I don’t tell anyone.

My experience:

I tell myself that it’s probably no big deal. I’d rather keep this to myself, even though I really don’t feel like myself anymore. My ex continues to bully me from a distance, as if he knows that I’m too tired to defend myself. And I still can’t bring myself to ask for help. I’d like to be able to talk about it, but right now, it’s too much.

Explanation:

Victims in this scenario may feel ashamed, fatigued and disoriented. They may worry about being judged or not being believed. They may also question whether they have an injury at all, believing it to be invisible. In the end, silence may feel like the most tolerable option, because they no longer have the energy to revisit their trauma.

This project was funded by the Government of Quebec/Secrétariat à la condition féminine.