One survivor told me, "When the hotline said 'Safety planning,' I hung up. But when a friend said, 'Let's pack a bag just in case you need a sleepover,' I packed it."
For the last decade, I have sat in circles—both literal and virtual—listening to survivors. I have heard the whispered confessions in parking lots, the shaky voices on helplines, and the triumphant, tearful laughter of someone realizing they survived another anniversary of their trauma. 311 SMA 360 Risa Murakami Widow Raped By Grotesque Men
P.S. For the Campaign Managers Before you design your next gala, brochure, or hashtag, hire a survivor as a consultant. Pay them. Listen when they say a photo is triggering. Let them veto the language. Stop exploiting their trauma for your quarterly reports. Start celebrating their wisdom. One survivor told me, "When the hotline said
If you are running an awareness campaign, you need to understand one fundamental truth: Listen when they say a photo is triggering