The conversation around dealing with trauma has led to people acknowledging their own. As important as it is to address what one is going through, the stigma around addressing your trauma had prevented people from speaking out for a long time. Now with several public figures opening up about their issues, we are making steady progress. Gabrielle Union, who has been a victim of sexual assault and suffers from PTSD, recently penned an insightful note on dealing with trauma.

Union has long been an advocate for survivors and victims of sexual assault. Her influence and impact have helped raise awareness for people like Jada, a Texas teenager who was sexually assaulted. NBA star Dwyane Wade’s significant other is also very vocal about the importance of therapy for victims. Recently, Union talked about being a trauma mule and the misrepresentation of pain by people.

Gabrielle Union sheds light on the process of healing

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union started dating back in 2008. However, the couple separated for a little while and eventually got engaged in December 2013. They tied the knot the following year. The couple became parents in 2018. Union and Wade were recently honored with the President’s Award at the NAACP 2023. They were honored for their commendable work advocating for the rights of the LGBTQIA community.

Union was sexually assaulted at gunpoint when she was just 19 years old. She has spoken about suffering from PTSD because of that incident. Recently, on her Instagram story, Gabrielle shared a note on dealing with trauma. She wrote “It took me a long time to understand that my ability to take the hard blows of life didn’t make me “better”… it made me a participant in my own pain.”

Union also explained that dealing with trauma is hard and is often misrepresented. She wrote that people are conditioned to think that “being a trauma mule is a flex”. She stated that she is still working on dealing with her trauma and prayed for boundaries and self-love.

Read More: “Thank God Zaya Has Parents Who Understand”: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s Big Decision on Daughter’s Life Gets Strong Fan Support

Gabrielle Union identified with her role in the Apple TV+ show because of her own traumatic experience

The Hollywood actress featured in the show Truth Be Told season 3. She played the role of a woman who highlights the issue of human trafficking of several Black girls. She said that her “experience of being a Black teen experiencing sexual violence in the Bay Area” helped her identify with the role. The 50-year-old stated that the process of filming the series exposed her to several aspects of her own traumatic experience.

Watch This Story: Transgender Athletes Can Officially Compete. Pro-Surfer Bethany Hamilton Opens Up on New Surfing Rule Allowing Transgender Women to Compete With Females