Hello, my name’s Catriona, and I’m the creator of the website/online community Life Continues After (lifecontinuesafter.com). I am a survivor of sexual assault, and I decided to create the platform to fill where I saw there was a dangerous hole after formal support systems have ended, or when they ceased to exist in the first place.
It is an area for people to share their own articles of advice, recommended coping mechanisms e.g. music playlists, podcasts and videos; and contribute anything else that feels right to include. After my own therapy ended I needed a space to write and to read about other people’s survival, to listen to and share music as a form of healing, to share and find survivors’ art, and to find new binge-worthy, but safe, things to watch when I was feeling extra low. When I struggled to find such a welcoming space, I decided to make it myself. My hope is that the space will help people in their path to recovery and strength after sexual assault.
Since publishing the website, I have had an overwhelmingly thankful and grateful response from visitors to the sight. Both people I know personally, and people I don’t, have thanked me for carving out the space for people to trade experiences and insights in an informal and relatable way.
I independently designed the website (on Squarespace), write much of the content, and edit and publish submissions from contributors. I also run all the socials (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). My friend illustrated it - thanks India!