I have to be honest, I have put off sharing my story for such a long time. But after reading so many shared experiences on I Am Arla, I...

Hey there. My name is Laura. I’m a positive psychologist (in training), a life coach, and an integrative holistic health coach. Lots of...

I feel like I have told this story a thousand times in my head and also seemingly haven't told it at all. There are days I still can't...

So, you’ve left the abusive relationship. You are free and everyone is making comments like, ‘how great you are away from that person’,...

Here’s the thing, I never thought I would ever be in a healthy relationship, in all honesty I had no idea what that even meant. From 18,...

Hello, Beauties of the “I AM ARLA” community! First off let me introduce myself… my name is Caterina and I’m a Trauma Healer &...

Today is almost 5 years since I was raped. His name is Niall, he was a close friend, slightly older than me, but I had known him since I...

For much of my teenage years, I was anxious. Tense. Afraid. I first dated my abuser when we were both in 7th grade, then again right when...

A common theme that has come up from our Arla members is that they feel like they keep choosing the wrong partners in relationships. This...

Hello! My name is Ilana, I’m 21 years old and I’m an aspiring Clinical Psychologist. I had a number of traumatic experiences during my...

Our fears as survivors of rape are endless. ‘Will they believe us?’ ‘Will they judge us?’ ‘Will they blame us?’ ‘Will the perpetrator...

When you have experienced trauma you may feel that you have done a lot of the healing work but that there are still certain situations...

Now, if you have picked up this book or short story or whatever this is, be prepared that this is not going to be a story about a sad...

I have never really spoken about my story widely, I still feel so much shame from the experiences and have always told myself it’s not a...

I have never understood how skin colour constitutes such hatred. I will never understand it because I have been born out of a shining...

At 19, in my first year of medical school, I was raped by someone I trusted and had counted among my closest friends. Five years later,...

I was raped when i was 15. Reckless teenager at the time, I lied to my parents to go out dancing with friends, the plan didn't work and...

I find it very hard to find the words or where to begin, but I have suffered two types of abuse in my lifetime. At the age of 18 I was...

Dear Devika, You are 19 years old, starting your BSc at King’s College London. Your excitement is overwhelming, as you are about to...

The day of court I woke up feeling pretty normal considering what I was about to go through. I slept ok, I ate my breakfast and held a...