Hey everyone, og thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskWomenOver30/comments/128hs5a/assaulted_by_a_female_friend/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1

I spoke with my intimacy coach and my therapist on Tue, and my dietitian today. I can’t tell you how important having an excellent care team is when dealing with trauma. They all really validated that I owe her nothing, but given the situation, I needed to find a way to address it that I felt comfortable with. I ended up sending this:

Hi, I’m not ready to talk to you. I don’t know that I ever will be. What happened on Thursday was not okay in any way and I was not okay after. I ask that you please respect my need for space.

I wish the best for you, sincerely. But please... Address the substance use.

She responded with a simple “I understand.”

I’m… okay. Good even? I’ve been a bit of a walking wound, telling anyone who asks what happened if I’m okay. It’s amazing how not bottling, not worrying about inconveniencing others with your trauma, not shutting down your need to process actually helps with letting go. I’ve always been one to keep shit to myself for fear of being a burden. And over the last several months, with my team’s support, I’ve increasingly let that go and allowed myself to exist as a messy, imperfect human. And honestly, I’m so proud of myself.