"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." It's a rhyme we all said as kids when others were trying to hurt our fragile, little feelings. There comes a time when you get older that you notice that words can hurt just as bad as, if not worse than, sticks and stones. Sometimes particular words hurt more coming from certain people, a significant other for example.

My first real relationship was a rough one. Never did he hit me, never did he leave any physical marks, but never will I recover from the words he said to me on a daily basis.

To him, I was never good enough no matter how hard I tried. I was a liar, no matter how much truth I spoke.

Because of him, the words "I'm sorry" are overused in my day to day vocabulary. I can't stop apologizing because I feel like my smallest mistakes will have the biggest impact.

I can never truly tell someone how I feel because I fear it will upset them.

Even the smallest disagreements make me upset because I fear it will turn into something much larger.

I constantly need reassurance. Reassurance that I'm doing good in life. Reassurance that I am loved.

The recovery process feels impossible.

To the girls who left their mentally abusive relationship,

I can promise, you will recover.

Don't rush into anything new. Enjoy your freedom. Enjoy being able to do what're u=you want, whenever you want without anyone telling you that you're doing wrong.

Find what makes you happy now versus before your past relationship.

Find someone who is worth your time. Someone who treats you like the princess you are. Someone who is patient enough to hold you while you cry. Someone who is capable of showing you the love you deserve.

You are strong. You are strong because you stayed. You are strong because you found that you could leave.

You will recover. It is going to take time, a lit of time. You will learn to trust again. You will learn to love again.