Pirates held her hostage for 93 days. She says surviving taught her what really matters when life falls apart.

Before she was kidnapped, Jessica Buchanan was a teacher who had moved into humanitarian education work.

Courtesy of Jessica Buchanan Jessica Buchanan survived 93 days as a hostage, sleeping outside and losing about 40 pounds.

With little in her control, Buchanan said protecting her mind became key to surviving.

After years of PTSD and anxiety, Buchanan returned to teaching and found purpose in sharing her story.

Jessica Buchanan spent 93 days wondering whether she would make it home alive.

In 2011, she and her colleague were captured and held hostage by Somali pirates.

Buchanan's experience was extreme, but she recently told Business Insider that the lessons she took from it can help people through hard times in their own lives.

"I do think that people know what it feels like to be confined in some way, whether it's a circumstance or just within themselves," Buchanan said.

"And I hope people understand that freedom is possible ." Buchanan now writes and speaks about survival, recovery, and finding purpose after trauma.

"Sometimes you just have to hold on a little bit longer than you want to or you think is possible," she said.

The 1 thing she could protect when everything else was out of her control Before she was kidnapped, Jessica Buchanan was a teacher who had moved into humanitarian education work.

Courtesy of Jessica Buchanan During captivity, Buchanan was kept on a mat outside in the desert.

She says she endured extreme heat and cold, killed scorpions with her shoes, and sometimes spent weeks separated from her colleague without speaking to another person .

Food was limited.