of the three-part series, we’re focussing on helping survivors practice self care and reduce the possibility of being triggered.

In part one of the three-part series, we’re focussing on minimizing the amount of mental labor needed to survive.

If we're going to make it, we have to focus on our wellness and practice self care. This means putting ourselves first.