Posts by: Rachel Berrie

Rachel Berrie is a content discovery intern at Love What Matters based in New York City. She will be graduating from Kennesaw State University at the end of July of 2022, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a concentration in Criminology. She is passionate about mental health, substance abuse and other behavioral health issues and hopes to become a Substance Abuse Counselor. In her free time outside of work and school, you can find Rachel listening to true crime podcasts, singing her favorite songs, laying out by the pool, or trying out new make-up looks.

Young woman in hippie outfit with cuts on her arms appears on the left. On the right she takes a selfie while hooked to an IV at the hospital.

‘I didn’t want to believe he abused me because I loved him.’: Emotional, sexual abuse survivor shares healing journey

“I was convinced it was my fault. I was the abusive one. Everything could’ve been prevented if I just acted differently. I thought everyone would turn against me and finally realize what I already thought I knew — I was a bad person.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Aug 02, 2022

‘He gaslit me so much, I doubted my own mind.’: Domestic, sexual violence survivor details healing after extreme abuse

“I’ve rebuilt myself bit by bit. I’m brave, independent, and strong. I have forgiven myself for letting him hurt me.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 29, 2022

Suicide Survivor, Double Amputee Shares Powerful Message Of Hope And Determination

“A girl with a clear intellectual disability came up to me and said, ‘Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?’ I responded, ‘I’m okay. But yes, I did.’ She looked at me and my prosthetics and said, ‘I’m so sorry. Take better care of yourself next time.’”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 29, 2022

Child Sexual Abuse Survivor Shares Messages She’s Had To ‘Unlearn’ In Her Healing Journey

“All these thoughts, feelings, and meanings you have belong to the perpetrator, who managed to download them onto you by way of the abuse. They’re not part of you, and once you really understand that, all those feelings and beliefs about yourself can disappear just as quickly as they were formed.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 28, 2022

‘He warned me the only way out of our marriage was in a body bag.’: Abuse survivor shines light on obstacles women face in leaving

“He was everything I had ever wanted. Charming, sweet, successful, and he was head over heels in love with me. I was so happy on our wedding day, but my happiness was short-lived. Afterwards he said to me, ‘Now you’re mine and I own you.’ Things changed dramatically.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 26, 2022

‘One day, I woke up and said, ‘I’m so done with this.’ If death didn’t want me, maybe it was time to give life another chance.’: Woman shares anorexia recovery journey, now helps others

“With each new test result, my parents would sigh, and I could feel the hope leaving their bodies with each of these breaths. I saw them cry, almost daily, until it seemed their tears had run dry. And I think it’s only then it really sank in… they had given up hope.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 21, 2022

‘I can’t do this. I don’t want to live anymore.’ When chronic pain robs you of everything you love, things can get pretty dark.’: Woman shares extensive chronic pain, diagnosis journey

“I later learned this is one of the most painful conditions known to man. People often ask me how I lived with it for so many years.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 21, 2022

‘I gasped so loud Dylan ran in. ‘Is this the baby?’ I held onto it, utterly confused and shocked.’: Woman details pregnancy loss, grieving process on path to rainbow baby

“I looked up at Dylan and we both started sobbing, all while the remaining pieces of my pregnancy left my body.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 20, 2022

‘I didn’t think I could get any better than him, and he made sure I believed that.’: Aboriginal woman shares inspiring story escaping poverty, domestic violence

“I completely fell in love with the gym and how it made me feel like I had control and power over something for the first time in my life. I was addicted to getting better physically and mentally.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 18, 2022

‘My daughter would have died a traumatic death, and I might not have survived if I’d miscarried.’: Mom discusses importance of abortion rights

“Protecting a woman’s autonomy, her legal right to control her body, is imperative. I could have been a contributing statistic to our growing maternal mortality rate.”

Published by Rachel Berrie - Jul 18, 2022