Meet Cathy.
Cathy is a survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as a young child from someone she trusted for many years. As a child she dissociated, stuffing the memories deep enough to not be recovered again until she turned the age of 50. She described the memories flooding back like dominoes falling in line. Through tears and brokenness, she said, “Now as I am getting older, I find that every place that was ever dislocated… or broken… causes immense pain, every single day.” She went on to describe how seemingly innocent things could trigger PTSD and fully reliving the trauma.
Cathy sought help from a christian counselor. Holding on to her faith and leaning into her counseling, Cathy began to find strength and healing. She said, “I have been going to this counselor every week for a couple of years, because there is so much to work through… I would say he saved my life. He actually did save my life. I was at a very low point and couldn’t live anymore. I couldn’t take all of the trauma. I thank God for him.”
Over the past few years, she has begun sharing her story with close friends and church family, finding that her story provided immense hope for those suffering with similar hurt. She said, “I can’t keep it inside if there is something in here that can help somebody else, because there is hope. Although I am dealing with stuff today still, there is hope. One foot in front of the other, today is better than yesterday. I just want people to know hope is possible, even with something like what I went though. There is hope for you.”