The Blog Title

Why the title Survivor Is A Verb?

In my time working with sexual assault survivors, I've found that overcoming and healing from sexual assault is an ongoing process. It's a process that can be quite exhausting at times. It can make you want to give up.

One of my colleagues coined the term "survivor burnout" in a group counseling session we were co-leading to refer to the weariness that can overtake survivors who are continually in the process of surviving. They know they want to get better. They know what they're doing to help themselves works. But they're just tired of it sometimes.

This blog title is meant to honor the survivors who are burned out and still fighting. I cannot take that reality away from you, but I do want to commend you for continuing to fight by recognizing that surviving sexual assault is not a one-time thing. It's a continual fight.

You - the survivor - are a verb. You keep going. You don't give up. And you have earned my sincere admiration for it.