My trauma may be a part of me, but it isn’t all of me. It is an undeniable fact that my assaults changed the trajectory of my life. I watched myself morph from a well-adjusted, reasonably happy teen into a self-conscious, terrified, hesitant, young adult.
Sometimes I mourn who I used to be and who I could have become. And I think that’s okay to do from time to time. But you can’t look at your past in a bubble and wonder what might have been without also looking at who you are now. You are still you. It may not be the “you” you planned for yourself when you imagined your future, but it’s still you. Nobody can take your place in this world. And think of how much you’ve waded through to get to this point.
Your trauma may be a part of you and a part of your story and your past, but it is not all that you are. You are not just a “victim” or a “survivor”. You are an individual with thoughts, ideas, dreams, and emotions, who survived something tragic. It is up to you whether you want this battle to be a part of your identity or simply a part of your story.
Talking Through Trauma 