Breaking Free: A Survival Story
Angie* gazed out the window of her apartment, watching the moving traffic as the lights flickered and the evening settled in. The shadows sometimes felt too familiar. Watching cars was a reminder of a world she'd fought so hard to escape. A few years ago, she summoned every ounce of courage she possessed and fled the grip of human trafficking. It was a nightmare that had consumed eight years of her life.
The safety Angie found after arriving at Engedi Refuge was a relief, but it felt bittersweet. For the first few months at Engedi, Angie battled the haunting memories of abuse and torture, and she experienced debilitating anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Loud noises triggered panic attacks, and trusting strangers seemed impossible. The initial relief in finding safety at Engedi Refuge did not stop the ever-darkening mental spiral that kept taking her down memory lane to the abuse that had enslaved her for years in the sex trade. It was hard to let go of the lies that had been whispered in her ear by the enemy. And it was difficult to begin believing the truth.
Although it was scary, Angie found the courage to ask for help. She began to trust one of Engedi’s staff members, Hana, who is the Director of Client Support Services. Hana began looking at Angie's needs, and together they created a plan to address them. Hana listened and helped navigate legal paperwork, probation requirements, signing up for medical insurance, arranging doctor’s appointments, getting clothing, and much more. Hana was one of the first people that Angie began to trust and let her guard down with. Eventually, Angie learned that goals that had once felt daunting were achievable one step at a time.
So step by step, Hana supported Angie’s recovery plans. Gradually, Angie discovered a strength she had not known she had. She learned that her voice mattered and that she could follow new dreams for a happy life. Angie enrolled in a GED program. She was warmly welcomed at a local church. Then she started applying for jobs. In time, and with Engedi's help, Angie began to see that the dark chapters of her past did not have to define her future. She began to hope for a better life.
Angie earned her GED and secured a job, which enabled her to move into an apartment after graduating from Engedi Refuge’s program. Today, she still sees the shadows from her past, but they no longer consume her or trigger panic attacks. She has learned behavioral health tools to manage her anxiety and panic attacks. And she is maintaining her recovery from addiction in a support group. Angie has made supportive friends at her church and has a future filled with possibilities. She is proving that even her deepest scars can heal and fuel change. Her story is not going to end with just surviving. She is thriving.
*This name has been changed for privacy, and this is an anecdotal story that combines the experiences of three different women who have gone through Engedi Refuge’s program to heal after the trauma of sex trafficking. Engedi Refuge’s staff member, Hana, assisted all three women, and she is a compassionate life coach who has helped dozens of women change their lives.