PowderfingerSenior Contributor
Letter to an abuser - thoughts?
Writing a letter to an abuser is a big topic with many angles. I'm going to go along the lines of healing as a purpose of writing a letter. Healing, taking power back, being in control of your life. Many sites online say not to send it. Some people have written their personal stories of sending the letter or actually giving it to the person. I believe there is no wrong or right. It should be up to the victim and survivor.
I'm writing about this because I've been thinking about going through this process myself. It's a big decision. I think I'm going to go ahead with it at this stage. I want to make it clear that this is not intended to be healing for the abuser, it is intended to be healing for me. It is intended to provide my own closure. No one will ever get closure from an abuser. It simply doesn't happen. You need to find your own closure, your own peace, your own power and get back in control of your life.
My letter will not be about seeking an apology. My letter will not be about waiting for the abuser to take responsibility. My letter will not be about wanting or needing a response. My letter will not be about telling the abuser about my suffering, my pain, my hurt, all the things she did nor will it be about being her victim. My letter will be about telling my truth how it is. Telling my truth about the abuser. Telling my truth that she made the choices to abuse me, control .me, manipulate me, use me and treat me badly.
I will be telling my truth of who I believe and know of who she really is instead of the facade she painted.
I had to deal with feeling like a terrible person for the things I will be saying. I have dealt with that. I'm not a terrible person for writing a letter to an abuser. It doesn't make me a bad person. What it makes me is a survivor.
What are your thoughts about this?
PF