Healing from gender-based violence is a process that looks different for everyone. It can be hard to talk about an experience with GBV, and sometimes it may feel most daunting to bring it up with people you are closest to, such as family, friends, or a romantic partner. Whether you choose to tell others straight away or years later, or prefer not to disclose it at all, is completely up to you. Talking about gender-based violence is never easy, but if you do choose to tell someone about your experiences, it can be helpful to have a plan about how you would like to do it.

The way you choose to tell someone is about what will make you most comfortable. It can be in-person, over the phone, or in the form of a letter. There are positive and negative aspects to each of these ways of telling someone, but it all comes down to what is right for you. For instance, if you are worried about being interrupted or being asked too many questions, writing a letter could be helpful. No matter how you choose to tell someone, it is a good idea to set some ground rules first. You can say something like: “I’d like to tell you about something that’s hard for me to talk about and it would mean a lot to me if you would just listen and not ask any questions.”