I was raised in an evangelical Christian homeschooling cult (think the Duggars.) I experienced spiritual, sexual, emotional, physical and mental abuse from a very young age. At 12, I lost my older sister to suicide. As a result of my childhood, I developed PTSD and spent most of my 20s using unhealthy coping mechanisms (eating disorder, substance abuse) and moving between several abusive relationships. I finally decided enough was enough and spent a period of time focusing on going to individual and group therapy, working on my health, and focusing my time on healing and creating the life I wanted. I now live in a wonderful city with a wonderful partner and circle of friends. I work a job I love. But I still remember how hard the early days of healing were. I hope to offer an understanding listening ear, since I know that sometimes the hardest part of dealing with childhood abuse is simply gaining the courage to talk about it in the first place.