This Will Be Hard To Hear

To recover from this crime, you will need to hear some very difficult things. Some of what you hear may feel harsh, blunt, or even uncomfortable. But the truth is required, regardless of how it makes you feel in the moment. For weeks or months, you lived in a world built entirely on lies. Your reality was carefully constructed by someone who wanted to deceive you, and now, to heal, you must be prepared to face what is real, no matter how challenging that reality may be.

This is not about being unkind; it is about being kind enough to you to help you find your footing on solid ground again.

You have a responsibility to yourself to face that truth, to accept it, and to adapt to it. This responsibility is not a burden of blame; it is the key to your freedom. The person who scammed you is gone, and you cannot control their actions. But you can control how you respond to the aftermath. The greatest obstacle you will face on your recovery journey is not the scammer, but the temptation to turn away from the hard truths of your situation. Many victims find this step too difficult. They cannot face the reality of what happened, the depth of the betrayal, or the hard work that now must be done to reclaim their life. They remain stuck in the illusion or in the anger, and their healing stalls. Please do not let this be you.

We will not lie to you. This is going to be hard. There will be days when you want to give up, when the truth feels too painful to bear, and when you wish you could just go back to not knowing. But you are not the first person to walk this difficult path. Many others in this community have gone before you. They have felt the same pain you are feeling now. They have faced the same truths you are being asked to face. They have stumbled, they have cried, and they have questioned everything, but they have done the hard work, and they have come out the other side. They are living proof that recovery is possible, and they are here to support you.

You can do this too. We want you to hold onto that thought when things feel impossible. We have faith in you, or we would not spend our time and energy trying to help you. Every person here who offers support does so because they genuinely believe in your strength and your ability to heal. We see the resilience in you, even if you cannot see it in yourself right now. We hope you can understand that our directness comes from a place of deep compassion and a shared desire to see you truly free. We are on your side, and we are here to walk with you every step of the way, toward the truth and toward a future that is entirely your own.

Prof. Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
November 2025