What most people do not understand about abuse is the immense pain and suffering that lingers in the bodies and souls of those who have endured that trauma. Life is no longer the same. Our bodies which house our hearts and provide saftey are violated.

This book utilizes the various forms of the artistic voice to convey the struggles of life after trauma. As artists, poets and writers our voices come from the pain we have endured and what we hope to share is that healing is by no means easy, but nessecary. Often we may not remember all the details, but still feel it all.

For countless indviduals we learned that we could survive events and the emptiness that comes with the loss of self—but the pain doesn't lessen in time. The book is structured into three chapters, each examining a particular aspect of the recovering body. The first chapter explores the Effects of Abuse and the lived-in experience. The second divulges the struggles after abuse and shares how various indviduals cope with the pain both through the body and the healing of the mind. The last section provides insight on life after violation and how the self can recover.

Our works utilize the creative power of art, poetry and writing to iterate the experiences of pain. and recovery Throughout this book, the artists involve hope to communicate that life can carry on after such horrific trauma and promote the message of prevention as that is the most effective way for no one should ever suffer from such pain.

Contributors include:

Amy Driver

Alana Timms

Ally Zlatar

Cora-Laine Moynihan

Megan Champion

and many more.