Isolation
Deprivation
Desolation
Too much trauma.
That’s what I was feeling, in the early days of COVID, especially with the lock down.
Too much.
Chaos surrounded me.
Many friends posted on social media their newfound hobby, deep cleaning accomplishments, or breadmaking skills. I was numb.
My work with one family was (continues to be) the stabilizing and grounding force in my life. I could find moments of Joy and Awe and Hope watching a toddler just BE.
But I was surviving. I knew I wasn’t the only one, but …what? I was employed. I could pay my rent and bills. Why couldn’t I do more?
Chaos.
Our country was politicizing, and subsequently became polarized, over a desire to keep people alive by wearing a mask?!
And I was dealing with the trauma of a drug facilitated rape that happened just four months prior to the lockdown. I had been scrambling to collect evidence and document it for my inept detective.
Two years and 8 months later (now June of 2022), I now see I did A LOT all in the chaos of two traumas. I went public with my story and part of it was featured in the July 10, 2021 issue of the Chicago Tribune, where my face covered the front page. NBC 5 news reached out via Facebook, asking for an interview.
It hasn’t made a difference in my own case, but several woman reached out to me, to thank me and share their own stories. They felt seen , heard and validated.
Our stories matter. As humans, we thrive to connect, and I believe it is through our stories that we do so. The lockdown challenged that, as does this ongoing pandemic. But we are creative and resilient and we move on. Even with trauma and loss, we move on.
Illinois Sexual Assault Victims Can Now Track Rape Kits But System Does Not Track Backlog Of 6,000
Date rapes are hard to investigate and prosecute. A new Illinois bill would more clearly define consent in these cases.