This study is a little limited, in that they only surveyed women, and admit that it is a correlation study, meaning they didn’t attempt to determine if this was a cause and effect relationship, but I have talked to enough survivors of abuse to feel like this is pretty common. “In other words, participants who…
The results of this study were pretty bleak, but they’re also complicated. “Unfortunately, though, child sexual abuse survivors were much more likely than those in the control group to be re-victimised in what are considered medium and high harm personal injury crimes. For instance, they were five times more likely to have been victims of…
The article below is an important one. Sexual abuse survivors for sure, and survivors of other types of abuse as well, mistakenly assume that there is something about us, and about our bodies, that led to the abuse. It’s not true.
Yet, despite all the things I don’t have to deal with, I’m freaking exhausted. I’m constantly overwhelmed with trying to find ways I can help all of the people I know who are dealing with all of these things directly, and frustrated that I can’t really help in most cases.
And, let’s face it, the world is a mess right now. There is so much uncertainty about everything. Even if, like me, you’ve been lucky enough to continue working, and stay healthy, there’s no guarantee that won’t change tomorrow, or that someone close to you won’t get sick, or lose their job. In the midst of all that uncertainty, I think it;s OK to admit that I am both grateful for what I have and where I am, but still not OK.
I don’t think anyone right now, can be faulted for not being OK, so I also don’t think any of us should feel guilty about it either.
Raise your hand if you’re also dealing, but not really OK?
This is a powerful statement.
“Relationships are at the root of mental health in every way.”
For abuse survivors, we know this, even if we don’t always think about it. It’s the damage from abuse at the hands of another person that has such a huge impact on our mental health. It’s the reason when we talk about it occurring at the hands of a family member of loved one that other people struggle to believe us. That the relationship would be the source of abuse is unthinkable to people with good relationships.
But, we can also turn that statement on it’s head as well. It’s relationships that can undo that mental health damage that was done by abuse too.
I saw this, and tweeted about it last night, but also wanted to link it here for posterity:
https://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html
More suicide prevention hotlines than I’ve ever seen collected in one place.
This also serves as a good reminder of my birthday fundraiser for the AFSP, I’m in the US so that is what I would direct people who want to help me celebrate or say thank you for running this site over the years, but if you aren’t in the US, I totally get wanted to support something local for you as well, so here’s a list of suicide prevention resources all over the world. If you want to support my birthday wish to raise money for suicide prevention but do it in your own country, please do. Then come back and let me know that you did. That will mean as much as anyone donating or sharing my fundraiser.
