Welcome to the Pandora Perspective!

How to start? Where do I begin? Beginning this blog has been something that has been heavy on my heart for a long time. As I type and reflect, I can understand putting this off has all been from a place of fear. I’ve made so many excuses to myself: “Who is going to read this bullshit”, I don’t know how to write”, or even “what do I write”.

BUT, I’m going to do it. My hope is even if this doesn’t go out to the masses, I can help just one person through a similar journey of mine. I can help one person understand it’s not “just me” and “no one else feels like this”. If I can help just one person with their journey to healing and autonomy, then this has been worth shutting my fears down (and the £36 I paid to start this thing).

So before I get started, I must flag some potential triggers that will be common themes throughout my blog – not necessarily every entry, but it will be present. I will add trigger warnings to each blog entry but please always proceed with caution, take care of yourself, listen and respond to your body, step away if you need to.

The Pandora Perspective is all about my recovery from sexual assault. I am a rape survivor and have been so for many years – I have to be honest, even writing that felt a bit rough! I always refer to myself as a “survivor” and not specifically a “rape survivor” – something about that word, maybe the stigma, shame, the stolen years.

My wish for the Pandora Perspective is to share the real, hard truths of recovery – “no sugar-coating: the gritty reality of healing”. I think people have preconceptions of what it is to be a “survivor” and often us, as survivors feel as if we have to either fit in the mould of these preconceptions or completely run away from it. In reality, there is no one straight road to recovery. There are days I can be a “bad bitch” but also days I want to curl up in bed with my 4ft unicorn and cry. BUT (I love a capitalised but), that is so and truly okay! That is the reality of recovery. It looks different for me, it looks different for you, and the difference is what is so powerful.

There will also be a lot of swearing, random ramblings, and references to mental health. I am a very dark humour person so if you think I’m a little odd when poking fun at myself or my situation, please remember that we all have weird and wonderful coping mechanisms! I can only hope you can take something away from this, something as little and important as “you have bloody got this!”

Once again, welcome to the Pandora Perspective ❤