5 Unexpected Benefits of “Coming Out” as a Sexual Assault Survivor
“It’s been almost a year since my ‘coming out’ as a survivor of rape and sexual assault. The changes I’ve experienced have been remarkable.” For Wear Your Voice Mag, April 2017.
Tag: PTSD
Shame is on the Other Side: The 10 Stages of “Coming Out” as an Abuse Survivor
“After the Stanford rape survivor released her powerful and detailed victim impact statement, I was inspired to write my own open letter in which I discussed my experiences with sexual and partner violence. In the months since my “coming out” as a survivor — a decision that I did not make or take lightly — I’ve been actively reflecting on my myriad emotions and identifying distinct stages to the process. As with the five stages of grief, this isn’t a linear evolution; I found myself cycling through some of these stages multiple times before the emotion passed. Here’s what to expect.” For Wear Your Voice Mag, October 2016.
Happiness Is a Choice, and So Is Love
Ultimately, we’re not passive recipients of love or happiness. In so many ways we’re taught to sit back and wait for love, wait for happiness, wait for satisfaction to find us when that’s not how it works at all. We ourselves are the active participants in the promotion or prevention of our own lives.” My 27th article for HuffPost, published in Feb 2016.
“It’s Not Your Fault”: Netflix’s Jessica Jones and the Outward Ripples of Domestic Violence
“Jessica Jones — played with strength and haunted panache by Gilmore Girls alum Krysten Ritter — is a ‘hard-drinking, short-fused, mess of a woman’ with a minimalist fashion sense, private gumshoe leanings, and superpowered strength.” My 23rd article for HuffPost published in January 2016, and the first time I publicly spoke about being a survivor of domestic violence.
Complex Legacies of War, Abuse, and Immigration: Nayomi Munaweera’s Island of a Thousand Mirrors and What Lies Between Us
“Where Island of a Thousand Mirrors shone a light on the horrors of war, What Lies Between Us spotlights the equally horrific specter of sexual abuse through a woman’s damaged psyche, and all the damage that is caused by denying survivors the language by which they can share their abuse without being shamed or blamed.” My 22nd article for HuffPost, published in January 2016.