Nadia went in search of her own past. She was a victim of three of the four possible forms of child abuse: physical, sexual and mental and had no memories of the period before her 16th birthday. “Then when you hear that there are still children today going through the same thing and having to spend their lives in survival mode, it hurts. I’m 34 now and have only realized for two years that I was surviving.”
“Thanks to EMDR therapy, I have become aware of my complex PTSD* and its consequences. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps process traumatic experiences. Through eye movements or other forms of rhythmic stimulation, such as sound or touch, traumatic memories are re-experienced and processed, which can reduce their emotional impact. “It was tough, but it helped me understand and forgive myself. I was able to start my search for who I am, what I am capable of, and what I want to achieve. EMDR helped me retrieve pieces of my past that my brain had hidden to protect me. Although it was difficult, I am grateful because now I can begin the process of processing.”
My son has also made me realize that I can make a difference. I want to give him the life I didn’t have, without pain and full of love. I have tried to protect him, but realize that at times I have also hurt him through my own traumas. Despite my mistakes, I have broken the cycle of family suffering and hope my son will do the same for generations to come. That is why I want to fight. We are survivors, stronger than most people think. We are warriors. I hope my story can inspire others and let them know they are not alone. We must fight for a better future for our children so that they are seen and heard.”
*PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which translates into Dutch as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a psychological disorder that can occur after experiencing a traumatic event and is characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in mood and thoughts, and increased irritability.
