You're Not Alone: The Journey from Abduction to Empowerment

This experience happened to us, it is a part of our past, and it will always be part of who weare. But it doesn’t have to be our future. This was the moment we really began to gain controlof our lives again.WAYS TO REGAIN CONTROLEach day you will have an opportunity to decide whether to be in control or to let whathappened control you. It’s not an easy decision, particularly when you first come home.There are ways you can do this:>> You can choose to get up each day, put one foot in front of the other,and do the basic things you need to do.>> You can reestablish boundaries in your life in a way that makes youfeel comfortable.>> You can take back some of the things that were stolen from you—your dignity, your confidence, your sense of humor.>> You can choose to can go back to your old school, to transfer to a newschool, or to be schooled at home.>> You can tell others what you need, not what they think you need.>> You can—and should—ask for help.>> You can choose whom you want to be with at any time.>> You can choose whom you trust and whom you do not.>> Your ideas for regaining control:25