Look in a mirror. Don’t fix your expression. Just see it. Say: This face survived something it shouldn’t have had to. That is not weakness. That is evidence.
No article on this subject would be complete without a warning. The “patched lifestyle” can be co-opted by the same forces that caused the abuse. Toxic positivity tells you to “just smile,” “just head-pat it away,” or “turn your trauma into entertainment.”
: A "patched" member of a motorcycle club has earned their colors. : Fixing or updating a system or game. : "Patches" are also a common wellness product (e.g., Kind Patches Lifestyle and Entertainment Context