Talking About Your Experiences Is a Crucial Part of Recovery
Though the portrayal of Tyler Down's sexual assault — and the immediate aftermath — was widely viewed as problematic, he turns a corner when he works up the courage to talk about what happened, finding strength and healing in the support of his friends. Both Tyler and Jessica Davis also find solace in a group for rape survivors.
There's an important lesson there for people who have experienced trauma. When I somehow found the strength to leave an abusive relationship, I struggled with the lasting psychological effects of the abuse. My initial instinct was to close in on myself, to hide out at home and be alone, but this just made me feel worse. Eventually, I realised I needed to talk about these experiences in order to work through how they affected me. I began by talking to my family, then to a counselor, then to a close friend.
Being open and honest about what had happened helped me to see that I was not to blame, which was an important part of my recovery. When it comes to coping with trauma, what works for one survivor may not work for another, but surrounding yourself with people who support you — by first letting them in — is pretty universally helpful.