The Story of Dunia
Three years had passed since I lost my mother, yet the grief only grew heavier with each day. Her sudden death had left me paralyzed, not just emotionally, but practically. I was the only sibling willing to step up, carrying the weight of running the household, managing finances, and keeping everything together. On the outside, I appeared to manage, but inside, I was quietly suffocating under the relentless pressure of responsibility and sorrow. Every day felt like I was drowning, gasping for air in a world that no longer made sense.
One afternoon, while scrolling through social media, I saw a post about depression and anxiety. Something inside me stirred. It felt like a small, flickering voice telling me, you don’t have to carry this alone. That was the day I reached out to Arab Woman Today (AWT). I didn’t think anyone could truly understand or help me, but they did. They changed my life. They changed me.
From the very first counseling session, I felt seen, heard, and safe. For years, I had silenced my own pain, believing that keeping the peace in my family meant ignoring my needs. At AWT, I discovered that it was okay to grieve fully, to cry, and to confront my emotions without judgment. The sessions weren’t just conversations; they were a lifeline, a guide to reclaiming my identity, breathing freely, and letting light back into my life.
One of the most transformative tools for me was art therapy. I began to draw my emotions, shapes and colors that gave voice to the grief I couldn’t put into words. Slowly, my dark sadness began to take form on paper, and tiny stars appeared, symbols of hope, faith, love, and resilience I had buried deep inside myself. Looking at those stars, I realized one of them was me: a small light shining in the midst of darkness. For the first time in years, I saw strength inside myself that I hadn’t noticed before.
AWT also taught me to set boundaries, honor my needs, and recognize that love does not mean sacrificing myself endlessly. I learned to say “no” without guilt and to protect my heart without fear. One session, when asked what I needed most, I whispered, “I just need someone to comfort me.” That simple truth unlocked healing for the little girl inside me, the part of me who had never been consoled. Guided imagery allowed me to create a “room of peace,” a sanctuary where I could nurture and comfort my younger self.
Gradually, warmth, calm, and even joy returned. It felt as though part of me had been reborn. I began to see my grief not as weakness, but as a path to courage, resilience, and faith. By allowing myself to feel and be vulnerable, I discovered a strength I never knew existed.
Today, I am no longer the woman crushed under responsibilities and sorrow. I am a woman of faith, light, and courage. I am breathing again. I am alive again. AWT didn’t just help me survive my grief, they helped me find myself again. They reminded me that even in the darkest nights, a small light can shine, and that light is me.