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"I’ve come to realise that I’m just as sick as my secrets."

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"I’ve finally understood that my abusers will win if I don’t make something of my life."
Nicole
I’ve spent over 20 years in violent relationships. My last partner had AIDS and had decided to take as many people with him to the grave as he could, but I survived without being infected.

“My abusers will win if I don’t make something of my life.”


Name:
Nicole
Age:
63

I’ve been having psychiatric treatment
for many years, but I don’t fit in there. Nobody has shown any interest in my life, and since they can’t put me down as schizophrenic, bipolar or depressed, they don’t know what to do with me. Alcoholics Anonymous, programs for victims of sexual abuse – no, nothing has worked.  I’ve been happy just to survive.   But I don’t want to die, not mentally or physically, and Susan Omilian has given me hope.

I dream of having a little house, a garden, a pet … maybe love ...  

We fight together in the group. I’ve been going to Susan’s  ‘Thrivers’ group for just over a year, and  I’ve finally understood that my abusers will win if I don’t make something of my life.  I used to accept being a doormat just so my needs would be met. Now I know that I don’t need a man for me to mean something.  
I’ve come to realise that I’m just as sick as my secrets.  So I don’t have secrets any more. I dream of having a little house, a garden, a pet … maybe love …   I’ve got a job interview next week!