Imagine a monkey in a small cage. It’s been locked up for years. It’s been abused and experimented on. Isolated. Emotionally broken. It shakes the cage and frantically screams to get out.
One day, the cage door opens. It’s free to roam. It’s free to interact with whomever it chooses. Very slowly, very cautiously it takes trembling steps outside the cage. It feels vulnerable. Scared. Overwhelmed. There are new sights, sounds and people around it.
Some of those people reach out to help it. But all the monkey knows of people is pain… So it’s scared. It resists. It doesn’t know how to trust because no one has proven to be trustworthy before.
The new people are calm, slow and patiently don’t give up on helping the monkey. Eventually the monkey can relax a little bit. Trust just a little bit….
This is what it’s like having lived through abuse. I am this monkey. Maybe you are too. Or someone you care about.
For those of you who have lived it, rebuilding your life is a slow process… even scary and overwhelming at times. It’s also exciting and beautiful to have hope for a happy future.
Take it a day at a time. Don’t give up. There are good people with good intentions out there. You don’t have to be alone.
For those of you who care about a survivor- patience, empathy, being calm, providing a safe space, hugs and laughter are all very important factors in helping them heal.
Please be that for someone. We are all hurting in some way. We all need positivity and support. Together, the world doesn’t have to be such a scary place.
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