Denial

Teddy's name: Denial

Age when sexually assaulted: 13-15

Who assaulted Teddy: Coworkers

Town or State where the assault happened: Caribbean

Teddy's message to the world:

I have been in Denial for far too long, and I'm done. What happened to me was wrong.

Sometimes it's so much easier to take the blame, because if it really was your fault, then that means justice is real, and everything is fair, but when you put the blame back where it belongs, that puts you in a really scary and vulnerable place. All of a sudden, we see the world for what it can be, a horrible place full of injustice, where bad things do happen to good people. Sometimes, it's easier to stay in denial, it can be easier to just believe that it was your fault than to accept the fact that it wasn't and you didn't have control in the situation for this very reason. Just like minimizing, denial is something our brain uses to protect itself. When really, its just flawed logic and I think every survivor needs to ask them self, is it worth it? Is it worth taking blame which is not yours to carry? Is it worth lying to yourself? Is it worth the guilt?

For me, I've decided it's no longer worth it.