Victim vs. Survivor

A Work In Progress

by ComputerBob

November 17, 2005

When I was a victim, my life was under my abuser's control.
As a survivor, my life is my own.
When I was a victim, I took care of my abuser's needs.
As a survivor, I take care of my own needs.
When I was a victim, I lived in constant fear.
As a survivor, I live in hope.
When I was a victim, I dreaded waking up each day.
As a survivor, I see each new day as a precious gift.
When I was a victim, I thought that it was my own fault that I was abused.
As a survivor, I know that nothing I could ever do would ever give anyone the right to abuse me.
When I was a victim, I thought that God wanted me to stay with my abuser.
As a survivor, I know that abuse is never God's will.
When I was a victim, I learned dysfunctional behaviors that affected all of my relationships.
As a survivor, I am learning how to have healthy relationships.
When I was a victim, I was afraid to get help.
As a survivor, I am finding the help that I need.
I was ashamed to be a victim.
I am proud to be a survivor.
My abuser forced me to be a victim.
I choose to be a survivor.