Evan Rachel Wood tweeted about her experiences with cutting and self-harm, and this is important
Warning: The following contains candid discussions of self-harm that may be triggering to some.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood is no stranger to getting candid about issues relating to mental health and abuse. She’s testified before Congress about her experiences with rape and sexual assault—as well as the lasting psychological effects of a past abusive relationship. And now, she’s addressing another, seldom-discussed issue: self-harm—and specifically how it related to her abuse.
In a March 11th Twitter post, she wrote, "2 years into my abusive relationship I resorted to self harm. When my abuser would threaten or attack me, I cut my wrist as a way to disarm him. It only made the abuse stop temporarily. At that point I was desperate to stop the abuse and I was too terrified to leave. #IAmNotOk"
She shared a photo of herself from the time, revealing prominent lacerations on her wrists. false
Wood also opened up about feeling “weakened” and “depressed” by the same relationship. false
She posted her message as part of the trending hashtag “#IAmNotOk,” with which abuse survivors are recounting past traumas and letting the world know that these events have had lasting effects on them. Many followers responded to Wood’s post with accounts of their own abuse.
@evanrachelwood I watched my mother get abused verbally, mentally, and physically all throughout my childhood. I often slept with a baseball. To this day, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have a relationship because I’m terrified of experiencing what she did. #IAmNotOk
— Kristin (@kristinfinley) March 11, 2019
@evanrachelwood I grew up in a verbally abusive household. My father is a narcissist, and my mother has bipolar disorder, though refuses to take medicine most of the time. I used to believe the horrible things I was told, and I’m starting to work on being happy. #iamnotokay
— Jessie. (@KillerQueen0530) March 11, 2019
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20 years have passed since I escaped the bastard who used to beat me and my mother and attempted to murder me.
Last year, I heard he died. Horribly. I was glad, then felt like a bad person for feeling happy. 20 years and I'm still broken. #IamNotOkay #Solidarity— Neil Larrisey (@NeilLarrisey) March 11, 2019
Domestic and sexual abuse are all-too-common occurrences in our culture, and the narrative that a person just needs to “go to therapy” and “move on” in order to fully recover is far too simple. The reality is the effects of abuse can last a lifetime. However, you are never alone, and the “I’m Not Okay” hashtag reminds us that recovery is a process, and that so many others out there can relate.
Thank you, Evan, for shining a light on this important issue. If you or anyone you know is currently the victim of sexual assault, please call the National Sexual Assault hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).
