We are inundated with a barrage of pressure coming at us from every direction, telling us that we’re supposed to be happy. There are songs that espouse it, slogans that preach it, and TV shows that dramatize it. We’re frequently …
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affirmations
To escape the terror of abuse many of us would dissociate by dreaming of future possibilities. We would construct magnificent imaginary glass castles. This exercise could transcend into relationships, jobs, and school. We would build entire villages of glass castles …
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Throughout our lives we all face physical limitations. Many survivors suffer from adrenal fatigue, chronic pain, PTSD, and other ailments. It is easy to become ensnared in self-pity and comparing our abilities to the abilities and health of others when …
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Feelings of being broken and dirty, due to abuse, both lend themselves to a desire to hide away in isolation. Survivors can feel as if other people are able to tell what has happened to them by the way they …
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Have you struggled to find the “right way,” or the strength, to say, “No?” Trying to regulate the reactions and emotions of others is a common trait for those who have survived trauma and abuse. We were taught that we …
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The isolation of abuse made us feel like we were trapped in an aquarium. We felt exposed and vulnerable to the judgment of others. Meanwhile, from behind the walls of our glass cage, we watched the lives of others pass …
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The world seems to spin faster on some days than on others. We can easily feel caught up in the speed with which other people live their lives, especially when those people judge how we live ours. Being dictated to …
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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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