20. I Didn't Lose Myself - I Adapted: Reclaiming Your Identity and Who You Were Before the Abuse

"I'm nearly 50 years old and only recently allowed to work on myself." This episode explores one of the most profound questions a survivor can ask: "Who am I now?" Not who I had to be. Not who I learned to become in order to survive. But who I actually am. It reflects on the person who existed before, carefree, fearless, fully alive, and traces how that person didn't disappear. She adapted. She learned to stay small, question herself, and ignore her own needs. And now she is gently unlearning all of it. It also explores what healing looks like in real, unglamorous terms, music triggers leaving a person exhausted, a birthday party sending someone to the bathroom in tears, calling a loved one just to hear their voice. And it speaks to the survivors still wondering whether they lost themselves, with a quietly powerful effect. You didn't lose yourself either. The person you were before, the one who was curious and carefree and fully alive, is still there. Buried maybe. But still there. "I didn't lose myself. I adapted. But that adaptation came with a cost. And now I'm learning how to live as the person I've always been, the part of me that never left." Send us Fan Mail The personal experiences shared in this podcast are the opinions of the individuals sharing them and are not intended to serve as professional advice or constitute accusations about any other person, organization, or group. We encourage you to seek professional support and assistance. The topics discussed in this podcast may be distressing and triggering for some listeners and could impact your mental health. The content of this podcast is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. For more information and resources, please visit hanginthere.net.