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Clinton News Record, 2014-06-04, Page 1212 News Record • Wednesday, June 4, 2014 Victim of sexual assault finds healing in the written word Nikki Cooke Special to the Signal Star In an effort to raise awareness and encourage healing amongst victims of sexual assault, the Huron Women's Shelter will be launching a series of articles this May in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The articles are intended to educate people on the various forms of sexual assault and abuse that can occur and local services that are available to help promote self -healing and moving forward. This final article features writings by Nikki Cooke, who has agreed to share them to contribute to the overall message. My writings come from an ongoing painful healing journey, which is not yet complete. They came out of wanting validation from a felling of worthless- ness and also a need to express myself. Being contaminated by sexual abuse my whole childhood and teen life caused affects which have carried over into my adult life and so when the 'Need to Heal' arose I chose a creative outlet. Through different forms of mixed media art, I have been able to express myself in ways that I was unable how- ever, when I found it difficult to use those mediums, I chose the written form to convey the words that surfaced. Writing for me has become one of my most powerful self-protection and self- preservation tools and as long as I con- tinue to be creative and have the moti- vation to use it, it will be my voice. Coincidently, most of these have been written when there has been no peace within the depths of my being only a constant raging battle from what I would discover and then I wanted to scream out but I couldn't so I scratched myself, I starved myself, I burned myself, I binged and purged, I cut, I Egt___ GODS lCIi 524-7811 PHI a Sat 6.45 & S:15 Sten - Thole $=0 LIVE DIE REPEA Torg Cruise (Emily Slant (:RGI: OF TOIIRIIMW June 06 -'12 ;Jath MacFarlane ICluuliirt_ girtiani*a 96yir.iad Nr.II P;eulnl( Fri & Sat a million limn' meson 6:45 & 9:15 Suri - Thur WAYtT2 DIE 5;O woo PI :adrntirrP+k, • www.niovie6Gnks.ca u•. ,....,.,1-:3 00-265-3438 Achieve Optimal Health the Natural Way • Discover relief naturally with BIE (BioEnergetics) to detect sensitivities and rebalance the body without drugs or needles • Personalized nutritional programs for effective weight loss and related health concerns Now Available Chronic Pain Relief • Cold laser with micro -current therapy promotes the body's natural healing process at a cellular level. • Repairs and heals tissue as well as remove toxins from the cell. • A safe alternative to medication or surgery for relief of pain • Anti -aging Ask about an initial complimentary session YE1Ld IP. !LW RUNSWICK Clinton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 519-482-3481 jbrunswick@tcc.on.ca • www.janetbrunswick.ca 11 l� took substances but the release did not last ...so I began to write. We all need to scream sometimes however, writing is quieter and a more peaceful way to let your voice be heard. Masquerade Party I believe no matter how far I have come to grips with the truth, it will take a lifetime before anyone will ever know the real me, the, me without one of my numerous masks. I believe, that as a child and adolescent growing up aban- doned, neglected, isolated, verbally, physically and sexually abused and endured sexual violence as a teen, to survive, I learned to adapt to the whims of others, and I learned to be what was expected. I learned to manipulate situ- ations and intimidate if need be. I learned to be everything to everyone. CONTINUED > PAGE 14 A. A A I1 Birthday Club adie Squires -Vincent Ethan Hayter Branden Radford `Garrett Wilson Myra Caldwell 2 1 Lourdes Delicata Grayden Flynn If you wish to have name and birth date in Club for ages 1-12 Christy 519-482-3443 June 4th June 5th June 8th June 8th June 8th June 8th June 9th your childs the Birthday Please Call IT'S FREE!!! Call our In -Store Bakery to Order BIRTHDAY CAKES OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION CAKE • MAGIC CAKES • CHARACTER CAKES • • BIRTHDAY CAKES • ll7oore'SMade to your specification. F�OD1AND 6 Mary St., Clinton • 482-9341 Nikki Cooke This piece of mixed media art titled Silent Survivor was shared by Niki Cooke. The Huron Women's Shelter has released a series of articles over the past month to raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 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