by Sarah Arnold | Mar 25, 2025 | ACEs, CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Professional, Sexual Abuse
***TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses sexual trauma and abuse to children and could be triggering*** Afraid To Go To SchoolAt the beginning of third grade, our usually happy and confident son, William, became panic-stricken about going to school. This...
by Rebekah Brown | Dec 2, 2024 | ACEs, CPTSD, Domestic Violence, Family Disease, Guest Contributor, Sexual Abuse
***TRIGGER ALERT – The following article describes childhood trauma and could be triggering.*** I twirled around, causing the skirt of my best Sunday dress to flair out in a way that delighted my four-year-old sensibilities. It was 1966, and my black patent...
by Adina Lynn LeCompte | Jun 10, 2024 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Guest Contributor, Healing from Toxic Shame, Recovery, Self-Acceptance, Sexual Abuse, Shame, Sobriety, Substance Abuse
The imagined scene fades in: silhouette and shadow, sepia and blue-black charcoal. Fading dusk bleeds its final hint of burnt sienna. The rhythmic slap and skip-step of a single figure jumping rope. Those turning the rope and their haunting sing-song chant are just...
by Sylvie Rouhani | May 31, 2024 | Complex PTSD Healing, Guest Contributor, Guilt, Journaling, Listening, Loneliness, Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Awareness, Sexual Abuse, Suicide Prevention, Symptoms of CPTSD
#SAAM – the Sexual Assault Awareness campaign was last month. I wish I could write such things as: “If you have experienced sexual assault or rape, please go to the Police, talk to someone, anyone who could help you through this.” Sadly, I...
by Deborah E. Padilla | May 14, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Nature, PTSD, Sexual Abuse
Nature is known to have multiple facets that provide optimal physical and mental health. A study in 2021 found evidence linking nature exposure to improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, and sleep (Jimenez et al., 2021). This...
by Cyndi Bennett | Oct 5, 2023 | CPTSD, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Sexual Abuse, Trauma
***Trigger Warning*** This article will discuss healing from sexual abuse, which may trigger some people. Please proceed with caution and respect your nervous system. I was speaking to a friend of mine, who is a fellow sexual abuse survivor, about the process of...