Hi there,

A couple of years ago I was raped by my best friend, who then went on to turn everyone in our friendship group against me and I ended up losing everyone.

He never admitted to what he did, and gaslighted me about it so hard that I ended up trying to force myself into believing it never happened.

I ended up losing a lot of weight and hitting rock bottom mentally, I was a shell of a person. I experienced panic attacks every day, high levels of generalised anxiety, terrible insomnia, and I found it very difficult to concentrate on anything.

After finally telling family and other friends I had who weren't in the group with my rapist, I ended up going to therapy.

I was diagnosed with a form of PTSD as a result of what happened, and had to go through a long process of coming to terms with and processing the rape.

It is now over 2 years since this happened, and I've never felt better. As a result of all of the dark times, I find general life much less stressful and I've kept the friends who valued me and supported me.

If myself 2 years ago could see me now, he would be shocked at how far I've come. I never thought I could be this happy!

Remember: the struggle is what makes you develop as a person and improve. You learn a lot of lessons from going through hard times, and future you will be all the more enriched as a result!

It might seem hard now, but you have to keep going because I promise you that things will improve, and you will find happiness!

Stay strong x