Dear Trauma, Yesterday, and thousands of yesterdays past, you kept me imprisoned. Strangled in your invisible vice. Trapped in an encompassing, impenetrable fortress. In the yesterdays, I endeavored to escape. Years of attempted jailbreaks masquerading as caprice. But today, I will not be your prisoner. The shackles shattered. The vice obliterated. The walls crumbling. Today, […]
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Brené Brown had this to say about shame: For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, shame is a pervasive feeling that grows and thrives as years go by. It slows healing, prevents self-acceptance, and can lead a person to turn to anger, violence, or addiction in attempts to combat the sexual abuse trauma or cover it […]
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Imagine that someone put a hot coal in your hand. Instead of dropping the coal, you carry it around, and it continues to hurt and burn. One day, you finally decide to release it. Your hand starts to heal. It takes time, and there might be a scar, but the constant pain that came from […]
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Guest blog post written by Amalia Reyes It was an idle Tuesday afternoon last week at a Spin class when I finally got a hit of inspiration for this blog post. (I’d been procrastinating for the past month.) Our instructor was leaving us with a nugget of wisdom that hit me like a ton of […]
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If you were to make a list of all the things that make you feel down on yourself, you may be surprised by how many items you don’t actually have the power to change. Whether it’s the size of your forehead, the family you were born into, or past experiences you’ve had, you can’t change […]
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Can you imagine how convenient it would be to just buy self-esteem when you’re running low? Unfortunately, learning that you are capable, significant, and worthy is a skill that can’t be ordered through a one-click checkout. Instead, your “cart” of self-worth is filled day by day through what you choose to put in it. Just […]
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Think about the last time you sat down to eat. Maybe you finally managed to sneak a lunch break at work. Or maybe you got home for the day and had a nice family dinner. After you got done eating, you probably decided whether or not it was a good time for your body to […]
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As a survivor of child sexual abuse, you may be constantly giving to other people. It’s common for survivors to be caretakers, to make sure that everyone else is taken care of, and it can be exhausting and draining. But, with planning, mindfulness, and a focus on gratitude, giving to others can increase your happiness […]
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When was the last time you got to really spend some time outside? Have you been able to go for a nice walk lately? Maybe you live close to the ocean or a lake. Could you go for a swim? We’ve all enjoyed the renewal that can come from being out in nature, soaking up […]
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Guest blog post written by Sarah Burton, LMHC Did you know there are things you do all the time that can be used as a way to ground yourself? These grounding techniques are generally something you already do (or can do) every day. The goals of grounding are to stay present in the moment, decrease […]
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It feels like every day in the news there is a story about suicide. Whether it is a famous person, a high school student, or a baby boomer, their loss is felt. According to the CDC, since 1999 the suicide rate in the United States has risen by more than 30 percent in half of […]
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