Survivor's Sanity List

In my sexual abuse therapy course, we went over this list one by one and a lot of it brought tears to my eyes.  Hopefully this will help someone else too :)



If you are healing from sexual assault and you get out of bed in the morning, you are doing well.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you hold down a job, you are amazing!
If you are healing from sexual assault and you are still remotely pleasant to others YOU ARE A LOT NICER THAN ME.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cannot always be there for a friend, you are still a good friend and a strong enough person to know what is best for you.
If you are healing from sexual assault and find it difficult to care for yourself, but still find the strength to care and love your family, then you are strong as well.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide to tell your story, you are brave.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide that you are not ready to tell your story, you are also brave.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cry daily or have nightmares, you are normal.
If you are healing from sexual assault and seeing happy, healthy people makes you sad, angry, jealous and worse, join the club.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide to press charges against your perpetrator, you have incredible courage.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cannot or choose not to press charges against your perpetrator, your perpetrator is still the one to blame, and you are smart for knowing what you can handle.
If you are healing from sexual assault and think that what happened was your fault, you are WRONG, but you are NOT ALONE.
If you are healing from sexual assault and are jealous that some survivors put their abuser in jail, you are one of many.
If you are healing from sexual assault and feel like your significant other truly understands and is 100% supportive, he/she is rare and a keeper.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you have a good support system, it will help A LOT.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you don't have enough people who understand what you are going through, I strongly recommend joining a support group.
If you are healing from sexual assault and were not believed or supported when you found the courage to tell, you still deserve to be heard, no matter how long ago it was.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you feel like you hate your body, remember your spirit is held within your body.
If you are healing from sexual assault and feel painfully alone and isolated, please know that there are thousands of people healing with you in spirit.
If you are healing from sexual assault and there are days where the only thing you are able to do is exist, remember, we are existing with you 'til you can live again.
If you are healing from sexual assault but still looking to the future, you are a survivor.

Blind King

There was once a Man who grew up with much sadness
Facets of life surrounded him with malice.
He discovered that evil preys on those who are weak
And though still so young, the outcome seemed bleak.
The future King lived his life of insecurities and corruption,
Hurting those around him, but lo, an interruption!
New Life was so unexpectedly brought into a cruel world
Naked, unwanted, into turmoil so was Life viciously hurled.
The Man awoke from his useless slumber
Because he eventually realized at least one blunder.
So he set forth to correct his ongoing poverty
But he overlooked one fatal flaw: his barbary.
Living a life of treachery, many were soon in his debt.
He built a kingdom and became the King, but one thing he did forget.
Even though this King has money and power
And many people in his antagonistic presence did cower,
There are some who see through his mask so rough.
They see the insecurities not covered well enough
The ongoing, intimidating feeling of not always having the upper hand
Displayed by childish actions of antagonism so well honed
But my dear King, fear thee not!
You need not act like the asses in your stable
To keep your preciously guarded and maintained masquerade
From crashing down.

Family Units

Family... the ones who are supposed to see past each fake smile.
The kind that covers pain, but you overlooked actions so vile.
Once the pain was discovered, you at first played your part,
But now your underlying actions cut and slice my heart.
That family image you wish so much to maintain
Is nothing but lies, and it will be your bane.
Instead, you shelter a demon and shun the angel.
It hurts so much, this false, insensitive image.
But you will not ruin our first Christmas.

Depression

Depression... It moves into the mind,
Creeps into the heart, and if you let it play its part,
It finds a home in your very soul, where it takes its toll.
That person once so boisterous, now seems so lifeless.
It's a sneaky snake, but how much will you take?
If you let it take over, you become the donor
Who gives back nothing, just keeps on struggling.
Get up, stand up, walk outside... What could be the downside?
You see the problem, so very solemn.
If that problem is acknowledged, there will be no more bondage
So long as you force yourself to remember oneself
And what once made you happy.

The Depraved Soul

You don't wear a sad face, yet you seem out of place.
A soul torn apart from years of oppression,
Displayed by vulgar aggression.
Why must that beautiful soul lash out?
With no regret, you thrash about,
Yet with each moment, you bury yourself further
But it doesn't matter; you put it on the back burner.
You could nurture, but you flee from the good
Because Good has become a stranger.
Helpless soul driven by insanity...
Stop sinking in your own depravity!
One day the false image you display
For the rest of the world will decay.
You will be left with nothing,
Merely trusting in the comfort your
Padded cell brings...
Your life hangs by loose strings,
Ready to break, running from change.
Your entire world is deranged,
Please accept and embrace love
Because it is the only thing that you should not shove
So far away...
Otherwise it will weigh on your soul,
And darkness will be your only role.