Josette
Josette
It’s OK to show my feelings to those around me
On the surface, Josette seems to have life figured out. She works as a paralegal in Boston and is preparing to start law school, while also serving as part of the Miss America Opportunity, holding the title of Miss Middlesex County. She engages in community work focused on addressing the issue of sexual assault.
But this work is inspired by her own assault at the hands of her then-boyfriend.
The assault happened in my senior year of college. It took me a really long time to break up with him, especially because of my own misconceptions around assault and consent in relationships. It took me seven months to decide I needed to do something.
The journey that followed was long and painful, and the lasting effects of the assault led Josette to cope with her trauma in unhealthy ways.
I engaged in a lot of unhealthy behaviors. I was drinking heavily and not sleeping. It got to the point where I started seeing things that weren’t there.
During a particularly bad time in her life, she was admitted to a hospital and spent time in an inpatient psychiatric program.
The inpatient unit was an interesting place, but it was incredibly helpful. I recommend it to people who are struggling like I was. There, I learned it’s OK to show my feelings to those around me.
When Josette left inpatient care with a new diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she was worried about how her friends would receive her.
I was scared to lose my role as the ‘fun’ friend and afraid of being judged. Fortunately, that was not the case. I was met with an outpouring of support, and I don’t think I would be here today without the people who helped me through my hardest moments. I’m so grateful for my community.
More than anything, Josette wants survivors and their loved ones to know that supporting someone with PTSD doesn’t have to be complicated.
PTSD is not something everyone understands, but it’s something people can show up for. I had friends who actually bought me a new bed because they noticed how upset I became when I went to my bedroom.
Josette still struggles with trusting others, and she finds herself questioning how much of her story she should share with people. However, she’s consistently focused on healing and healthy coping.
She has discovered a love for running, found comfort and community through Judaism, and uses her work with Miss America to connect with other survivors.
I hope to reach other survivors. When I was at the beginning of my own mental health journey, I sought out other people who shared my experience but had a hard time finding them. It is so nice to have other survivors to relate to what you’re going through.
Josette wants anyone struggling to know that getting help is worth it.
It’s OK to be afraid but it is absolutely worth seeking and accepting help. There are people who really care, and you may not see it, but those are the people who will save your life.
