I felt imprisoned in my mind and body in my abusive marriage, but I didn't know how to get out. Growing up as a refugee from the Iran-Iraq war, I was born into a fight-flight mode, and to survive, I suppressed my trauma. Entering into my marriage, my self-worth was low, and I slowly lost my curious and rebellious spirit. After years of social control, I could barely sense my old self and felt dead than alive to the point where I saw no hope in living further. See how I managed to muster the strength to leave my marriage and start a new life with my son. The years of stress and fear had manifested into physical illness, and in my new won freedom, I reached out for help with my Crohn's. Learn how I realized my childhood was connected to my adult patterns and actions and how I had to unlearn to be able to be fully free. Meeting peers and getting professional support allowed me to reconnect with my curious and rebellious spirit to finally start healing both physically and mentally. This is my story.