After decades of silence, I finally spoke my truth.
I shared my sworn court statement — a deeply personal and detailed account of abuse that spanned years of my life. A story I carried alone for far too long. When I finally found the strength to reveal it, I didn’t know what to expect. But I knew I was ready.
Some cried.
Some wrote heartfelt messages, thanking me for my courage.
Some said, “This happened to me too.”
Some sat with me in quiet solidarity.
And some said… nothing at all.
“No comment.”
It’s a phrase that can land with such weight when you’ve just opened your soul. At first, it might feel like indifference. But from a psychological perspective, silence doesn’t always mean dismissal. Sometimes, it means shock, discomfort, or emotional overload. For some, hearing or reading a truth that raw forces them to confront things they’d rather keep buried — in themselves, in others, or in their own histories.
Silence can be a defense mechanism.
It can be self-protection — an internal “pause” when the mind hasn’t caught up with the heart.
It can also be fear — fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of being too vulnerable, fear of what your truth awakens in them.
And yet, even in that silence, something is happening.
Truth moves people — even when they can’t express it.
When I spoke to a women’s group recently and shared my story, I saw nods of recognition, eyes filled with shared pain, and words that came softly, hesitantly, but truthfully. “That was my story too,” one woman whispered. Different timelines, different circumstances, but the same emotional undercurrent: control, fear, shame, survival… and now, healing.
Our experiences are not identical, but they are echoed in each other. There is power in that.
Sharing trauma isn’t about getting applause or even being understood — it’s about reclaiming your voice. It’s about saying, “This happened. And I am still here.” It’s about breaking generational patterns of silence and shame.
To anyone who has received silence in return for their bravery: please know, your story still matters. Your voice still echoes. You may have spoken the words someone else never could.
Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep listening — even to the pauses.
Because healing is not only in the telling… it’s in the connection, the courage, and the shared humanity that follows. 💛
#TraumaHealing #SpeakYourTruth #PsychologicalSafety #DomesticAbuseAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #WomenSupportingWomen #HealingTogether
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
