If you've ever been/felt silenced by a parent who prioritized their image over your well-being. You’re not alone. They likely made you believe that expressing your feelings was wrong and that your pain was a burden. It’s heartbreaking to think that your voice, needs, and emotions might have been seen as sources of discomfort for them. Personally, I was told that my emotions and my needs were inconvenient. For survivors of abuse—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—the silence imposed on you wasn’t just intolerable; it was subtle or forced that posed serious doubts, lies, and risks that threw you into survival mode. Not to mention, how this affects your emotional safety into adulthood. You may have been conditioned to hide your truth, to downplay your hurt, and to doubt your own feelings. Many were taught not to trust their instincts, to hold back their tears, to suppress their needs, and ultimately, to deny their very essence. what I’ve learned is that bearing the pain does not make the feelings and memories go away. All they do is further complicate them when you try to unearth the past. Silence doesn’t simply vanish with childhood; it lingers, shaping who you are. Can you relate to any of this? Do you find yourself shrinking in spaces that should feel safe? Do you apologize frequently, even when you’re in the right? Do you grapple with the feeling that your presence might be too overwhelming, or perhaps never enough? If this resonates, Then your silence was on purpose, but you are not alone in this fight. My Story (And Maybe Yours Too) I understand the burden of walking on eggshells, the overwhelming need to stay small in order to keep the peace. I learned early on that speaking out could lead to backlash, and honesty often resulted in punishment. So, I plunged everything deep within—my fear, my anger, and even my joy. It took me years to come to terms with the reality that silence wasn’t a form of protection; it was a way to suppress my true self. The toll it took was my ability to express my voice. To tell my story. Perhaps you relate. Your experiences may differ, but the feelings often echo the same. That heavy tension, the constant second-guessing, and the deep ache of feeling unheard are all too real. Here’s the heartfelt truth: That silence didn’t just take your voice away; it shaped your perception of yourself. It instilled doubt about your reality, encouraged you to push aside your feelings, and made you erase your story before anyone had the chance to challenge it. but the real answer is that no one can take your story away. The pain belongs to you. The betrayal, the heartache and the disgust. But this doesn’t mean this is your forever existence. in fact, this is your breakthrough to reclaim your story and who you really are. And not who they said you were, but who healing says you are. So what if you could begin to reclaim your narrative? What if the journey of healing begins not with trying to fix everything at once but with sharing one small truth at a time? What if the most courageous step you could take was to stop hiding the story that others wished you would forget? Let’s Take a Moment to Reflect: - When was the first time you felt you had to stay quiet? - Which parts of your story still feel “off-limits” to voice? - How would your life change if you allowed yourself to be fully seen? - Even by just one safe person? You deserve to be heard. Even if your voice quivers in the process. Even if it takes time and courage. Even if not everyone believes or understands your experiences. You are not too much, and you were never not enough. Your voice has never been the issue. It is, in fact, vital to your healing process. Your truth matters more than you might realize. It’s how you take back your life, and it truly does make a difference. You didn’t make up the silence. Neither the emptiness you felt. You didn’t imagine the pain. And your longing to be known is not being over-sensitive — it’s a sign that the deepest part of you is still alive. Conclusion: Your silence may not have mattered to them, but it certainly matters to you. They may have ignored your pain, denied your truth, or dismissed your tears, but that does not diminish the significance of your story. It absolutely matters. Every moment you survived. Every feeling you buried. Every truth you're just beginning to voice— It all holds weight. They may have tried to silence you, but healing is about reclaiming your voice. It’s about embracing the story you were denied the chance to tell. Your voice is powerful. Your story carries immense weight. And even if they chose not to listen, you can—and that is what transforms everything. So what if you stopped hiding the story they told you to forget?