I am a 33-year-old graphic designer living in Nablus. I love to introduce myself first as an artist, passionate about drawing, handicrafts, and everything creative. Art has always been my outlet and the space where I find myself.
Being the youngest among my siblings created a sense of loneliness and distance, with no shared space for dreams or interests, but it also nurtured early responsibility and self-reliance. I remember walking long distances to school in the Old City, aware of soldiers everywhere, and having to make decisions on my own—choosing routes, protecting myself during clashes, and sometimes leading my friends. These experiences shaped my ability to decide in the toughest conditions and formed my leadership personality.
The hardest turning point in my life
I have always been a very emotional and sensitive person. This kept me in toxic relationships, despite knowing they were damaging. But my marriage was the harshest experience. I lived five years under immense pressure, facing everything alone in a foreign country. It became a turning point that led me into depression. I realised that escaping required a real exit from the toxic environment, like a drowning person needing to be pulled out. During this period, a psychological counsellor first offered indirect support and then became my refuge, helping me gain awareness and leave the cycle of violence, and guiding me toward the hardest decision of my life.
The decision to let go and break free
The defining moment of my life was when I reached the point of thinking about suicide. I confronted myself and decided to begin healing and break free from my tragedy. My biggest fear was telling my family, who believed I was living in “paradise,” but their shock was followed by strong support. My painful marriage taught me how to choose myself. I broke the barrier of fear and learned to set real boundaries with toxic relationships, understanding that letting go means drawing a line: “I keep you in my life to the point where you can no longer hurt me.” The practical step that helped me decide to divorce was my counsellor’s advice to write down the pros and cons of marriage and divorce. After weighing everything, I found that divorce was my only way out from domination and loneliness abroad.
Healing and regaining strength
After returning home, I felt as if I had gone back to zero, but my leadership personality helped me overcome this. I did not allow society’s judgment to affect me as long as I knew I had done nothing wrong. I also faced financial hardship, after being independent abroad, and I lived in isolation for two years until I regained my balance. Turning to God and seeking His support helped me remain resilient. My mother was my first pillar of strength, and my counsellor friend abroad also continued to support me. Psychological support helped me channel loneliness into creativity and learn how to balance silence and expression. Today I see a strong woman in the mirror, proud of herself and deeply grateful for every experience that made her stronger.
My message to every woman going through a similar experience
There is nothing impossible for a woman who decides to change her life. Strength is not in enduring pain, but in acknowledging it and asking for help. Liberation begins when you realise you deserve a better life, and that trauma—no matter how harsh—cannot break your spirit as long as you stand tall.Keep going. Do not stop. One brave step may open the door to your entire salvation.