Zoe’s Journey

I had gone back to college to do an access course as I wanted to be a teacher. But I had started struggling with the after affects of sexual abuse I had experienced from my ex. I couldn’t face going in and was worried I was going to be kicked off the course.

I was feeling overwhelmed and found everyday tasks difficult, sometimes impossible.

My GP referred me to SARSAS.

I was struggling with self-care. I couldn’t make myself a priority. My counsellor helped me start smalls acts of self-care, identifying what I liked and what made me feel better after a bad day. I started with small things – taking a bath, cooking something nice for tea, listening to my favourite music.

I admitted to my counsellor that I felt to blame for what had happened. But through talking to my counsellor, I began to learn that I am not responsible for what happened. This helped me to be kinder to myself.

Understanding what was happening, made the feelings of anxiety and panic a little less scary.  I found the confidence talk to someone at college about what had happened, and they have supported me to return to college.