Vulnerability can be scary, especially if we’ve been rejected or attacked when we’ve opened ourselves to others. Many of us seek to build a fortress of protection around ourselves to ward against the threat of attack. We go to extremes, …
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We were taught to keep secrets; forced to live lies. Abusers sought to control us by threatening our welfare. We have been silenced through shame and fear, made to believe lies about ourselves and others. For some of us, the …
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When times are tough it can feel as if the struggle will never end. We ask ourselves, “Will this pain last forever?” Living in unsafe environments, relationships, or situations can cause us to feel trapped. The small child voice in …
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Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough? For many of us, a sense of low self-esteem is a bi-product of abuse. Negative self-talk and comparing ourselves to others can be a form of internal self-mutilation; abusing ourselves by …
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We’ve been taught that we’re not allowed to feel angry. We’re told that if we are angry we’ll harm ourselves or others. We’ve been called names and told we’re crazy and unstable if we’re angry. Societal and cultural norms seek …
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Unfulfilled expectations, loneliness, and insecurity can lead to resentments and isolation. Self-pity is an all too familiar feeling for survivors. Maya Angelou wrote, “Self-pity in its early stages is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does …
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Much of our sense of personal beauty can be knotted up in the views of others in our lives, and the beauty myths, comparisons, and marketing in the media. We have been manipulated by both to hand over our power, …
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We were accustomed to living life on-guard; sentries to our bodies, minds, and spirits. Not knowing when the next abusive episode would come has robbed us of the ability to feel secure when the threat is absent. Most of us …
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Facing the winter holidays can be daunting to anyone, especially if you’re exhausted and nearing burn-out. The looming specter of faking holiday cheer is cringeworthy at best, particularly whilst trying to keep the peace if the voices inside your head …
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Let’s get books to our community members who are in prison, before the holidays! I worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice early in my career and know how desperate the conditions can be. One of the things that …
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