Surviving Surviving: Navigating the Realities of Healing

Surviving. It's a word that carries weight - a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. But what happens when surviving becomes more than just a state of being? What happens when it becomes a way of life? For too many of us, surviving has become second nature - a reflex honed through years of navigating the treacherous waters of trauma. Whether it's childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or any other form of trauma, the scars run deep, etching themselves into the very fabric of our being.

But here's the thing: surviving surviving is hard work. It's not just about enduring the pain—it's about confronting it head-on, day in and day out. It's about mustering the courage to face our demons, to unpack our trauma, and to reclaim our power in a world that often seeks to diminish it.

Practical Tools

Choosing to be a survivor, or better yet, a thriver - rather than a victim is a conscious decision. It's a commitment to ourselves, to our healing, and to our future. But make no mistake: it's not easy. It's a journey filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, victories and setbacks. Perhaps what makes it even more challenging is the pervasive desensitization to trauma that permeates our society. We've become numb to the pain—not just our own, but that of others as well. We've grown accustomed to sweeping things under the rug, to pretending that everything is fine when it's anything but. In a world where words like "trauma," "bully," and "narcissist" are thrown around haphazardly, it's important to distinguish between genuine experiences of trauma and mere inconvenience. There are no prizes in the trauma Olympics—no gold medals for enduring the most pain. Whether you have the gold or the bronze, we both lose in the end.

But amidst the chaos and confusion, there is hope. There is a growing movement towards authenticity, vulnerability, and healing. Organizations like Eye Am More are leading the charge, providing survivors with the tools, resources, and support they need to not just survive, but to thrive. So let's reclaim our stories. Let's rewrite our narratives. Let's redefine what it means to be a survivor in a world that often seeks to silence us. And let's do it together—because together, we are stronger than any trauma, stronger than any pain, stronger than any adversity.