Stage 7 and 8 — Grieving and Anger

Healing has many layers

Grieving is an important stage

Survivors may grieve many different losses, including:

• the loss of childhood innocence

• broken trust

• lost relationships

• the time spent struggling with trauma

Grief is painful but necessary.

Allowing these emotions to surface helps survivors process what happened.

Grief cannot be rushed.

But experiencing it fully can bring profound emotional relief.

Stage 8 — Anger

Anger is a natural response to abuse.

As discussed in The Courage to Heal, survivors often suppress anger for many years.

Some fear their anger because they worry it might become destructive.

But anger itself is not harmful.

Healthy expressions of anger may include:

• talking about feelings

• writing or journaling

• physical activity

• setting boundaries

• removing harmful people from one’s life
  

Anger can become a powerful force for positive change.

It can motivate survivors to protect themselves and rebuild their lives.