I totally understand her. I was raped nine years ago and it still haunts me even though my attacker is dead. It never quite goes away.
I can very well see how that level of trauma would linger.
A lot of work has been done with breathing techniques to purge stuck emotional trauma - basically PTSD but from whatever cause. It used to be called "rebirthing," then it was called "circular breathing," and then it moved into more scholarly efforts that, to my knowledge, never really named it other than its physiological effect. I suggest doing some research on it.
When I tried it, long ago, it consisted of laying down, pulling in a full breath, and letting it drop out by itself. Then repeat. You don't wait between breaths, that's why it's "connected." You won't hyperventilate if you don't force the air out - you just pull it in, and let it go.
What happens to you while you do this kind of breathing is pretty amazing. Imagine a film on fast forward, except the film is emotions connected to the memories. It speeds by so fast that other than a rush of generalized feelings, you don't get nailed by anything in particular. And, of course, if it gets too intense, you just stop doing it. And it involves no drugs, beliefs, or anything else.
It helps to have someone calm with you, preferably who has done it themselves. But another person helps if something deep comes up, to remind you to just keep doing the breathing and let it flow through and out, and not hold on to it.
All I can say is that it's remarkable. And it's so effective, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if it "went out of fashion" for research grants once antidepressants were developed, for simply monetary reasons - do this and you won't need any antidepressants.
Also, IIRC your body only releases small "packages" at any one time. So you start the breathing, "process" a "package" of "stuck emotions," and then you can stop - usually in a mild state of bliss. And it's not dangerous in any way, you're just calmly breathing in a connected pattern, pull in, let out, pull in, let out... that's it. And the emotional release effects are permanent, because what's coming up (and out) are the original trauma patterns of energy.
I recommend it.
Sorry you went thru that. Can’t begin to imagine the trauma. Hope you’re healing.
Megan, I’m so sorry. Hugs to you.
Great tagline. They say great minds think alike.
I am sorry for what happened to you, although I am glad to hear he is dead. He cannot hurt you or anyone else anymore and I hope that helps you heal in some way.
God bless, Megan