Author Honey Badger

It can take years for a woman veteran to reclaim even a fragment of pride after military sexual trauma and institutional betrayal. Some send their medals away. Some stop identifying as veterans. Some never speak of their service again. When a dismissive comment destroys what little pride remains, it is not because that pride was weak. It is because it was never protected.

Healing is a complicated journey. It often involves navigating through pain, confusion, and resilience. For many survivors of sexual assault, overcoming trauma is made even tougher by a world that may be hostile and unyielding. This is a powerful narrative of courage—one woman’s fight against self-harm and victim blaming.

Self-harm, often misunderstood, is not merely an act of destruction but rather a complex form of expression that can serve various psychological functions for the individual. For many survivors, the physical pain inflicted through self-harm can sometimes feel more manageable than the emotional pain they are grappling with.