From Silence to Strength: Healing from Sexual Trauma and Embracing My Neurodivergent Identity

At age 20, I got taken advantage of sexually by a male after our date in my college dorm. My process of healing was two-fold. I shared my experience with males I was in a relationship with, but most of them seemed to be bothered by it. Only one had the courage to tell me to seek help. I did just that.

I signed up for a six-month sexual trauma program. It helped me a lot. It gave me strategies and ways to handle myself when I am triggered. It showed me how to set boundaries regarding my body and other aspects of my life. Things seemed to be going well until the same guy, who motivated me to get healing, died from a brain injury.

Instead of wallowing in my grief and sexual trauma alone, I decided to finish the program. I did not want his courage to be in vain. I am glad I kept going. I believe it gave me strength for the next fold of my healing. 

At age 34, I received a clinical diagnosis of autism and ADHD. My autism is the mindset of a child, and my ADHD is hyperactivity. I discovered greater self-awareness from the diagnosis. I began to understand why I reacted so intensely when I went through what I did. 

Instead of being bitter, I chose to be better by advocating for those like me. I do this through poetry. I use my poetry platform to advocate and bring awareness to such a difficult topic. The messages in the poems are for hope, healing, happiness, or all three. 

The very experience I hated to even talk about is now what I use to speak up for those who have no voice.