Stories

989,412

Thank you for joining our community. Together we have shared and read stories 989,412 times. Thank you for helping create a wave of change.

2,086

2,086 supporters thanked a survivor for sharing their story.

706

706 visitors found stories that made them feel hopeful.

849

849 visitors found stories and experiences they can relate to.

3,318

3,318 supporters shared a message with a survivor that they are not alone.
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Welcome to Our Wave.

On this page are stories shared by survivors that highlight hope but can also be hard to read. A grounding activity can help you to feel calm and make it easier to read these stories. Do you want to try one of our grounding activities?

#1113

I love you all out there!
You are not alone!
You are strong!
The abuse is not your fault!

Silence.

Survivor Media

Letter to my rapist

This is not really a story, but I wrote a letter to my rapist which I will never send. I don’t want to keep it in, not be alone with it. I want somebody to hear me even though it’s not him that will listen.
I don’t know how I can miss and hate you so much, while still having so much love for you. You did the worst possible thing a best friend could do. You used the trust I had in you to benefit yourself and ignored my feelings along the way. I have so much love for you and I can’t show it, because you don’t deserve my love. You said you cared...

12 year old sex abuse survivor of sex abuse in west virginia, summer of 1979

to those out there that maybe going through the same thing out there that i went through, just know that you are not alone, i beleive you, and please go seek out some professional help like i did i have been seeing a councelor since date because of my p.t.s.d. that i was diagnosed with, please do not think that you can handle this yourself because you cannot, it eats away at you peice by peice i know because when i came clean to my mother about being raped by my brother ricky and his girlfriend name back in date, back in date w...

We all have the ability to be allies and support the survivors in our lives.

mellohi

no matter how mundane it seemed at the moment, or how your friends or family made you feel, you are so valid.

What do I call this?

Healing to me means being open about my story, knowing how to talk about it with others and feeling strong after knowing that this happened to me

#1579

Just know that it's not your fault if this has also happened to you. You were not responsible for it, you were too young or fragile to know.

Eventual Clarity

Healing for me is to view myself with compassion and put the shame onto them instead of continuing to carry it.

#1549

どうやったら希望を持てますか

Dear reader, the following story contains language of self-harm that some may find triggering or discomforting.

“Healing is different for everyone, but for me it is listening to myself...I make sure to take some time out of each week to put me first and practice self-care.”

11:11

11:11
I was sexually assaulted—violated—by a man I once admired, someone I trusted and looked up to. I was only number years old at the time, just starting out in the industry—doingjob, stepping into an industry I thought would lead to creativity, confidence, and success.

My boyfriend made me extremely uncomfortable when i was unconscious and he only stopped because i woke up

Im struggling to get my head around what to do and who to speak to. I was comfortably asleep and cuddling my boyfriend and had my head kind of on top of him, i woke up slightly and he was moving my hand to his crotch that was h*rd and at that point i was wide awake with my eyes still closed wondering what he was doing, i opened them a little and pretended i was moving in my sleep but he kept on using force moving my whole arm and hand to touch him and i didnt know what to do so i was still and he took out his phone like he was gonna take a pic...

#1574

I honestly don't know what this was, but if you went through anything similar and you're confused too, I get it. I'm 32 now and hadn't thought about my ex Name for a while; we dated when we were both 13. I was turning 14 in the end of June, he was turning 14 in the beginning of July, seems like we were meant to be. At least it felt that way at first.

Name, solo tenía 6 años

Tenía alrededor de 6 años, cierro los ojos y es cómo si volviera a vivir en carne propia el recuerdo, me acuerdo del ruido de la televisión, el olor del desayuno que estaba comiendo, yo solo estaba viendo caricaturas. El, un hombre de alrededor 50 años me cargó y me acomodó en sus piernas, y deslizó su mano por debajo de mis panties, TENÍA 6 AÑOS y ahí empezó mi historia de abusó sexual, una historia que me hubiese gustado no tener que experimentar. Yo hablé ya que mi mamá siempre me había enseñado a que nadie podía tocar mis partes pero en es...

Lost

Survivor Media

“You are not broken; you are not disgusting or unworthy; you are not unlovable; you are wonderful, strong, and worthy.”

COCSA or "boys being boys"?

When I was 6-7 years old, I was pinned to my ottoman by my older brother (8-9 years) and my friend (6-7 years) and repeatedly kissed on the mouth by another friend (8-9). I told them to stop and put up a struggle but ultimately gave up and let it happen. Is this COCSA or an act of children not knowing boundaries?

Understanding the Complexity of Sexual Abuse

There is hope in survivors coming together to share their stories and offer each other support, encouragement and understanding. We are stronger together.

I met her last night

I'm 9 weeks on from my assault and in the early stages of wedding planning. I'll never forget what happened me but I hope in time the good out weighs the bad.

NEVER TOO LATE

Healing means to me coming home to an empty self and filling it each day with a me.

Shattered Believes- Name

The hope is we survive, we thrive, and we find our voice. Don't let someone else take away your voice and your truth.

You are wonderful, strong, and worthy. From one survivor to another.

Six years, almost married, back “ together “ then cheated on and abused simultaneously.

You can be brave

There are good guys, I promise

Healing is allowing yourself to be seen and known and loved, even when you are carrying all you have been through and everything that has made you feel broken. Healing is realising you don’t need to be ‘healed’ to be loved, by yourself or anyone else. Healing is knowing you are perfect and worthy just because you exist. Healing is finding home in your body again. Healing is being your own safe space.

#1418

A number of years on, I am still healing from my experience, but it begins to get a little easier as you build more positive memories beyond what happened to you in the past. Having a relationship that is healthy, and that we all deserve, is healing because I feel more safe now and I know my boundaries will be respected and I will be loved regardless of the level of intimacy. I am healing by enjoying experiences that make life feel worthwhile.

#1540

It's not your fault.

母から逃げたい

癒しとは自分があること。自分の喜びややりたいことを感じられることだと思います。

“It’s always okay to reach out for help”

原因は私だけにあるわけじゃなかった

きっと話を聞いてくれる人がいます。それまで話す相手を間違えて失敗することがあるかもしれないけど、きっといると信じてください。

No Longer Name's Victim.

Trans ethnic adoption is a form of abuse. Finding your way back to your true home is possible no matter who has tried to get in your way.

The Taste Of A Lamb After Slaughter

Don't let your trauma be all that you are. You're more than what others may say. You're you, and that's what is so beautiful. Continue to fight, don't let what had caused you be this way, win once again. You're stronger than you think, we all are. Sometimes, we just need encouragement to see that. Good luck to all of my wonderful survivors, you're all different and coping differently, and that's so valid.

My story - Name

To other survivors who have gone through anything similar,
Please know that no matter what you will find people who can love you for you, and actually try to understand you as a person. You will heal. The nightmare will end. You'll wake up and suddenly the world will be so beautiful to you. You'll feel so much love, nothing like you've ever felt before, and everything will be okay.

I won't hide what happened to me. It was wrong, and silence only makes it worse.

Thank you for reading this. I wish I could give you a hot cup of tea and a big blanket to wrap yourself in. I'm sending you my love and hope and prayers. Please remember me.

Taking ‘time for yourself’ does not always mean spending the day at the spa. Mental health may also mean it is ok to set boundaries, to recognize your emotions, to prioritize sleep, to find peace in being still. I hope you take time for yourself today, in the way you need it most.

#1544

i never thought i would let another man touch me after him. it's been just over a year and i met someone new and wonderful, and i've reclaimed myself and my body in a way i never would have dreamed was possible. keep the faith. i love you.

Safety Exit

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