A Guide for Family and Friends of Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault by Rebecca Street
During our six weeks together, a major goal of the You Are Not Alone program is to lessen the heavy burden of shame survivors carry as a result of sexual trauma. In fact, there is an entire week devoted to “Overcoming Shame.” One of the effective tools I utilized in my own recovery was to create a folder on my computer entitled “Shame Busters.” This folder is comprised of quotations on healing, letters I have written to myself, poems, affirmations, and much more. I refer to them often and regularly create new ones. For those of you in the You Are Not Alone program, I invite you to share your own Shame Busters. And thank you.
If I can't be who I am, then what's the point? It's not dignified to try so hard, it doesn't work, and it dimishes me. I'm not a fragile child anymore. Look at what I have overcome ~ I am a miracle and I deeply approve of myself. There is no time for smallness ~ I have meaningful things to accomplish.