I was working as a teacher in Syria In 2015. One day in June, on my way to buy some gifts for my students, I was caught by the regime forces and detained for 10 days.
Before this, my family and I lived happily together. I’m a university graduate and worked as a teacher for six years. I had many friends and was a social person.
Then, our neighbors’ house was bombed and demolished.
My sister, brother and father died in the bombing. Once I was released from detainment, they imposed a one-month travel restriction on me, and I couldn’t leave the country. My mother and the sisters who survived the bombing had already fled to Jordan, so after waiting 30 days, I fled to Jordan to follow my surviving family.
When I arrived, I was sent to a refugee camp for two months. After that, I moved to Jerash city, then to Amman. This is when I learned about CVT from a friend. After seeing how devastated I was over what I experienced during detainment and death of my family, she told me her story and said I should visit CVT.
I took her advice. I stayed in shock for three days after I was released from detention, and I knew I was the best person to help myself – so I took care of myself. But when I came to CVT, I was introverted and discreet about the events and atrocities I was exposed to during my detention.
The CVT facilitators understood this and built trust with us in the sessions. They assured us everything they said would remain confidential. They told us what it meant to speak freely and have freedom of speech.
We figured out this a safe place to open up about what was in our hearts. As time passed, I started to find the sessions fun. They increased my self-confidence; the facilitators helped me speak loudly about what I witnessed without feeling judged.
CVT’s sessions helped with my physical pain as well. I had a permanent headache and acute pain in my hands because of the trauma from dealing with the deaths of my family. CVT not only taught me how to carry this burden, but joined me in carrying it.
CVT has shown me the art of finding solutions to my life issues, how to manage my anger, how to act in difficult situations and how to be a wise person in a time of difficulties. I changed dramatically in terms of my mental health. I do not avoid going to the doctor and continue to improve my symptoms through physiotherapy. CVT has improved my interpersonal communications too. I can speak about my story to anyone who is trustworthy; I’m no longer a timid person.
I was devastated then and I thought it was the end, until CVT helped me. After getting through all the atrocities I experienced, I’m able to pass on what I’ve learned to others who need support.
