Survivor Writing

“I can shake off everything as I write: My sorrows disappear, courage is reborn.”

— Anne Frank

The healing power of writing

By helping people manage and learn from negative experiences, writing strengthens their immune systems as well as their minds. Comment: Writing is no stranger to therapy. For years, practitioners have used logs, questionnaires, journals and other writing forms to help people heal from stresses and traumas.

Sharing our writing is a powerful way to connect with other survivors and at Courageous Survivors we invite you to share your writing (such as poems, letters, essays).

To view the writing, click on any of the thumbnails to view in full screen and then you can use the arrows on either side of the page to move between them.

If you would like to submit your own writing to our gallery, you can do so here.

ABOUT TRIGGERS

Sharing our experiences, our strength and our hope is a valuable tool on our path to happiness. Reading about others' experiences is a way of connecting and learning that we are not alone with our pain.

Triggers are something that all survivors must remain careful to manage appropriately. Sights, sounds and words are common triggers that can bring back strong memories and can even cause someone to feel they are living their own trauma again. Some of the writings below do include descriptions - sometimes quite graphic - of real events experienced by a survivor.

We urge all readers to be aware of their own reaction to these writings and to exercise caution.

Any of the writings below could potentially trigger a reader's trauma but the ones that contain graphic descriptions of sexual abuse or assault contain an additional warning - look for the words 'TRIGGER WARNING' underneath the title of the writing.

If you are triggered by anything that you read here, please know that there are resources that you can turn to for help (such as this from The Younique Foundation). You can also find links to other resources on our Links page (click here).

“It’s an oft-repeated truism that writing, or any form of art or creativity, is therapeutic.
But sometimes clichés become clichés because they’re true.”

Running From Her

Running From Her

I have been trying to run from the little girl

Janet BentleyFebruary 23, 20252025Comment

Diana's Healing Message for October

Diana's Healing Message for October

This month my husband and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary

Diana DOctober 23, 20242024 Comment

This is What Happened to Me

This is What Happened to Me

TRIGGER WARNING

SEXUAL ABUSE

I was raped at 15.

A SurvivorOctober 3, 20242024 Comments

Diana's Healing Message for September

Diana's Healing Message for September

We have made it to the “ber” months.

Diana DSeptember 17, 20242024 Comment

Loneliness

Loneliness

I am in the midst of people who care,

Janet BentleyAugust 16, 20242024 Comment

Diana's Healing Message for August

Diana's Healing Message for August

August begins a new school year

Diana DAugust 16, 20242024Comment

Monster

Monster

Eyes empty and dark

A SurvivorAugust 8, 20242024 Comments

Diana's Healing Message For July

Diana's Healing Message For July

This 4th of July I claim as my Independence Day.

Diana DJuly 7, 20242024Comment

Diana's Healing Message For June

Diana's Healing Message For June

For me Father's Day is a mixed bag.

Diana DJune 15, 20242024Comment

Thoughts About Healing From Sexual Abuse

Thoughts About Healing From Sexual Abuse

Survivors of sexual trauma get asked all the time, “why didn’t you tell sooner”.

Janet BentleyMay 7, 20242024 Comments

Diana's Healing Message For May

Diana's Healing Message For May

Good morning dear Survivors and Happy Mother's Day!

Diana DMay 2, 20242024Comment

What Would You Do

What Would You Do

Our bodies carry scars you cannot see,

A SurvivorMay 2, 20242024 Comment

Forged In Fire

Forged In Fire

I’ve been burned and scarred

A SurvivorApril 9, 20242024 Comment

Turning Ugly into Beautiful

Turning Ugly into Beautiful

I feel so damaged

A SurvivorApril 4, 20242024 Comment

I Need to Hide

I Need to Hide

TRIGGER WARNING
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

I take one step at a time

A SurvivorApril 4, 20242024 Comment

Diana’s Healing Message For April

Diana’s Healing Message For April

April happens to be my birth month. I was born on Easter morning in 1958.

Diana DApril 2, 20242024Comment

Diana's Healing Message For March

Diana's Healing Message For March

Janet BentleyMarch 6, 20242024 Comments

The Little Girl Inside Me

The Little Girl Inside Me

For the little girl inside me

Janet BentleyFebruary 23, 20242024 Comment

Dear Dad,

Dear Dad,

I just heard a song that made my heart ache more than it has in a very long time.

Janet BentleyFebruary 6, 20242024 Comments

Diana's Healing Message For February

Diana's Healing Message For February

May the tide that is entering even now

Diana DFebruary 2, 20242024Comment