Emotional and psychological harm

Being falsely accused of something you did not do

Being accused of something you did not do and having to live with what the accusation did. At work, in your family, in your community, online, or in a legal process. Including accusations that were never formally resolved, so the question follows you around and there is no document anywhere that says it was not true.

An accusation that was never resolved leaves you arguing a case nobody has convened, which is an exhausting way to spend years. Being believed, plainly and without a hearing first, is something a lot of people in this position have not had in a long time. It is available here.

What can follow an experience like this

No two people carry the same experience the same way. These are some of the effects that people with this experience often describe. Having some of them, all of them, or none of them says nothing about how real what happened to you was.

Flashbacks and reliving what happened After certain experiences, the brain can get stuck, replaying what happened through flashbacks, nightmares, or sudden intense reactions to things that remind you of it. Emotional numbness Not depression exactly. Insomnia or feeling unsafe enough to sleep Difficulty falling asleep. Depression Not just sadness. Brain fog, memory gaps, or trouble concentrating Trauma affects the brain in measurable ways. Problems with authority or people in power The original experiences with authority figures, parents, teachers, institutions, abusers, shaping the automatic response to anyone who holds power. Withdrawing and isolating from people A retreat inward that can feel like protection, and often is. Thoughts about not wanting to be here Thoughts about not existing anymore.

Nothing on this page is a diagnosis, and nothing here decides what is wrong with you, because nothing is wrong with you. Something happened to you. This page exists so that when you are ready, you can find people who understand it from the inside.

You do not have to carry this alone.

Bridge of Hope Recovery is a free, anonymous, peer-led fellowship for trauma survivors. Meetings run throughout the week by phone, by video, and in person. No cost, no waitlist, no one asking for your real name.

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