PSA: STOP Saying These Things to Survivors

STOP Saying These Things to Survivors – A Public Service Announcement by SurvivorTribe

December 21, 2019

Are you a survivor who is fed up with the stupid sh*t people say to you about your experience? Do you love a survivor but you are not quite sure what to say to them?

Then this Public Service Announcement is for YOU!

Dear people everywhere,

We are here, we are survivors and We are fed up with your sh*t, so listen up. In some situations, there’s no right or wrong. In this situation, there is a lot of right and wrong. Particularly, what you can say to survivors. People are really insensitive to this topic. We don’t know why they care about the abusers and not the person who has experienced the trauma. And on this journey, we have encountered some of the most verbose opinions from such nice individuals as yourselves.

Some people don’t know what to say because they have never been through it. They never dealt with it and they are trying to give you advice on something that they’ve never been through. It’s a pain that you will not understand unless you’ve lived through it. You have no idea what it takes for a survivor to just stand there and be alive. It’s nice that people care but sometimes you gotta go…you have no f*cking idea what you are talking about. Our voices are often not heard. We are taught to be silenced a lot and, because of that, it can take a person a hell of a lot to be able to have the bravery to come forward.

Here are a few of the f*cked up things people have said to us that you should never, ever say to a survivor. So, listen up, be kind and don’t say these things.

Signed,

The Survivors of SurvivorTribe

A special thank you to all of the beautiful, brave survivors who took the time to help deliver this message. I am grateful for and proud of every single one of you: