Survivors News and Reviews

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Book Review of Sorts – Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
ByMikeM August 21, 2023August 19, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

For many survivors, their definition of healed automatically becomes a goal that can never be reached. We should quit trying to “be the person I was before the abuse” because it’s impossible. By setting that as our pass/fail goal, we sentence ourselves to a lifetime of falling short, instead of a lifetime of celebrating the gap between where we started and where we are today. We also never find a better goal that is more realistic.

Please, take a good look at how you are defining healed. More importantly, don’t lose sight of the amount of healing and growth that you’ve already done. Be proud of it. This is your life, it’s not a pass/fail exam. It’s so much bigger than that.

Read More Book Review of Sorts – Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
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Sharing – Anhedonia: New study provides insight into an overlooked but very common symptom of depression
ByMikeM August 16, 2023August 16, 2023 Reading Time: 1 minute

That’s depression. That empty feeling that nothing matters and the inability to feel anything because it doesn’t matter. But, it’s hard to express that. It’s difficult to come up with a header image that displays that when we talk about depression. I’ve said before, our default image to use when talking about depression is the young, white woman lying or sitting looking sad.

Read More Sharing – Anhedonia: New study provides insight into an overlooked but very common symptom of depression
Links

When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family
ByMikeM August 14, 2023August 13, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

The parents trying to navigate the maze of mental healthcare while also trying to work to help pay for the care that winds up not being covered and be there for their other children as well. It’s a lot. All of that stress isn’t good for anyone’s health, mental and physical. Imagine trying to support a child with getting mental healthcare while also needing your own care, or dealing with illnesses.

It’s a mess. I don’t envy parents who find themselves in this position. If you know any parents in this boat, maybe see what they need. Find some way to take a little stress off. Provide a meal or two, run some errands for them, etc. They need it more than they will probably ever admit.

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In the News

APA Foundation Launches Mental Healthcare Works Resource
ByMikeM August 9, 2023July 12, 2025 Reading Time: 1 minute

You can access the launch page here – https://mentalhealthcareworks.org

Taking a quick look around it appears there are some stories, links to resources for finding help, and some advice on talking to your physician or helping a friend take the first steps toward getting help. I’m sure there will be additions to the site now that it is life, so I might suggest bookmarking it for future reference, especially so you have it handy when someone you know is looking for help.

Read More APA Foundation Launches Mental Healthcare Works Resource
In the News

An example of the path to healing being long
ByMikeM August 8, 2023August 8, 2023 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I probably still loop back through some of these stages at various times, but it’s not part of my daily life anymore. Take this list as a sign to take your time and give yourself grace for how long it takes while celebrating the small victories along the way, but also know that it’s worth the time and effort. If I can find the peace and calmness that I have now, imperfect as it is, you can too.

Read More An example of the path to healing being long
Links

Sharing – Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?
ByMikeM August 1, 2023July 27, 2026 Reading Time: 2 minutes

There’s no real difference. I should know. I was sexually abused by an older minor. There was no creepy old man, only an older and bigger kid who threatened me. Someone in my own family. Mall parking lots, school, and our neighborhood park weren’t the places where I was not safe, my family was.

And I had no way to tell anyone, because I wasn’t taught about that being child abuse. Only strange men in white vans giving out candy abused children. Whatever was happening in my family wasn’t to be discussed with anyone. It wasn’t, and it went on for years.

Maybe we should do better with understanding the ways kids abuse other kids, and talking openly about it. The link below can help.

Read More Sharing – Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?