I have a mantra I use: I cannot control everything that happens to me. I can only control how I react to it. With courage, self-love, and dignity for the woman I am. It took me a long time to love me, to see that what happened to me, that I did nothing wrong. I […]
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Imagine that you’re wearing an invisible backpack filled with heavy rocks. No matter what activity you’re doing—whether you’re shopping at the grocery store, picking up your child from school, or going out on a romantic date—you’re wearing that invisible backpack. It’s always on your mind, and it’s always sapping your energy. Often people around you […]
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As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you can feel like you aren’t always noticed or seen. As a survivor with disabilities, you may feel absolutely invisible. Here at The Younique Foundation, WE SEE YOU. Too often survivors with disabilities are overlooked and under-represented. Below are 5 truths you should know, whether you are a […]
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Susan is a three-year-old who feels no pain. Stubbed toes bring no tears, and hot stoves bring no fear. Because of a condition called congenital insensitivity to pain, Susan is completely incapable of feeling any physical pain and seems almost unstoppable.1 Except, Susan is not likely to live to see her 5th birthday. Because she […]
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“When I stop getting triggered by memories of my abuse, I’ll be happy.” “When I can stop thinking about the past, I’ll be happy.” “If I can just hang on until next year, I’ll be happy.” Have you ever had thoughts like these? Sexual abuse survivors sometimes focus on the past and the future at […]
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You may feel lonely. That’s common. Not just as a survivor of child sexual abuse, but as a human being. You may feel as though no one understands, that no one knows what you’re experiencing. And maybe you’re right, but maybe not. Perhaps you need to find a friend who is also a survivor. Not […]
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You’ve heard of self-esteem and self-confidence before, of course, but have you heard of sexual self-esteem? It’s an aspect of your self-confidence that’s important to consider, especially as a survivor of child sexual abuse. First, a definition. The Harvey Institute1 defines sexual self-esteem as positive regard for and confidence in the capacity to experience one’s […]
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Leslie* experienced deep anger about being sexually abused She was angry about what had happened to her and her inability to fight her abuser. Ironically, Leslie’s anger was buried so deep that her feelings were subconscious. Rather than feeling outwardly angry about what had happened to her, she had trouble sleeping at night. Until Leslie […]
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Guest blog post written by Annie Hartvigsen Earlier this month I packed my things into my car and made the 350-mile drive from Idaho to Utah to start a new job at The Younique Foundation. As I drove through the sagebrush-dotted landscape, through rain and snow and then the rain again, my attention shifted from Idaho’s […]
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Trauma researcher Bessel van der Kolk shared that one of his patients who had been sexually abused as a child remembers feeling like the abuse happened to someone else. She said that when the abuse occurred, “she floated up to the ceiling, looking down on some other little girl.” Her memory of the abuse was […]
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Guest blog post written by Leslie Clark, LCSW Mindfulness… What is it really? Many people think mindfulness is a practice requiring great focus and technique. Some think it may not be accessible to them. I have heard others say, “It seems like some sort of trend or fad.” The reality is mindfulness is a practice […]
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