Survivors News and Reviews

Links

Sharing – The idea that many people grow following trauma may be a myth
ByMikeM October 11, 2022October 11, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Over the years of having this website, I’ve had many people suggest that my abusive childhood made me more compassionate and a kinder human being. Or, maybe it gave me a better sense of humor or made me more spiritual.

Or maybe it didn’t. No version of me wasn’t abused. If there had been a version of me that wasn’t abused, he could be more compassionate. He could be a complete narcissist. He could be funnier or kinder. He could be a selfish ass.

No one knows. That version of me is Schrodinger’s cat. It’s all the possibilities because the box can never be opened to see what’s inside.

Read More Sharing – The idea that many people grow following trauma may be a myth
Links

Sharing – Life-Changing Benefits of Self-Compassion
ByMikeM October 10, 2022October 9, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

Child abuse can be all about shame and guilt. Because the entire world wants to believe that things are fair when we grow up, trying to square that belief with what happened to us as children naturally leads us to believe it’s our fault.

You can’t have self-compassion and also believe the abuse you suffered was your fault. We have to get past this idea that the world is fair and we get what we deserve. It’s simply not true. We have to be willing to have the same compassion for ourselves that we would have for another crime victim.

Everyone deserves to have some compassion for others and learn how to have compassion for themselves.

Read More Sharing – Life-Changing Benefits of Self-Compassion
Book Reviews

Reviews Elsewhere – 10 Mental Health Books For Middle School Kids
ByMikeM October 6, 2022October 4, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

Middle School can be a trying time for kids. They are getting older but aren’t teenagers yet. They are going through changes and dealing with big issues without much experience dealing with emotions. Luckily, Sarah Zellner offers up these suggestions for books about mental health targeted at this age range.

Read More Reviews Elsewhere – 10 Mental Health Books For Middle School Kids
Links

Sharing – How You Can Make an Impact in 30 Seconds Without Knowing It
ByMikeM October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

Beth gives some concrete examples and, more than that, reminds us all to remember how good it felt when someone acted in a small, compassionate way for us too. It’s important to remember those moments and how much of an impact they can have.

Read More Sharing – How You Can Make an Impact in 30 Seconds Without Knowing It
Links

Sharing – I’m a psychologist – and I believe we’ve been told devastating lies about mental health
ByMikeM September 30, 2022July 18, 2023 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Of course, he’s right. What he sees in the UK is the same thing I see from my “much less qualified but simply paying attention” seat in the US, and I’m sure many of you see where you live as well. Our current mental health resources are designed to help “fix” something wrong with us. I can’t say they even do that well, but at least that is the plan, and that plan makes sense for many mental health struggles.

It is only part of the picture, though. In all seriousness, how would the 6-8 therapist sessions a good insurance plan covers help someone escaping domestic abuse or trying to feed a family on a minimum wage job? How is the teenager being abused at home, bullied at school, and overwhelmed by the bleakness of what the world might look like when they are an adult supposed to find hope in one crisis text line conversation?

How will we provide hope and connection to people without first understanding their world and how they navigate it every day?

Read More Sharing – I’m a psychologist – and I believe we’ve been told devastating lies about mental health
Links

Sharing – We’re Increasingly Disconnected and That Has Consequences
ByMikeM September 26, 2022September 25, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

The rest of the article talks about the detrimental impacts of less connection to the people in our lives, our communities, etc., and some ways to help build those back. Things like reaching out, doing more than doom, scrolling your social media feeds, leaving thoughtful comments, interacting with your friends and family, etc.

It’s worth a read. Connectivity is an essential part of maintaining our physical and mental health.

Read More Sharing – We’re Increasingly Disconnected and That Has Consequences