Your story could be the key that unlocks someone else’s prison. Don’t be afraid to share it. Unknown
Healing from abuse comes in the reading and retelling of abuse stories. When you are trying to uncover what is happening or seeking answers to the chaos and silence surrounding your daily living it is salve on the soul to find a story that explains what you are feeling and offers answers. Even if your story does not involve abuse, abuse recovery stories are healing for you and your stories are healing for the abused.
The other day I went to grab a drink with a woman that works in the agent’s office next to mine. For weeks she had been asking me to go and we hadn’t found the time. She is about twenty years older than I and full of spunk. She became a widow about six months ago after her husband of 47 years returned home from a two-year stay in a rehabilitation facility only to pass within the week unexpectedly. She is strong and vibrant and full of stories. I truly love visiting with her.
We talked about everything; politics, faith, life insurance, abuse, my book and our love for reading story. The very next day she handed me a book written by her friend called From the Convent, to the Bordello, to the Mob. by D Donaldson.
I read it in two days. It is D Donaldson’s life story. She wrote it to find healing. She healed me just a little more. An absolutely fascinating story of one life that began during The Great Depression. Different times that began thirty-three years before mine. She lived im complete submission through very distinctly different abusive systems. WOW. I related to it deeply.
Neither her nor I ever went to prison. But we have been incarcerated at home. We have not been behind bars. But we have been locked up by manipulation, control, imprisoned in our own minds. We have not been caged but we have been banged up until we shriveled in a corner of desperation. We have not been shackled but we have been chained to our past.
We have both been released, liberated, unchained, rescued. More than once.
Reading the stories of others empowers, inspires, convicts, heals me. Stories are powerful.
I remember when I first broke out of the control of a narcissistic sociopath. Hungry for understanding I began googling and looking on Pinterest and discovered a narcissistic abuse recovery support group. Reading story after story after tear jerking story. Over one million followers in this group and I was overwhelmed by the uncanny similarity to my stories even though they were all over the world. Every vacation was chaos. Every family was being isolated from the abused. Silent treatment. Love bombing. Gaslighting. Manipulation. Words I would learn as they described my life in crazy, heart-breaking detail.
Reading other’s stories will bring enlightenment, education, change and also bring understanding, hope, strength, connection, FREEDOM. Chains Break.
Your story breaks chains. My story breaks chains. Let’s break chains together.
If you have a few minutes to share a story from your life comment on the blog or send me a message on the contact page. Lets connect deeper. Lets heal together. Lets break another link in the chain.
Susanne Moore 