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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Our Lives Our Stories is a global anthology of abuse survivors’ stories and recovery tools. You are invited to join a global movement of individuals who are sharing their stories of survival and the tools they’ve used to overcome personal struggles to live …
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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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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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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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