Forced Into Resilience ✨
Her image is only distorted, so she turned the mirrors around.
She screamed. She yelled as she threw herself down to the ground, covered in another baggy sweatshirt.
She keeps no one around, just incase, so they wouldn't see the cold skeleton she masked underneath.
She's fine. You know, resilience.
It's free. The trauma she fought hard to gain and keep.
So that's her replacements for the meals she can't eat. They're covered in pain. But remember what they say.
Those nights where you weep and lost all your sleep.
Just don't forget that resilience was free. #poetry #cptsd #resilient #traumahealing #ocd
Living with trauma and complex conditions such as CPTSD and OCD often means navigating a world where the external appearances mask deep internal battles. The poem powerfully captures this contrast—how resilience can sometimes be a forced defense, rather than a chosen strength. From personal experience, I have found that true resilience doesn’t merely mean enduring pain silently; it involves acknowledging the discomfort, seeking support, and allowing oneself to be vulnerable despite societal pressures to appear strong. A key aspect in healing from trauma is reshaping one’s own reflection—the way we see ourselves and how our self-image can often become distorted. Much like the poem’s metaphor of turning the mirrors around, I’ve learned that healing requires changing perspectives and sometimes, confronting difficult truths about our struggles openly. Avoiding or hiding pain under a façade only prolongs suffering. Instead, sharing our stories, whether through writing, therapy, or supportive communities, fosters real growth. Moreover, the poem’s reference to "replacements for the meals she can’t eat" evokes the coping mechanisms many adopt, which may not always be healthy but reflect an attempt to fill voids caused by past trauma. Recognizing these patterns in ourselves allows us to begin seeking healthier alternatives. In my journey, embracing resilience as a dynamic process rather than a fixed state helped me reconnect with my emotions and rebuild my sense of self. I encourage others facing similar challenges to remember that resilience isn’t about perfection or always being "fine." It’s about the courage to face each day, to cry, to rest, and ultimately, to heal at one’s own pace. The pain is real, but so is the capacity to overcome—for resilience, although born of hardship, truly is a gift that can bring greater self-awareness and hope for the future.
