for childhood trauma survivors & supporters
Why do adult survivors of childhood trauma need advocates? After all, adult survivors of childhood trauma look just like other adults. They talk like adults. They hold jobs, they volunteer, and they go to school. They…
Why Do Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma Need Advocates? It’s a question I asked of readers a few weeks ago. Many wonderful–and heartbreaking— responses arrived, which I will share in an upcoming blog post. One…
Was my vacation restful? Some of you know that I took the month of June off for some vacation time. I traveled to Victoria, BC to visit friends, spend time in nature, shop, and have…
“How do you practice self-care?” It’s a question I’m asked a lot. I have a list of answers. Exercise Enough sleep Keep extra-curricular commitments to a minimum Spend time outdoors Talk with friends either by…
Adult survivors of childhood trauma are misunderstood, misjudged, and mistreated. They face an ongoing battle of shame, stigma, and disbelief–not just from individuals but from society. The following are real statements made about survivors: They’re…
“What? Me? An advocate for survivors of childhood abuse?” Those were my thoughts last summer. I was preparing a brief biography for a writing project and searching for terms to describe myself. As I sat…
What comes to mind when you think of a ‘flashback’? A war vet? A person (usually female) pushing the other away during sex? Someone diving for cover at a loud noise? Yes, these are possible…
What do you do when one member of a family is a survivor of childhood trauma and another family member has a serious health issue? What do you when the other’s health issue is also…
Who is Anna O? Anna O (pseudonym) is known as the ‘original patient of psychoanalysis’. Most think of her as Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis patient. Anna O (real name Bertha Pappenheim) never saw Freud. She received treatment from Josef Breuer, Freud’s…
At the moment, the study of psychological trauma seems to be firmly established as a legitimate field of inquiry. Now each month brings forth the publication of new books, new research findings, new discussions in…
A little over five years ago, I was hired for a new role: spouse to a childhood abuse survivor. I didn’t apply for this position. I didn’t know it existed. But there I was–confused, scared,…