If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.
It took me a long time to realize that I was in the wrong story. I was angry, mad, hurt, depressed, and in quite a bad place mentally, emotionally and physically. I was so focused on the past that I couldn’t live in the present. I am able to discuss my past now with detachment–that is, I no longer relive the feelings and emotions when I recall such events. This has taken a long time and a lot of self-reflection but I finally have come to a place in my life where I feel okay with my past. I don’t necessarily like it, but it is something I cannot change.
I shifted my own perception from being a victim of abuse to a survivor of childhood trauma. It is a subtle but life-changing difference.
As a victim, you are powerless. As a survivor, you are powerful. You made it through tough times. You put up with all of that pain and trauma and made it out, perhaps scarred and bloodied but you still survived. You survived where others would have broken or given up and yet you are still moving forward. Take pride in yourself, in your progress, in your abilities, and never stop going forward.
You are powerful. You are a survivor. No matter what lies behind you, there is a brighter future ahead. All you have to do is get up (even if it’s just a crawl) and keep moving forward.
Reflections of an ACOA 