Courageous Survivors
Cart 0
Store
Donate Now Donate Monthly
Support Groups Events Newsletters Stay In Touch
Get Help Now Articles Books Downloads Links Podcasts Videos Addiction Child Sexual Abuse Codependence Inner Child Self-Help Sexual Trauma Shame Trauma
Connect Donate REFLECTION WALL Survivor Artwork Survivor Writing Volunteer
Courageous Survivors Our Goals Board of Directors Contact Us
Cart 0
Our Work Support Groups Events Newsletters Stay In Touch Browse Resources Get Help Now Articles Books Downloads Links Podcasts Videos Addiction Child Sexual Abuse Codependence Inner Child Self-Help Sexual Trauma Shame Trauma Get Involved Connect Donate REFLECTION WALL Survivor Artwork Survivor Writing Volunteer About Us Courageous Survivors Our Goals Board of Directors Contact Us Store
Courageous Survivors
Donate NowDonate Monthly
unsplash-image-2x19-mRQgX8.jpg

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.”
 
Paths Crossed
Paths Crossed

I've lost my way again

Read More
A SurvivorMay 21, 20232023 Comment
Healing Together - A Poem
Healing Together - A Poem

Broken, shattered, left in pieces,

Read More
Janet BentleyMay 18, 20232023Comment
Diana's Healing Message For May
Diana's Healing Message For May

May is upon us and so is Mother’s Day which is next Sunday. 

Read More
Diana DMay 6, 20232023Comment
Courage - A Poem
Courage - A Poem

Courage is not the absence of fear,

Read More
Janet BentleyApril 25, 20232023 Comments
Diana's Healing Message for April
Diana's Healing Message for April

April is a very special month for me for it’s my birthday month!

Read More
Diana DApril 1, 20232023Comment
Another Day
Another Day

Feelings from the bottom

Read More
A SurvivorMarch 22, 20232023Comment
Dear 12-Year-Old Me,
Dear 12-Year-Old Me,

What I feel now for myself is immense pride that I was finally able to face that pain.

Read More
Janet BentleyMarch 20, 20232023 Comment
Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 2023
Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 2023

Next month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Whatever the nature and scope of your trauma, this is a good time to remind yourself that you are not alone.

Read More
Janet BentleyMarch 4, 20232023Comment
Diana's Healing Message for March
Diana's Healing Message for March

When I think of March I think of spring and spring means rebirth.

Read More
Diana DMarch 1, 20232023Comment
Letter To An Abusive Father
Letter To An Abusive Father 
TRIGGER WARNING 
SEXUAL ABUSE

I want you to know about all the things that I needed from you and all the things I didn’t get.

Read More
Janet BentleyFebruary 8, 20232023 Comments
Diana's Healing Message for February
Diana's Healing Message for February

Welcome to the second month of the year, the month most people call the Love month.

Read More
Diana DFebruary 6, 20232023Comment
God's Daughter
God's Daughter 
TRIGGER WARNING
ABUSE AND RELIGION

Read More
A SurvivorJanuary 18, 20232023Comment
To Child Sexual Abusers
To Child Sexual Abusers

I will never understand how an adult can sexually abuse a child.

Read More
Janet BentleyJanuary 15, 20232023Comment
Diana's Healing Message for January
Diana's Healing Message for January

I am hoping you found a way to enjoy all that Christmas means to you and are ready to tackle 2023.

Read More
Diana DJanuary 10, 20232023Comment
Coming To Grips With It
Coming To Grips With It 
TRIGGER WARNING

It has taken almost 40 years but I realize it was never my fault or something I asked for.

Read More
A SurvivorJanuary 2, 20232023 Comments
Diana's Healing Message For December
Diana's Healing Message For December

Good morning Courageous Survivors and almost Merry Christmas!

Read More
Diana DDecember 20, 20222023Comment
Letter to 12-year-old Me
Letter to 12-year-old Me

Dear 12-year-old Me, I re-read what I wrote to you a few months ago…

Read More
Janet BentleyOctober 19, 20222023 Comment
Managing Grief As A Survivor Of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Managing Grief As A Survivor Of Childhood Sexual Abuse

In my life, I have experienced a lot of death in my close family, extended family, and chosen family.

Read More
Janet BentleySeptember 23, 20222023 Comments
Receiving Support As A Trauma Response
Receiving Support As A Trauma Response

The inability to receive support from others is a trauma response.

Read More
Janet BentleyAugust 18, 2022old Comment
Reasons Why I Share My Childhood Sexual Abuse Story
Reasons Why I Share My Childhood Sexual Abuse Story

Telling my story was the most difficult thing I have ever done.

Read More
Janet BentleyJuly 17, 2022old Comment
Newer Older
 

Learn More

About Us

Contact Us

Donate

Stay Connected

Resources by Type

Articles

Books

Downloads

Links

Podcasts

Videos

Resources by Topic

Addiction

Codependence

Childhood Sexual Abuse

Inner Child

Self-Help

Sexual Trauma

Shame

Trauma

Get Help

 

© Copyright 2025. Courageous Survivors Inc.