Recovering After Violence: Where to Start

The hardest part may be behind you, but it isn't getting easier. You're safe, yet your body is still on guard, memory keeps bringing back details, and strength doesn't return. People around you say "it's all over now," but inside, nothing feels over. This doesn't mean you're stuck or doing something wrong. This is what recovery looks like — a process with its own stages, and it has clear supports.

First — safety and stability, not sorting through the past

When life is just starting to settle, there's a pull to figure everything out at once: to understand why it happened, what went wrong, who's to blame. But that's not where to start.